Alumni Feature: Golden Eagle Soars High in Public Service

Countless of notable Augustinians have been shaped and developed by the University of San Agustin in the 116 years of service and education it provided the young minds of those who chose the Augustinian way of life and learning. One of whom has achieved recognition in the field of politics – a Golden Eagle soaring high because of hard work, commitment, and her love for service – the very core values of being an Augustinian.

In this month’s series of alumni features, Mayor Liecel Mondejar Seville of New Lucena, Iloilo is an epitome of an Augustinian who has shown how it is to make it in the chosen path designed for those who wanted to reach their dreams.

A product of the Basic Education Department — High School Batch 1990 and Elementary Batch 1986, her education, experiences, and love for service continued to expand paving way to a life of public service. She was chosen as Mayor of the Municipality of New Lucena and Board Member of the Province of Iloilo because of the trust and support given her by the people. This was the beginning of her sojourn towards numerous endeavors that gave pride and honor to her hometown. She became a Lieutenant Commander of the Marines Navy Reservist and recipient of the Gawad Parangal Award for Outstanding Municipal Mayor in the whole Philippines in 2010. She also received the Punong Bayan Award of Excellence for her exemplary service given by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines. These recognitions intensified her contributions to further bring her community to greater heights.

Her credentials bespoke of how her work ethics and love for service can make a difference to her town and people; this in return resulted to be requested into different local and international fora. A few of which was being invited as the Resource Speaker of the ASIA Pacific Development Center for Disability (APCD) conducted by the Foundation of APCDF at Holiday Inn Hotel, Pattlaya, Thailand in 2012, as well as during the round table discussion on Rural Development in Thailand, which delved into the integration of OTOP with Onpaku, held at Beppu, Japan of that same year.

In her years of service, the said municipality has gained recognitions from different award-giving bodies under her leadership. New Lucena received the Seal of Good Local Governance for 3 consecutive years in her previous term as Municipal Mayor. DILG also awarded the said Municipality the Plaque of Sustainability for Excellence. In addition, New Lucena was awarded Outstanding in Child Health under the 4th to 6th class municipalities category in 2010 at the Malacañang Palace. In fact, then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recognized the Municipality as the Most Child Friendly Municipality in the Philippines. It was also recognized as the Local Government Unit of the Year by the Philippines Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Inc. in 2013. Recently, DILG awarded the Municipality of New Lucena the Seal of Financial Housekeeping 2019.

It is with much gratitude that this Golden Eagle has brought pride and joy in the Augustinian community.