AN EVENING OF EXCELLENCE, A MOVING FAREWELL
CESB toasts CESOs, eligibles and the Chair during its annual shindig

KCD with the 5 Outstanding CEOs

The CES Testimonial Dinner held last November 16 was indeed an evening to remember.

In a celebration that was graced all throughout by personalities known for their competence, excellence and committed service, the CESB Secretariat saved its best for last when it gave a surprise tribute to its outgoing head Karina Constantino-David towards the end of the evening.

David, who will end her term as CESB Chair on February 2008, was given an impromptu tribute by her CESB family after her keynote address that was supposed to culminate the reunion dinner cum awards show. A visibly moved David declared: “I will always be with you in spirit even after I retire,” in a speech that was met with a standing ovation by an appreciative crowd of CESOs, eligibles, past and present members of the CES Board, heads of agencies, institutional partners and friends of the CESB.

The CES community attended in full force for the event that honored new eligibles, recent graduates of the Executive Leadership Program, retiring CESOs as well as the five winners of the Search for Outstanding CEO. The evening had the feel of a family reunion with the attendance of special guests composed of former CESB Executive Director and now CSC Commissioner May Fernandez-Mendoza and retired CES Board Members Justice Jaime Lantin, Ramon F. Nieva and Godofredo De Guzman.

USECs Marius Corpus of the DILG and Lourdes Transmonte of the DOLE; ASECs Eubert Gutierrez of the DILG and Theresa Pelayo of the DTI; SVP Silvano Zanoria of the NPC; and ADG Marcelina Bacani of the NEDA were likewise there to represent their respective agencies. The families of the Search honorees also attended to witness the special occasion.

The dinner was hosted by Executive Director Tonette Allones and was assisted by Deputy Executive Director Art Lachica and Director III Bles Lodevico. The Annual Testimonial Dinner is one of the highlights of the 34 th Anniversary celebrations this month. Photos from the testimonial dinner as well as from the other anniversary events may be also accessed through our anniversary gallery here.

Capping this year's anniversary month is a Learning and Nurturing Program on the topic “Challenges of Being A CESO in Modern Times” with DBP Chair Patricia Sto. Tomas to be held on November 29 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, Davao City .

For inquiries, please call the Anniversary Query Center at 951-4981 locals 108, 109 and 127.

Date Posted: November 27, 2007

CES TO BE FEATURED IN LEADING WEEKLY MAG
November 18 issue of Panorama will highlight Search Winners, 34th Anniversary

Now here's a reason to wake up early and rush to the nearest newsstand this coming sunday.

The nation's leading weekly magazine, Panorama, will train the spotlight on the CES community in its November 18 issue as part of the 34 th anniversary celebration of the institution.

The issue, which will be published a week ahead of the CES Day on the 24 th of this month, shall highlight the achievements of the winners of the 2007 Search for Outstanding CEOs; a background on the evolution of the CES as an institution; and the activities lined-up for the November anniversary month.

The feature may also be accessed at the Panorama website here for a week starting on the 18th .

Date Posted: November 15,2007

"GOOD GOVERNANCE MATTERS"
Award-winning mayor and good governance advocate shares his and his city's success story in the November 9 LNP

Naga City mayor and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Jesse M. Robredo offered his take on "Politics, Good Governance and Leadership" in a well-attended Learning and Nurturing Program (LNP) event held last November 9, 2007 at the SEAMEO Innotech in Quezon City. The special LNP was conducted as part of the 34 th anniversary celebrations of the Career Executive Service this November.

Mayor Robredo, who is serving Naga for an unprecedented fifth term, expounded on good governance and leadership principles that guided his day-to-day management of what is dubbed as the 'premier city' of the Bicol region. Robredo also shared practical advice to his fellow government workers on how to successfully maneuver the terrain of politics. He credits, among others, the professionalism and stability of Naga's local bureaucracy as a major factor in its success story. He encourages his fellow public managers to similarly invest in the development of their organization's own human resource.

Mayor Robredo was elected in 1988 -- the youngest ever in the Philippines at age 29. Under his leadership, Naga emerged as a model local government and a laboratory of governance innovations, earning recognition from 150 different local, regional and international awards in different areas of local governance. Robredo himself has been honored with 21 major individual awards including the 2000 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service.

CESB Executive Director Tonette Allones, a provincemate of Robredo, introduced the mayor by sharing her own personal anecdote about the guest speaker. She also announced for the first time the winners of the Search for Outstanding CEO, all of whom graced the event. CESB Director III Bles Lodevico moderated the lively open forum.

The LNP is regularly conducted by the CESB to deepen awareness on contemporary governance and development issues among CES officers and eligibles. Another special anniversary LNP on "The Challenges of Being a CESO in Modern Times" is scheduled in Davao City on November 29 featuring DBP Chairperson and former CESB Chair Patricia Sto. Tomas.

For details on the upcoming LNP , please call our Anniversary Query Center at (02) 951-4981 to 88 locals 110, 108 and 127. Admission is free of charge.

Date Posted: November 15,2007

GALLERY