Sherwin Gatchalian is the 27th Mayor of the City of Valenzuela. He was born on April 6, 1974. At 31 years old, he is the youngest City Mayor in the Philippines.
His exposure to the family business at a very young age led him to the Boston University in Massachusetts where he finished Business Administration.
Mayor Gatchalian’s thirst for knowledge and his fascination with the corporate world and the emerging global economy prompted him to finish his Master’s Degree in Corporate Finance at the Euromoney Institute of Finance.
After earning his Master’s Degree in 1997, he immediately worked as Vice Chairman of Waterfront Philippines, Inc. Waterfront set out to complete two major objectives in the province of Cebu: to focus on hotel and resort development, and to promote tourism in the Philippines. Mayor Gatchalian’s dedication to hard work and his passion for excellence helped turn the vision into a reality with the full operation of the Waterfront Mactan Island Hotel and Casino, the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, and the Cebu International Convention Center.
A self-confessed “workaholic”, Gatchalian also worked with several other companies including Air Philippines International Corporation, Wellex Group of Companies, Omico Mining Corporation, and Plastic City Corporation.
In 2001, the call to serve his fellow Valenzuelanos became too strong to resist for the young entrepreneur. At the age of 27, he was elected as Representative of the 1st District of Valenzuela.
Even in the House of Representatives, Gatchalian left his mark as one of the young and dynamic legislators of the 12th Congress. He authored several Bills and Resolutions on the protection of migrant workers, establishment of Anti-Illegal Recruitment Centers, establishment of District Drug Rehabilitation Centers, as well as other developmental laws for the improvement of his beloved Valenzuela City.
A strong clamor from his constituents in Valenzuela, coupled with his sincere desire to serve the people and effect significant changes for the development of the City, persuaded him to run for Mayor during the May 2004 elections. His dictum, Valenzuela, May Disiplina, speaks volumes about the young local chief executive who works just as hard as the next City Government employee for the development of Valenzuela. With his hands-on style of management, his faith in the capabilities of his people, and his corporate acumen, the Mayor is, indeed, able to introduce changes in the City. Improvements that can bee seen and felt by all Valenzuelanos.