TESSted: Dr. Maria Theresa Heyrosa’s Bastion of Service
Written By Trixia Glenn Velez
Incessant noises and innuendos flooding the media, bright-coloured tarpaulins of candidates and the local newspapers plastering gleeful contenders on their front pages all herald yet another season of changing the incumbent crown-bearers to welcome another term of office.
In the grand scheme of this bustling election season, Dr. Maria Theresa ‘Doc Tess’ Villaluz Heyrosa — a doctor, marine biologist, mountain climber, and plantita (a person who loves and takes care of plants) from the City of Carcar — emerged, vying for Cebu’s vice gubernatorial position alongside Cebu Province’s Governor Gwen Garcia under the One Cebu party.
Heyrosa has been practicing ophthalmology since 2008; she is also a trustee board member at the Mindanao Humanitarian Volunteers for Peace Inc. (a group that regularly conducts philanthropic outreach programs in the areas of Mindanao), former Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairman of Carcar, former Vice President of Carcar’s SK Federation, and convenor of medical outreach and legal aid programs within and outside the borders of Cebu.
This article presents a virago’s journey from being an ordinary doctor to landing herself in the ballot boxes as Cebu’s possible Vice Governor, fighting alongside the prominent Governor Garcia to fulfill their willful desires to unceasingly reach out to those who are in need.
A Political Neophyte, A Service Veteran
In the political landscape of Cebu, dominated by recurrent faces, names, and families, someone like Heyrosa is up for a hard and long-enduring fight against a “big name” in the personification of Hilario “Junjun” Davide III, who has been in the line of politics since time immemorial.
Heyrosa said to me, “Dili man ko gikan sa iladong pamilya. Mao pay pagsulod nako sa politika [I do not come from a prominent family. I have just entered the field of politics].”
Having filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) last October 2021, she expressed that although she is still a novice in the field of politics, her lifestyle has already been one of service, with or without a position or an election surfacing.
“Mao ra man gihapon akong routine, pangalagad ug serbisyo ra man jud sa kabus. Tuod, nay gamayang kausaban kay nay mga dapat tun-an,” Heyrosa expressed when asked about how she is preparing for the elections.
(My routine is still the same, providing services for the marginalized. Indeed, there are certain changes because I have to learn.)
True to her words, Heyrosa had been one of the medical frontliners toiling at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, conducting free eye consultations and being part of “Operation Tuli” (a medical outreach program that provides free circumcisions in several cities and municipalities), distributing bottled waters and face masks to medical facilities, and giving ayuda (assistance in the form of either cash, food packages, or groceries) to Typhoon Odette victims.
Upon the interview, Heyrosa had been busy making preparations for her relief operation in Siargao, even though it was not within the scope of her city. After the interview, she and her team went to Siargao to aid the victims of Odette.
“Padung mi ngadto sa Siargao karun kay mag relief operation mi adto [...] niingon gani akong bana: ‘Nganong adto man jud ka sa Siargao nga danhi ra man sa Cebu imong sakop?’ Gitubag pud nako, ‘Sige lang gud, ang serbisyo nako wala may gipili.’”
Dr. Heyrosa at an event dedicated to barangay frontliners, alongside Congressman PJ Garcia.
(We are on our way to Siargao for our relief operation. [...] my husband even remarked: ‘Why go to Siargao when the scope of your candidacy is just within Cebu?’ I retorted, ‘Just leave it be, my service doesn’t choose.’]
She continued to extend her aid, claiming that true service is not limited to the city where she is running her candidacy, hammering the nails of integrity on their party’s slogan: “Buhat ang Pasultihon [Walking the Talk].”
As a humanitarian mission leader, she was accustomed to volunteer work in remote islands like Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Basilan to conduct free medical services that range from giving out free medicines, vitamins, food, eyeglasses, and even free vision-related operations.
“‘Laysho kay siya paminawon no? Humanitarian Mission Leader. Pero sa tinood lang, a humanitarian mission leader can be anyone who offers her services and skills to help others.”
(It sounds so posh, doesn't it? But truthfully, a humanitarian mission leader can be anyone who offers her services and skills to help others.)
Why Run For Public Office?
Heyrosa recounts how One Cebu’s Congressman Pablo John "PJ" Garcia — Governor Gwen Garcia’s brother — gave her a call, encouraging her to run for the position and fight alongside his sister, who Heyrosa regards as her “idol.”
“Gabii na to siya pag October 7, my husband and I were in the car, when Congressman PJ called me up: ‘Are you willing to be the running mate of Gwen?’ Sa way pagduha-duha, nitando ko. Idol kaayo na nako si Governor Gwen.”
(It was on the night of October 7th, my husband and I were in the car when Congressman PJ called me up: ‘Are you willing to be the running mate of Gwen?’ Without any second thoughts, I agreed. Governor Gwen is really my idol).
She further elaborated how as a frontliner who constantly launched free medical missions, a desire to extend her service in a bigger scope enkindled within her, urging her to utilize a possibly greater position as a platform to serve Cebuanos better. Thus, without hesitation, she willingly filed her COC.
Dr. Heyrosa poses with Governor Gwen Garcia at a One Cebu party event.
“Sa akoa man gud, I have always given services as a private doctor. Pag pandemic, usa ko sa mga medical frontliners. And as a humanitarian mission leader, daghan nakog mga outreach programs, and nakita ni nako nga opportunity as a way nga i-extend ning akong pangalagad. “
(Personally, I have always given services as a private doctor. During the pandemic, I was one of the medical frontliners. And as a humanitarian mission leader, I’ve conducted multiple outreach programs, and I see this as an opportunity to extend the scope of my service.)
Heyrosa’s motto, “If ever there is something new that comes my way, I always go for it,” speaks volumes about her openness to new experiences to learn, optimistic outlook, and the innate fighter lurking within her cheerful exterior.
Standing Her Ground
Doc Tess acknowledges that there are people in the media who are writing her off, believing she is destined to fail in her bid for the vice governorship. Perhaps they’re anticipating that Cebuanos aren’t willing to vote for a fledgling whose name whiffs an unfamiliar tune to them.
“Oo, naa koy gi comment ato sa Facebook, niingon ko adto nga maybe he can say that because he hasn’t met me yet. Wala pa siya kaila nako. Layo pa ang May. Daghan pa ko’g serbisyong ikaalagad, I can still prove myself,” she responded.
(Yes, I made a comment about that on Facebook, I said that he can only say that because he hasn’t met me yet. He doesn’t know who I am yet. May is still far away. There are still services I can offer, I can still prove myself.)
With a few months left before the election, she remarked on how she can continue extending her service, with a deep faith that Cebu will come to notice her actions and deem her the best candidate fitting for the vice gubernatorial position.
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Images from Dr. Maria Theresa Heyrosa’s Facebook Page
