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PASIG CITY, May 7, 2025 (SDN) — A mayor in the National Capital Region (NCR) receives a monthly salary of Php203,000.
That’s a cool Php7.308 million, an amount that’s no chicken feed.
If you are the mayor in the NCR, let’s say, Taguig, Pasig, Makati, or Pasay, in these urban jungles, would you waive your monthly take home pay and donate it to charity? Voluntarily?
None yet?
Well, it seems there’s one who is up to this challenge, which is her plan and intended goal if she wins in the May 12 midterm elections.
It’s none other than Sarah Discaya, the candidate for mayor of Team Kaya This, successful businesswoman and philanthropist, through their St. Gerrard Charity Foundation, their vehicle for helping the poor, Pasigueños and even those outside of NCR.
Ate Sarah, as she is fondly called by her beloved fellow citizens of Pasig, owns and operates, with her husband Kuya Curlee, the St. Gerrard Construction Contractor and Development Corporation, based in the heart of the city in Barangay Bambang, her birthplace.
St. Gerrard Construction is one of only 30-40 Quadraple “A” developer-builder companies in the Philippines, a badge of excellence highly coveted, but not so many are able to achieve.
They built their fortune from the ground up, enduring many trials and obstructions along the way. Actually, a gauntlet of energy-sapping obstacles that put the will to its utmost challenge.
But they persevered amidst all the odds, and came out triumphant, seemingly a demonstration that failure is not an alternative. Win or fail, but win if one has the heart and the constancy of purpose.
Kuya Curlee said at one time that he learned that an NCR mayor’s salary amounts to Php203,000 a month.
That big amount, however, worth more than Php7.308 million in a three-year mayor’s term, Ate Sarah is willing and has made up her mind to donate all of it to charity organizations, her husband Kuya Curlee revealed.
He said that charity organizations to be chosen must be legitimate and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
He and Ate Sarah already discussed this as a couple and there was no disagreement, he assured.
Kuya Curlee emphasized that if her wife wins on Monday, May 12, he will double the exact amount with another donation to other and different charity organizations so that more people would benefit.
Who can top that?
“If Ate Sarah has two hands and I have two as well, we will partner with charity organizations so we can have 10 hands in helping the poor,” he points out.
He vowed that this will happen and implemented if Ate Sarah emerges winner in the Pasig mayoralty race. She is a neophyte in the political arena, but has a big heart for the poor, her beloved Pasigueños, well-attuned to the challenges and sacrifices of those in the bottom of society, she and her husband once been in the same predicament.
Being attuned flows also from her background as a philanthropist, both Ate Sarah and Kuya Curlee, using their own resources to help the poor.
Ate Sarah’s “Seven Wonders” for Pasigueños
Giving back is certainly not new to the Discaya couple because their St. Gerrard Charity Foundation has been conducting medical missions with free medicines, consultations, haircut, distributing medical devices for asthma, among others.
They did it many times before the election period, even outside Metro Manila, benefiting the poor and the needy with several thousands of people in attendance in their various medical missions. In Pasig, their charity foundation conducted medical missions in almost all the 30 barangays but they had to suspend it once the prohibition begun because of the political exercise.
On Tuesday, May 6, the Team Kaya This had their caucus in Bagong Ilog, with Ate Sarah again hammering down her priorities, healthcare, education, housing, programs for seniors, Smart City, among others of their platform.
She feels for the Pasigueño students, saying “everyday is a challenge — not only for the students but also for the teachers and the parents.”
Ate Sarah lamented that classrooms in Pasig schools are overcrowded, needing three shifts for classes.
“And, despite all of these (challenges), the dream of every Pasigueño child remains firm — to study, pursue progress, and help their family,” the first time candidate says.
She wondered no end when will the overcrowding in the schools would stop. Until when the students are denied efficient and quality school facilities?
Ate Sarah noted that Pasig has a huge budget for education, yet why does it seem that it’s a forgotten priority today.
“This is not an issue of lack of money. This is an issue about direction and care (for the students). And this is where Ate Sarah comes in,” she assures.
“Behind every Pasigueño youth is a dream,” she points out, but hampered by a lack of funds for tuition fees.
Lightening the burden of senior citizens, students, those with no house, tricycle drivers, and the poor through a responsive, humane and caring people-centric government for all Pasigueños.
Ate Sarah and her lineup have time and again to give them the opportunity to serve them through the ballots come Monday, May 12, so they can implement and put in place their platform.
Their platform is contained in Ate Sarah’s “Seven Wonders”, such as;
- Progress
- Action
- Security
- Infrastructure
- Tapping Pasigueños’ talents and knowledge
- Health
- Opportunity for Pasigueños
Team Kaya This can only realize their platform if Pasigueños choose a new brand of government, programs, projects, and services instead of the old ways. (√)