During her emotional inauguration speech for her second term on June 30, Ormoc Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez said her journey as the city’s chief executive has taught her a kind of love she never expected—one she described as “supercharged motherhood.”
While addressing supporters, city officials, and barangay leaders, Torres-Gomez made an intimate confession. She shared how she had always prayed for a big family. But having only one child led her to realize that God prepared her for something else: to nurture an entire city.
She told the crowd that being mayor made her fall in love with Ormoc all over again—not as the child who grew up there but as a mother would love her children.
65 Barangays Delivered a 13-0 Sweep for ODT
Torres-Gomez, head of the Ormoc Development Team (ODT), proudly shared that 65 out of Ormoc’s 85 barangays handed the group a sweeping 13-0 win in the latest elections. That’s a sharp rise from only 17 barangays achieving the same in 2022.
Calling it a “snapshot” of how far the ODT has come, she emphasized that the people’s trust will be matched with unwavering dedication. Her win, she said, is not just about votes, but about the deeper relationships that underpin public service.
While acknowledging the victories, Torres-Gomez reminded her team that success is not only built on performance, but on how leaders treat their people. She said every person matters, and every citizen is key to the city’s progress.
Mayor Wants Youth to Stay in Ormoc for Jobs, Family, and Purpose
In her speech, the mayor delivered a pointed message to national policymakers and fellow local leaders. She said the true cost of migration is “irreversible and irredeemable,” referring to families being separated when young people are forced to seek work in large cities.
She said she dreams of an Ormoc where youth can find meaningful work and weekends are spent with family. In her words, “What is life without family?”
While she withheld most program details for her upcoming State of the City Address in October, she made it clear that all development efforts will be centered on the family. She vowed that every initiative will treat human beings as assets, not liabilities.
She stressed that even as the city can’t control the entire country or the world, it can show up and do what it must in its own corner of the universe.
Standing side-by-side with the 85 punong barangays, she promised that the city’s development must reflect in each community. For her, Ormoc is not just a place to govern—but a family to protect and raise.
And if fate brought them back together again, she said, then there is no stopping what’s next.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.