The City Officials |
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Atty. Dan Neri Lim
City Mayor
b. 11 February 1952, Tagbilaran City
City Councilor: 1980 - 1986
Mayor: 19 Mar 1986 - 18 Jan 1987 (OIC)
Mayor: 30 Jun 2004 - present (2nd term) |
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DAN NERI LIM
MAN OF THE HOUR
by Loy Palapos
(May 23, 2004, Bohol Chronicle, Bohol Times)
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Interviewing a person exposes a part of him,
his capabilities or lack of them, his bravery or his cowardice, his greatness
or his vulnerability. There are those who want to make a good impression on matters
they are ill-equipped, and those who want to play humble but fail to hide a turbulent
ego. In the case of Dan Lim, talking with him, in whatever clime and circumstance,
is conversing with a man who has no qualms about putting up a face to elicit admiration.
What you see is what you get.
If there is one thing in the political world that distinguishes Atty. Lim from
the others, it is his political will, a gem of a trait seldom found in a realm
characterized by hypocrisy and deceit. Not just one or two, or a group, see this
rare avatar in him, but all, even non-Boholanos, who cross his path. He knows
he cannot please all in whatever decision he makes, but this does not deter him
from pursuing what he is convinced is the right thing to do. There may be some
negativists along the way, but they can’t hold him back from the pursuits of his
ideals. Especially when the welfare of the majority is at stake.
Dan is analytical, aggressive, and persistent. He knows his priorities, and devices
plans to attain his goals. These characteristics he must have inherited from his
forebears; Filipino-Chinese-Spanish blood flows in his veins. As a human specimen
this man is a political pedigree destined for greatness. His father is Segundo
Soriano Lim, a direct descendant of one of the first three Chinese nationals whose
business prospered in Bohol even before the Second World War. Until today Mr.
Segundo Lim is still a pillar in the city’s business circle. Dan’s mother is Gloria
Basa Neri, a real beauty from Ozamis City. At one time, she took the cudgels as
Vice Mayor of Tagbilaran City and Presiding Officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
He was born on February 11, 1952, and is married to Dr. Sharleen Mathay Corral
of Makati City. She is a Doctor by profession, with specialization in Pediatrics,
and is presently a member of the medical staff of Manila Sanitarium and Hospital
in Pasay City. They have three children. Dan Ismael is 19 years old and will graduate
next year in Bachelor of Arts in English from AUP (Adventist University of the
Philippines) in Silang, Cavite. Gloria Gail is 14 and is in second year high school
at Poveda Learning Center in Quezon City. The youngest, Seg Charlie Anton is 7
and a grade two pupil at Marie Montessori Children’s School Foundation, Inc.,
Parañaque City.
Dan studied at the East Visayan Academy in Cebu City and finished his secondary
education at Rafael Palma College (UB) in 1968. He enrolled at the Philippine
Union College in Caloocan City for his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science,
which he finished in 1972. He went to Dumaguete City and enrolled at Silliman
University for his Bachelor of Laws. He graduated in 1977 and passed the Bar that
same year.
Atty. Dan Lim joined the faculty of Philippine Union College the following year,
where he taught Philippine Constitution, Political Science, and Negotiable Instrument
as a partimer. Simultaneously he accepted the offer of Assemblyman Liliano Basa
Neri of Region X as his chief-of-staff. Then he joined Goco, Neri, Bucero, Primisias
Law office, where later he became a partner replacing Neri. Atty. Lim is a member
of Law Asia, an association of lawyers all over the Asian countries. He was also
the chief-of-staff of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines before Atty. Liliano
became an Assemblyman.
In 1980 he came back to Tagbilaran and became a councilor for six years. In 1986,
when Corazon Aquino became President after the Edsa People Power, he was appointed
Mayor of Tagbilaran City. From 1988 to 1992, when Jose Ma. Rocha became Mayor
he was the City Administrator. It was during this time that Tagbilaran was given
national acceptance in a privilege speech by Senator Juan Flavier, making the
Tagbilaran City Cooperative Hospital a model in the country.
The love story of Dan and Sharleen could be a perfect plot of a tele-novela. Atty.
Lim met her when he was teaching at the Philippine Union College, where she was
a first-year college student. Coming from a sheltered family, her idea of marital
bliss was one of quiet and harmony, just like her father who is also a Doctor.
Right from the start when the young lawyer made known his intention to the beautiful
coed, she made it clear she won’t marry a politician and live a chaotic life.
But love knows no boundaries and prohibitions. The persistence of the dashing
suitor paid off. He was able to convince the reluctant swain the nobility and
intensity of his intentions. They tied the knot and, while making the family complete
with a child, she finished her medical studies.
Politics and service run through the veins of Dan Lim. This he may have inherited
from his parents. His father, Segundo Lim, and Ely Sarmiento were the only independent
candidates who made it to City Council of Tagbilaran.
Dan has been dubbed a loser by many, but he did not mind this. Deep inside himself
he did not feel like a loser. He believed he just failed to get his message across
to the people. In the last election he marketed himself as an old product, with
some innovations. Instead of making big rallies, he interacted with people in
small groups, asking them their needs. He also personally anchored a radio program
at DYRD so he can speak to the people direct from his heart. Through these means
he succeeded in presenting to them his inner side not known before. Besides, he
did not retaliate against verbal and written attacks directed against him. He
retained his composure through the mud-slinging days of the campaign period, concentrating
instead to the voice of the people he wants to serve.
He calls it non-politics. Unorthodox but effective. He was able to convince those
who listened to him that he is not the solution to the problems, like what other
candidates oftentimes claim; but that he is only an instrument in finding the
solutions of the problems, to contrast the pronouncements of those who can afford
high-tech propaganda materials. He had no political base, no party to back him
up, while others had the employees, casuals, socio-civic and religious organizations
backing them. His group was like that of Moses’ in a desert. His adherents grew.
Instead of saying “we will vote for Dan Lim,” they voice “we love Dan.” That speaks
the big difference.
Mayor Dan Lim sees an abnormal three years ahead of him. He has to pay the P113
million loan of the previous administration. This Aguila Legis member and one-time
Visayas-Mindanao Kiwanis Governor sees rough sailing ahead. But he is undaunted.
He will pursue his projects for the welfare of his constituents. The Blue Card,
poverty alleviation, expanding the Barangay Tanod program to the Puroks, and streamlining
the Integrated Bus Terminal are just few of his priorities. When Dan Lim says
it, everybody knows it can be done. It is public knowledge that he possesses the
much-vaunted political will lacking in many political leaders.
It has been a long hard climb to the helm of City Hall. With unbridled determination,
he persevered despite the previous debacles he experienced in his desire to serve
Tagbilaran. Mayor Dan Lim is the man of the hour. |
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