The Galing Pook Foundation begins its new governance cycle with a Board of Trustees that brings together familiar names in local governance and public administration, along with voices from reform work, civil society, youth advocacy, and community leadership.

The new Board was organized following the Foundation’s Annual Membership Meeting on May 25, 2026.

Leading the Board as Chairperson is Dr. Maria Fe Villamejor-Mendoza, Professor Emeritus of the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance. Dr. Mendoza has served as Dean of UP NCPAG and as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the UP Open University, and has spent much of her professional life in public administration, public policy, and institution-building.

She is joined by Dr. Eddie Dorotan as Vice Chairperson. A former Mayor of Irosin, Sorsogon and former Executive Director of Galing Pook, Dr. Dorotan has long been associated with work on local governance, primary health care, and community-based development. He also served as a member of the PhilHealth Board representing local chief executives.

Dr. Cielo Magno serves as Secretary. An economist and Associate Professor at the UP School of Economics, Dr. Magno previously served as Undersecretary of the Department of Finance for Fiscal Policy and Monitoring. Her work has focused on public finance, institutional economics, environmental economics, health economics, and industry regulation

The Foundation’s Treasurer is Victor Gerardo “Gerry” Bulatao, a long-time civil society leader and agrarian reform advocate. He chairs KAISAHAN tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Kanayunan at Repormang Pansakahan and previously served as a member of the Board of the Land Bank of the Philippines representing the agrarian reform beneficiaries sector.

Also serving on the Board is Nieves Confesor, former Secretary of Labor and Employment, a former Presidential Adviser on Human Resource Development and International Labor Affairs, and the first woman chairperson of the five-member Philippine Government Panel in the negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines National Democratic Front-New People’s Army (CPP-NDF-NPA) from 2005-2010. She is also associated with the Asian Institute of Management, where her work has covered leadership, labor relations, negotiation, conflict management, and public sector reform.

Dr. Alex Brillantes, Jr., Professor Emeritus of UP NCPAG, also joins the Board. A former Dean of UP NCPAG, former Executive Director of the Local Government Academy, and former Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education, Dr. Brillantes has written and worked extensively on decentralization, local governance, and public administration reform.

The Board also includes Alyannah Lagasca, National Chairperson of the Youth for Mental Health Coalition. Her work brings to the Board the perspective of youth leadership, public health advocacy, mental health, and meaningful participation of young people in policy and governance spaces.

Kiko Miranda, Executive Director of Fundación Climaco, brings experience in civic education, active citizenship, and the promotion of good governance rooted in local history and public service. Fundación Climaco is a Zamboanga-based nonprofit dedicated to nurturing public service and good governance through the legacy of former Zamboanga City Mayor Cesar Climaco.

Completing the Board is Vicky Armilla, an independent consultant and long-time education and governance advocate who has been part of Galing Pook’s continuing work with local governments, communities, and reform partners.

The Board is supported by Jay Carizo, Executive Director and ex officio member. Carizo leads the Secretariat and oversees the day-to-day work of the Foundation, including its awards program, capacity-building initiatives, partnerships, and knowledge-generation efforts. Galing Pook identifies the Executive Director as part of the Secretariat, while the Board provides governance and policy direction.

Together, the new Board reflects the continuing character of Galing Pook: experienced but open to renewal, grounded in institutions but attentive to communities, and committed to the belief that good governance is built not only by leaders, but by citizens, local governments, and partners working together.

As Galing Pook moves forward, the Board is expected to guide the Foundation’s work in recognizing outstanding local governance programs, supporting replication and learning, and strengthening platforms such as the Galing Pook Academy. For an institution that has spent more than three decades searching for what works in local governance, the new Board carries both responsibility and opportunity: to protect the legacy, widen the circle, and keep proving that good governance can still be found in communities across the country.