Freddie Tinga: The dreamer & doer of Taguig

Wow, he looks like Lloyd Samartino!" stylist Cecile Zamora-Van Straten sighed after she looked at the photos of Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga. "I’m glad the picto-rial came out well."

"Yes, that make-over was quite a unique experience," Freddie said. "Now I’m back to my old boring look."

Spoken like a true no-nonsense man with no pretenses whatsoever. Not that there was anything old or boring with how he looked. Freddie is a Ralph Lauren and jeans type of guy – looking just so relaxed, casual, comfortable and self-confident in his clothes. I like that kind of aura. Beneath that simple humility, I sense a certain depth and sincerity. No time to think fashion when you would rather think of ways to dress up your city.

In many ways, Freddie Tinga is so much like the city that he holds in the palm of his hand like a proud, caring mayor. Since it attained cityhood status in 2004, Taguig has become the most exciting, progressive and cosmopolitan showcase of urbanization. An important residential and industrial hub where world-class structures thrive, such as gleaming, award-winning condominiums by Century Properties, the refreshing Serendra/Bonifacio High Street developed by Ayala Land (which is now the fave place of the "A" crowd), three international schools, multinational addresses and more. And yet parts of Taguig – it used to be just a fishing community along Laguna de Bay – retain their bucolic charm.

Freddie has that world-class sophistication derived from years of MBA and management training in the United States. And yet, he proudly claims, "I am still a promdi at heart."

Both Freddie and his wife Kaye Chua finished their masters in business administration in the US. "We were hired for the management associate program here in Citibank from there." Both UP graduates (he has a BS degree in business economics, she finished her BS in economics), they married after a long friendship that developed into something more.

Over lunch at Duo, one of the many new and exciting restos at Serendra, we compare memories of our UP student days, start the interview on his childhood in Taguig, and end it with his mantra.

PHILIPPINE STAR: We used to think of Taguig as just another fishing town. Now, with the Bonifacio Global City as its centerpiece, Taguig may be the next Makati. What are your thoughts on this?

FREDDIE TINGA: Yup. Taguig will be the country’s premier city by the year 2020. Taguig has the opportunity to leapfrog over the neighboring LGUs. We don’t see Taguig’s development as a threat to the rest of Metro Manila, rather we see it as being beneficial, a catalyst for development and urban renewal of the metropolis.

You were born and raised in Taguig. Describe the Taguig of your childhood.

Quiet. Provincial. Basketball leagues. Colorful fiestas. A one-street town.

Your father was congressman of Taguig  when it was starting to bloom. What vision did he have for Taguig?

My father was congressman of Taguig/Pateros from 1987-1998. He always thought of Taguig as becoming the country’s premier city. Not many believed him. I think he’s happy that gradually his vision is becoming realized.

And what vision do you have for Taguig? What are you proudest of when it comes to Taguig?

For Taguig to be the country’s premier city by the year 2020. I’m proud that people don’t think we’re such a backwater anymore, that our people now have more civic pride.

Is politics in your blood? You said you never wanted to be in politics.

I guess you can say that, although my grandfather, Ciriaco P. Tinga, was vice mayor of Taguig before WW2, my father Dante O. Tinga was congressman for 12 years, I still think I became mayor by accident. That the time given to me here is an opportunity to help the people, and that after this I can go back to a quieter, more normal life.

What did you see yourself doing after college? What was your dream as a boy?

Running away from the rat race and living in peace on a tropical island. It’s still my dream, actually.

Having studied abroad and traveled a lot, what cities do you admire? How can these be part of your dreams for Taguig?

My wife Kaye and I lived in Portland, Oregon for a brief period right after we got married. In a lot of ways, it’s the ideal town – all the benefits of a big city with the charm of a small one. Portland is one of the cities we’re patterning Taguig after – well-planned and developed.

How much of an activist were you as a UP student? How has UP shaped your thinking?

I was more the walang pakialam type, which, in a way, UP also fosters. But then again I was in UP during the time of the EDSA revolution, so it was both a chaotic and exciting time in UP. In my last semester, we hardly had any classes because of the rallies. Studying in UP really opens your mind and exposes you to things and concepts one would not have experienced otherwise.

What do you think of today’s young people?

So many of them exhibit the traits we need to change. Apathy and ignorance. Some really don’t care enough to help those in need, while others are noisy and scream at the top of their lungs without under-standing why and what they are fighting for.

What is wrong with our country today?

Apathy and ignorance.

What was your life-changing moment?

My mother passing away, and me realizing that we are all on this planet to make a difference no matter how short our time here is.

How do you describe Philippine politics today?

Stupid. Too much noise. Too much hypocrisy. Not enough idealism People destroying each other at the expense of the nation.

Who are the leaders you admire most?

The ones who do much but don’t talk much.

What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now?

Not in politics. Probably doing something entirely different. Hopefully, something still meaningful and relevant.

What lessons did you learn from your father? What are the most important lessons you want to teach your kids?

I’m a hands-on dad, more a friend and a playmate to my kids (Kylie, Kerry and Kody). I let my wife do the more traditional parenting. My father always trusted and supported our decisions, and this is something I want to do for my own children. And definitely, I stress in my kids how important it is to help make a difference in this world.

What are your greatest luxuries?

Golf clubs.

What are your simple joys?

Watching movies with the kids and the wife. I watch TV, mostly basketball games, specifically any Phoenix Suns game, also science fiction. I’m a big Star Trek fan.

What do you do to relieve yourself from stress?

I like playing basketball. I used to play baseball in college. I play badminton once in a while. But as I get older, golf seems to be more my speed now.

What is your fantasy?

Having superpowers and fighting for truth, justice and all that good stuff.

What does power mean to you?

The Lord of the Rings explains it to a "T": Absolute power corrupts absolutely. While Stan Lee tells us, "With great power comes great responsibility."

What does money mean to you?

It’s a means to an end. Don’t fall in love with it. You can’t take it with you. Make sure you have enough, make sure you use it to help people, and make sure you don’t use it all on frivolous material things.

What is your favorite advice to people?

Don’t believe your own press releases.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

"Make a difference."

What is your mantra?

"Lahat Panalo Kapag Sama-Sama Tayo."

Your name: Freddie Tiñga

Your favorite virtue: Patience and humility.

Your favorite qualities in a man: Practical idealism.

Your favorite qualities in a woman: That she brings out the best in me.

Your favorite occupation: Shooting guard for the Phoenix Suns and/or bestselling author.

Your chief characteristic: Dreamer.

Your idea of happiness: Being with the ones I love, doing the things I love.

Your idea of misery: No family.

Your favorite colors: Blue and green.

If not yourself, who would you be? My son Kody.

Where you would you like to live? Trying to make Taguig the place everyone wants to live in. (By the sea would be nice too.)

Your favorite prose authors: Tolkien, Rick Reilly, Stephen Ambrose.

Your favorite composers: Lennon/McCartney.

Your favorite hero in real life: My dad.

Your favorite heroine in real life: My mom.

Your favorite hero in fiction: Capt. James T. Kirk, Green Lantern.

Your favorite food and drink: I don’t drink but I will eat anything.

Your favorite names: Kylie, Kerry and Kody. (Not Sigfrido).

Your pet aversion: You can be stupid or you can be lazy, but please don’t be both.

What characters in history do you most dislike: Any advocate of racial cleansing and religious persecution and there are many of them.

What is your present state of mind? Thankful for all our blessings. (Especially the baby that’s on the way.)

For what fault have you most toleration: People who make mistakes (because they’re trying).

Your favorite motto: The greater danger for most of us is not that we aim too high and miss it, but we aim too low and hit it. – Based on The Marcel Proust Questionnaire