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| councilor chuckie with a supporter |
CHUCKIE ANTONIO is tall at 5’10” and looks more like a matinee idol than a politician, but he has chosen to run as councilor of Quezon City’s 3rd district. As a teenager, he joined the modeling competition Circle of Ten and won.
“Maraming nag-alok sa’king mag-artista and even to join Pinoy Big Brother. I have a high regard for actors, but I realized early on that it’s not my calling as I don’t really know how to act,” he says. “Mas gusto ko talagang mag-serve sa mga tao, so nag-serve muna ako as SK Kagawad and later on, as Barangay Kagawad in Ugong Norte.
"I was chairman of the youth and sports council and ways and means committee. I’m now on my last term and I now aspire to be a councilor of the 3rd district which has 37 barangays and includes White Plains, Eastwood, Loyola Heights, Xavierville, Green Meadows up to Tandang Sora and Old Balara.”
He’s running as an independent candidate. Isn’t he scared he might be cheated by candidates who belong to parties with well oiled machineries?
“I feel so blessed that after I announced that I’m running as councilor, ang dami agad nagprisintang tumulong sa akin. Right now, we have 3,000 volunteers who will help me in my journey. They believe in me and in my aim to improve the quality of life of the people in our district.”
Chuckie turned 27 last April 16 and he’s the youngest candidate now. “People tell me, even when I ran as Kagawad, masyado kang bata. But I want to be the voice of the youth and show that we can all be active in government and prove that we can make a difference.”
Chuckie has a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurial management from the University of Asia and the Pacific and a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and innovation from the Singapore Management University. He now owns several businesses including a cafe, shoe factory and LED trading. He’s also involved in various livelihood and job fair programs and the Gawad Kallinga housing and feeding programs.
“Number 1 po tayo sa balota. As a millennial, I want to prove myself as the voice of young public servants and I want to encourage more young people to be actively involved in governance and be the real hope of our fatherland,” he says with so much conviction.
