OLONGAPO’S Mayor James "Bong" Gordon, Jr. is the latest recording artist awarded a Gold Record by the music industry.

Mayor Gordon may be known to most as a suave and savvy public servant by day, as he rules his beloved Olongapo City with a firm but gentle hand. But now he has added to his string of achievements that of being a famous musician and popular recording artist to his constituents.

A music lover, Bong-go, as Mayor Gordon is fondly called, had always enjoyed playing the guitar, writing, and performing his songs. As a young boy, he had been a member of the prestigious Ateneo Glee Club, and when he served as member of Congress, he formed the band "Houseboys" with some of his fellow music-loving colleagues in the House of Representatives.

In 1996, Mayor Gordon formed his band Bonggo, which graced bars around Olongapo and parties for the mayor’s friends.

Soon, however, Mayor Gordon realized that Bonggo’s performances could go beyond playing music and entertaining friends, as he discovered that he could use his songs to educate his constituents, or better yet, to move them into action.

Mayor Gordon thus saw music as another opportunity for public service, albeit in a different way. He saw it as a way to take his constituents to the next level by "Fighting for Excellence." More than just a slogan or a song, it is the Mayor’s vision – a way of life he hopes to share with his fellow Olongapeños and fellow Filipinos.

Armed with his guitar and his love for country, Mayor Gordon went into the recording studio early last year with his band and recorded seven songs, which he himself wrote, and came out with the album aptly titled, "Fighting for Excellence."

The album’s first single, "Sibit-Sibit," is about the history of the "Sibit-Sibit" festival, held once a year, which honors the tiny fishing vessels used by local fishermen, and their contribution to Olongapo’s progress.

The song enjoyed extensive airplay in Olongapo and is now a local anthem of the said festival.

Other songs in the album, such as "Balimbing," tell about values as integrity, honesty, and loyalty.

Not surprisingly, the people of Olongapo gave their all-out support to the album, and recently, the album reached the Gold sales benchmark, meaning that it had sold more than 15,000 copies.

In a simple ceremony held on January 23 at the office of Viva Records Corporation in Pasig City, no less than Viva’s erstwhile chairman and CEO, Vic Del Rosario, was on hand to award Mayor Gordon with his first Gold Record Award. The award was certified by the Philippine Association of the Recording Industry or PARI.