Gov. Vilma takes 3rd oath

   Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto takes her oath before 

her husband Sen. Ralph Recto.

Capitol Hills, Batangas City—In what looked like a reversal of roles, it’s now third-termer Governor Vilma Santos-Recto who took her last oath of office before her husband Senator Ralph Recto on June 28.  In 2010, the senator took his oath of office before the governor. 

   The governor also led the oath-taking of all the other Liberal Party winners including Vice Governor Mark Leviste,  provincial board members, mayors, and councilors.

   The oath-taking ceremony was done right after the thanksgiving mass also held at the Capitol.

   Now on her third and last year, the lady governor has been barraged by questions about her running for a national position on 2016.

   “I still have three years as governor and I want to finish everything that I started,” Gov. Vilma said, ” My focus now is the HEARTS program which means Health, Education/Environment, Agriculture, Tourism, and Security/Social Services.  This program has been very effective in the province and I plan to do more.”

Vice Governor Mark Leviste took his oath before the governor

and clarified that his address is now Tingloy, not Lipa City, 

Batangas. Leviste said in an interview that it has been his 

address for two years now.

   Gov. Vilma said she would never have done the province’s projects without help.

   “I would like to thank my husband, Senator Ralph, our Vice Governor Mark Leviste, the board members, and all the capitol employees who have helped me become as effective as I am now,” Gov. Vilma said.

   Asked how much Sen. Ralph would rate Gov. Vilma’s performance, he said he would give her a 95 percent grade as the top leader in Batangas.

   “The only time she’s a bit slacking is when it's time to go home. I know she’s got too much work to do, and I would always remind her to come home early.  She’s also a wife and mother, aside from being a governor, and she’s got to come home on time,” the senator said.

   Governor Vilma also expressed her excitement over the gala premiere of her Indie film “Ekstra” on July 28 where she played the role of a movie extra with top caliber actors and actresses.  

    The governor and her senator husband gamely answered the press' 

questions during the press conference that followed the oath taking 

ceremonies.

   Despite her fast paced jobs at the capitol, she was still able to insert the movie shoots in her difficult schedule.

   In Youtube, the “Ekstra” trailer has been trending with over 113,000 views.  

   Though she admitted to have been shocked at the speedy shoots and pacing of an Indie movie, and that her first was Ekstra, she said she did the movie without considering the money issue.

   “I did it as a form of tribute for all the extras in the movie industry. And it was really a great experience for me as the top caliber actors and actresses who were in it also starred for free!” the governor said. (Mei Magsino, SLI)