Maan Teodoro Shares Marikina’s Approach to Public Service at Ateneo Memorial Lecture

Marikina Mayor Maan Teodoro discussed how care can guide local governance during the Second Henedina Razon-Abad Memorial Lecture on Women Leaders in Public Service at Ateneo de Manila University.

Teodoro presented Alagang Marikina City, her administration’s framework for addressing everyday concerns and making public services more responsive to residents.

The lecture took place at San Alberto Hurtado Hall in Ateneo’s Social Development Complex in Quezon City. Hosted by the Ateneo School of Government, it formed part of the school’s ASOG@25 anniversary celebration and Talakayang Alay sa Bayan (TALAB).

Making care part of government decisions

Teodoro emphasized that public servants should anticipate people’s needs and build institutions residents can depend on.

“People should see that government is working for them and they can depend on it,” she said.

Drawing from her experiences, she described four levels of alaga: care for oneself, family, community, and the public through government service.

She also urged leaders to know residents as neighbors whose daily lives are affected by policy decisions. That perspective, she said, should influence government spending, priorities, and follow-through.

“Ang patunay ng Alagang Marikina City ay nakaukit sa puso at alaala ng bawat taga-Marikina. Dahil sa alagang ito, ramdam ng tao na may gobyernong kumikilos para sa kanila,” Teodoro said.

Keeping residents at the center of policymaking

Teodoro, who previously served as Marikina’s first district representative, reflected on her journey from imagining a better city as a child to helping shape it as mayor.

“The city I once dreamed of as a child is the city I am now helping build as mayor. To my fellow leaders: remember the person who must live with our decision. Let that person’s experience shape what we spend on, what we fix, and what we refuse to leave unfinished,” she said.

Her message connected leadership with the practical consequences of government action: what gets funded, which problems receive attention, and whether commitments are completed.

Honoring women’s leadership in public service

Launched in October 2025, the memorial lecture honors Henedina “Dina” Razon-Abad, the Ateneo School of Government’s founding dean.

Abad’s public service included work as a legislator, educator, and advocate of participatory and accountable governance.

The lecture brought together public officials, academics, practitioners, students, alumni, and civil society representatives to discuss women’s leadership and institutional and social reform.

For Teodoro, the central message was that care must translate into decisions people can experience in their daily lives. The discussion placed residents’ needs and trust in government at the heart of public service.