Feisty MMDA spokesman

MMDA’s Pialago does not need to work hard for recall.

One government official that has of late been prominent on both broadcast and print media is Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago, who is the spokesman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Perceived by many as feisty and no-nonsense, Celine in her late 20s, has had her share of enemies because of her prominent role in ensuring that recalcitrant drivers (and commuters as well) follow rules set by law.

On the other hand, the public has also taken to scorning her for her brief romance with the movies and the world of beauty pageants, the latter even more remembered for a gaffe that she committed.

The long and short of it was when her roommate during the duration of the competition fainted because she had not been eating properly to maintain her weight and Celine was asked what happened to her, the young Caviteña replied, “She passed away,” when she only meant that her roommate “passed out.”

By a difference of one word, which of course made a big difference, as in life and death, Celine became the talk of the town. For the wrong reason, of course, although as she looks back now, even that mistake brought her some attention, which led to her being offered roles in afternoon telenovelas and in reality shows, one of which labeled her as the “pass away” beauty queen or something that sounded very similar.

Here she is today, happy but at the same time busy, and hoping the Filipino people, especially those who live in Metro Manila, toe the line. “One just needs to cooperate,” she said in the interview, which turned out to be a revealing one as she shared her life story, while constantly reminding the denizens of the metropolis to please, yes, obey the rules and life for you will be much easier.

NOT one easily cowed by her detractors. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG

Daily Tribune (DT): In the last few days, you have been on television due to all these issues, in particular the transport strike by jeepney drivers. And people have, of course, noticed your effectiveness in averting any problematic situation. So, would you like to enlighten us on your background, and what brought you to where you are today?

Celine Pialago (CP): I suppose the stars have aligned to bring me to where I am now. I started as a journalist at a very young age. I became a newscaster in Channel 4. I graduated last 2011 and only after a few days, I found a job. I didn’t even have a vacation after my graduation.

DT: Did you take up Mass Communications?

CP: Yes, AB Communications in Miriam College, an all-girls school.

DT: You must have had a lot of exposures.

CP: I even became a Police reporter. I was interviewing generals, and I was reporting on crimes that took place in the wee hours like robbery, kidnapping, carnapping and what have you. That was the kind of coverage that I did. After RPN went through a transformation, I moved to Channel 4 where I became a newscaster every 5:30 in the morning. I have always been an early morning person.

DT: Did you move around television stations?

CP: I eventually transferred to TV5 but again, I stayed only briefly because I was not given the right opportunity. That was when I joined the world of beauty pageants. I felt I was ready because in college, I had done a lot of co-hosting. I also organized events. So, that was a phase. Everybody knows about my gaffe and it has given me enough press to merit some attention, which even led to offers to appear on television.

DT: Did your formal education stop with your graduation from Miriam College?

CP: No, I took my master’s degree in Ateneo. I finally finished it last May. It was quite a long journey but I am proud of this accomplishment.

DT: To go back to the beauty pageant that you joined, what was the reason you joined it? You, of course, were aiming for the crown, but was there anything else to your joining it?

CP: I was then gaining more pounds and I didn’t know how I would lose them. I joined the beauty contest knowing that I would be required to lose weight. And that’s exactly what happened. I applied October 1st and I was told that if I really wanted to join the pageant, I should be down to 150 pounds by March. Then, I can come back and audition.

I was 210 pounds when I first went to the Miss Philippines Earth office. By December, I went down to 160 pounds. By January or February, I had achieved what I was aiming for.

DT: How did you do that? What was your formula?

CP: Well, I had a goal. I don’t easily get an inspiration, especially one from the opposite sex (laughs). A boyfriend will not inspire. I won’t feel good being inspired by a boyfriend. I need a greater inspiration. A nobler one.

Anyway, when I joined Miss Earth. I was not really focused on it because I was still a reporter. So, I was doing both, but I was enjoying Miss Earth. And then that gaffe (laughs).

CP: It wasn’t easy to defend yourself. How could I tell them I was not that stupid the way they intimated I was? After all, even if you spoke in a language that you were most comfortable in, you could still commit a mistake. But I let that pass. I am not that kind of person who would waste my time explaining myself over that kind of mistake. I just continue with my life.

DT: Where do you get your emotional strength?

CP: You can never let me down. I am that kind of person. Even if you bully me. I have always been bullied since my elementary days because of my dark complexion which, in turn, was because I loved playing in the sun. Anyway, I always fought back those who were bullying me. I was young and I didn’t know how to fix myself so you can imagine how I looked. But no one could make me cry easily with their bullying tactics.

Some psychologists would probably tell you to cry because it would make you feel better. But you can never make me cry. I could bear with sadness. And I have a way of transforming sadness into something positive not revenge, not anger. So, if someone keeps saying I am too dark, I would take it that it’s about time I took a bath three times a day or to buy a whitening soap. I always look at a challenge or a problem as an inspiration or a source of motivation.

That’s why when people were bashing me because of the Miss Earth incident, and my friends were telling me about it, I shrugged it off. There were better things to concentrate on in one’s life. As it turned out, people in showbiz took notice and offered me roles. So, I ended up attending acting workshops. I had a movie with Coco Martin. I got to meet all those actors and actresses and my realization is they’re just like you and me. They’re human beings, too. But my dream was really to become a reporter. Anyway, I enjoyed those years, although the director had a difficult time making me cry. If my role was to snub someone or to act superior, I could easily do that, as in take one. That was what impressed the director, when I needed to act as a brat. But to make me cry? That was impossible.

DT: Then, it would be difficult to fight the ASEC?

CP: Well, I returned to Channel 4. But there was no vacancy for me. But someone suggested that I involve myself in the Liberal Party (LP) campaign. Which was what I did. My aim was to survive. I asked years earlier from my parents permission to be independent and I had lived an independent life and I was not about to return to them because I could not take care of myself. So, I joined the LP. I helped in the campaign of the former Mayor of Makati and now Rep. Kid Peña. Then eventually I helped former DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) Secretary Mar Roxas as one of the media relations officers, but with Rep. Pena, I was all alone in doing press work and in dealing with the media. But I saw I could do it.

I was talking to God. I was doing well and I was grateful to Him. I had my share of successes and I realized I could talk with anybody and I could talk before a crowd. So, it was obvious that the stars had aligned.

And then I joined the campaign of Mar Roxas for the presidency, and we all know he lost and it meant that I had lost my job again. So I asked God if I could have a role off camera for the meantime, but if there was a role before the cameras again, please give them to me. After that kind of prayer, an opportunity to go to Davao came up. Right after losing the elections, I went to Davao. I stayed there for a week. I went to apply to the President.

CP: I have always believed that even if I don’t have much money, I have enough balls and guts. That if I need to approach someone even if he does not know me, I could still approach him. I didn’t even think that the President may not accept my application. How should I know if he wants me to work for him or not if I don’t go see him? So, I found a chance through a friend who knew him and who was meeting him and was going to apply for a job. The President turned out to be a caring, warm and kind person. I told him about my qualifications but what mattered to him was my sincerity to serve my country.

Eventually, after two months, I was told to report to then DILG Secretary Sueno. So I served under him. But I had the opportunity to serve as spokesman of the MMDA on 11 September 2016. And so here I am today.

CP: It’s difficult because no matter what we say, no matter that there are already many women who occupy top positions, there is still prejudice against women, whether consciously or not, especially among men or by men. It is not easy specially in a situation where you have to deal with male drivers. They could really be mean to you, but that doesn’t work with me. I’m used to having to deal with people with that kind of attitude. But I am fortunate that I have the support of the leaders of the agency.

DT: I wonder what a typical day is for you.

CP: I love working. My friends say I tend to love my work too much. And that shouldn’t be the case because you cannot gain back the time that you could have given to your family and loved ones. Or to my social life. But I would rather work than deal with so-called friends who are not sincere. I make time to be with my family on Sundays and we talk from lunch till midnight.

DT: Your parents must be very proud of you.

CP: I hope so. They’re okay with what I have made of myself. As early as college, they gave me my independence. But now that they’ve grown older, they of course want more of my time. And Sunday is family day for me.

CP: I was supposed to get married twice before, but I chose my career. I’m a career-over-love person. It would be useless for you because I would give you my spare time, but I won’t make you my priority.

DT: How do you deal with your lack of privacy?

CP: As a public figure, I have since accepted the fact that I am publicly-owned. I have been through many experiences and I am prepared for what I am facing now.

WARNING to would-be suitors: She would not make you her priority.

DT: Aside from dealing with transport strikes, what else does MMDA have to deal with?

CP: You know, PUV modernization is under the Department of Transportation, but since we’re the ones giving free rides, we get as much attention from the media. But we also declog canals. We clean esteros. We have many programs. Traffic management is also our concern.

DT: Given the challenges that you most likely foresaw, was it easy for you to accept the job of the spokesman?

CP: I always accept a challenge. I am aware that with great responsibility comes an equally great challenge.

DT: So, how has it been like lately, given all the issues that you have to deal with?

CP: I am grateful to friends who call early in the morning asking how I am. I tell them I am okay because I really am. I am a former journalist so I know that after three days, a new issue takes the place of the current one. The hot issue now may be the transport strike, but that will pass, too.

DT: Our last question is, what is your Christmas wish?

CP: That I also receive a gift (laughs because she is joking). I am not going to ask for discipline from our countrymen because they won’t give it anyway. All I want is their cooperation. So, while we are waiting for all these infrastructure projects to be completed, we should realize that we need to shed off our bad manners, our selfishness and our bad attitudes. Let us not worsen the situation. Let us try to be better citizens.