The Honorable
Joy Belmonte
Belmonte in 2023
11th Mayor of Quezon City
Assumed office
June 30, 2019
Vice MayorGian Sotto
Preceded byHerbert Bautista
17th Vice Mayor of Quezon City
In office
June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2019
MayorHerbert Bautista
Preceded byHerbert Bautista
Succeeded byGian Sotto
Personal details
Born
Maria Josefina Tanya Go Belmonte

(1970-03-15) March 15, 1970
Quezon City, Philippines
Political partySerbisyo sa Bayan Party (2018–present)[1][2]
Other political
affiliations		PFP (2018–2021)
PDP–Laban (2017–2018)
Liberal (2009–2017)
SpouseRaymund Alimurung
Children1
Parent(s)Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
Betty Go-Belmonte
Alma materAteneo de Manila University (BA)
University of Leicester (MMS)
University College London (MA)

Joy Belmonte (born Maria Josefina Tanya Go Belmonte; March 15, 1970) is a Filipina politician who has served as the 11th mayor of Quezon City since 2019. A member of the local Serbisyo sa Bayan Party, Belmonte previously served as the vice mayor of Quezon City from 2010 to 2019 under her predecessor, Herbert Bautista.

Early life and education

Born Maria Josefina Tanya Go Belmonte on March 15, 1970, in Quezon City.[3] She is the only daughter of journalist Betty Go-Belmonte and lawyer Feliciano Belmonte Jr., who would later serve as the 9th Mayor of Quezon City, a representative from Quezon City's 4th congressional district, and House Speaker.[4][5] She has three brothers: Isaac Belmonte, the current head of the editorial board of The Philippine Star, Kevin Belmonte, the vice-chairman of Nuvoland Philippines, and Miguel Belmonte, the current president and CEO of The Philippine Star. Her first cousin, Kit Belmonte, was the representative of Quezon City's 6th congressional district from 2013 to 2022.[6]

She attended Saint Pedro Poveda College for her grade school and high school education, where she became the first student council chairman of the school.[7] She graduated with a Jose Segovia Award for Service and Gerry Roxas Award.[8]

In 1992, Belmonte graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences.[9] Afterwards, in 1995, she took up her graduate studies in the University of Leicester where she earned her master's degree in Museum Studies.[9]

In 1996, she again took up her graduate studies at University College London where she earned her master's degree in Archaeology.[9] For the duration of her masters program, she focused on studying about Southeast Asia and its culture,[8] which led her to take up an internship in Thailand.[10] She became an archeologist, and eventually ended up teaching the subject in the Philippines.[5]

Political career

2010–2019: Vice Mayor of Quezon City

Joy Belmonte (right) with President Rodrigo Duterte (middle) along with Sonny Belmonte (left). July 2018

In 2009, Belmonte placed a bid to run for Vice Mayor of Quezon City in 2010 as the running mate of outgoing Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista. She was sworn in as a new member of the Liberal Party in November 2009, alongside her father and Bautista, in support of the presidential run of Senator Benigno Aquino III.[11] She won the elections, with Bautista dominating the mayoralty race, and assumed office on June 30, 2010. She was reelected in 2013 and in 2016.[8] She was also a major backer of the successful 2016 vice presidential campaign of Leni Robredo.[12]

On May 10, 2017, Belmonte took oath as a new member of the ruling PDP–Laban, the party of President Rodrigo Duterte, after leaving the Liberal Party.[12] On July 27, Belmonte made headlines when she was in-charge as acting mayor during a monsoon because she refused to suspend classes early but still did when the students were stranded already. She predicted that "there would be only light rains" based on a bulletin contrary to what happened. Belmonte said she acknowledges her "shortcomings in this situation", and stated that the residents "'deserve a better leader" because of the incident.[13]

On November 6, 2018, the "Batas QC" was launched, spearheaded by Belmonte. This initiative is the first mobile application in the Philippines to feature local ordinances. Its aim is to raise awareness regarding the rules and the corresponding penalties of non-compliance in order to minimize the violations among the people in the city.[14]

In February 2019, Belmonte was accused of graft by Manuel Morato, a former chairman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Belmonte denied the accusations and filed a libel case against 11 people including Morato.[15][16]

2019–present: Mayor of Quezon City

On February 14, 2018, she announced that she intends to run for the mayoral position of Quezon City in the 2019 local elections. She had agreed to run under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago with incumbent councilor and actor Gian Sotto as her running mate.[17] She was also among the pioneer members of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas when the party was officially launched in October 2018.[18]

Her platform includes furthering women's rights, the addition of closed-circuit television cameras along the streets, upgrading the systems of documentation, and intensification of the anti-drug campaign.[19][20] This platform was created with the help of 50 experts in multiple fields.[21] Other more concrete points of her platform include child-minding centers; creating homes for abandoned senior citizens; a 24/7 emergency hotline; discounts for solo parents and PWDs.[19] Joy has signed a covenant with women leaders of the Quezon City Community Women Leaders’ Federation.[22] This covenant assured that the points of the Quezon City Community Women Leaders’ Federation ten-point agenda such as specialty clinic for women illnesses and mental health, and livelihood training center for the women entrepreneurs.[22]

She won against her closest rival, then-incumbent 1st District representative Vincent Crisologo, in a large margin and was proclaimed the 11th Mayor of Quezon City.[23]

On her first months in office, she led the operations to clear out any road-blocking vehicles from highways within the city through the creation of the "Task Force 60 Days".[24] She asked for an extension of the 60-day deadline given by President Rodrigo Duterte to local executive chiefs to "reclaim all public roads", as Belmonte said that Quezon City is "too large" for the mandate to be done within the required duration.

By September 2019, she ordered to remove former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.'s monument in Quezon Avenue for road-widening[25] and dismantle stalls inside the Quezon City Memorial Circle.[26] She also created the "Task Force on Solid Waste Collection, Cleaning, and Disposal Services Management".[27]

Belmonte took charge of Quezon City's COVID-19 pandemic response beginning in 2020. Free COVID-19 tests were made available for its residents and workers and the city's molecular laboratory was built for speedy release of coronavirus test results. The local government had also provided financial aid to employees of high-risk establishments affected by lockdowns, and care kits to closed-care setting facilities grappling with virus outbreaks.[1] Controversies during this period included a chaotic and overcrowded distribution of supplemental aid in April 2021 and the mauling by local officials of a fish vendor not wearing a face mask outdoors in 2020. She also gave Quezon City Task Force Disiplina head Rannie Ludovica, who posted a "shoot-to-kill" threat online against quarantine violators, a "second chance" despite calling his statement "appalling."[28]

She was re-elected to her second consecutive term in 2022 through a landslide victory, defeating her closest rival, AnaKalusugan party-list representative Mike Defensor.[29]

Personal life

Belmonte married Raymond Alimurung, the first Filipino CEO of Lazada Philippines.[30] They have a son.[31]

In 2010, she was awarded the Gawad Lingkod Masa Award by Gabriela Women's Party due to her work on protecting and helping out distressed women.[32]

On July 8, 2020, Belmonte disclosed that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and was an asymptomatic carrier. As a result, her office and other common areas in the Quezon City Hall were closed for disinfection.[33][34] On March 29, 2021, Belmonte announced that she had tested positive again and was symptomatic.[35]

Electoral history

Vice mayorality race

2010 Quezon City vice mayoral election
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Joy Belmonte 503,657 69.98
PMP Aiko Melendez* 122,584 17.03
LDP Janet Malaya 75,302 10.46
Independent Dave Planas 8,350 1.16
Independent Allan Bantilo 4,248 0.59
Independent Rodrigo Kapunan 3,334 0.46
Independent Ma. Floriza Pusing 851 0.12
KBL Rolando Jota 773 0.11
Independent Apolinario Tubera 640 0.09
Majority 381,073 52.95%
Valid ballots 719,739 93.50
Invalid or blank votes 50,038 6.50
Total votes 769,777 100.00
Liberal hold
2013 Quezon City vice mayoral election
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Joy Belmonte 546,707 78.49
Independent Rolando Jota 38,299 5.50
Margin of victory 508,408 72.99
Valid ballots 585,006 83.99
Invalid or blank votes 111,519 16.01
Total votes 696,525 100.00
Liberal hold
2016 Quezon City Vice mayoral election
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Joy Belmonte[36] 736,274 80.73%
PGP Henry Samonte[36] 26,254 2.88%
UNA Rolando Jota[36] 10,238 1.12%
PDP–Laban Allan Bantillo[36] 10,137 1.11%
Nacionalista Glen Acol[36] 5,151 0.57%
Margin of victory 710,020 77.85%
Valid ballots 788,054 86.41%
Invalid or blank votes 123,974 13.59%
Total votes 912,028 100%
Liberal hold

Mayorality race

2019 Quezon City mayoral election
Party Candidate Votes %
Serbisyo sa Bayan Party Joy Belmonte[37] 469,480 54.09
PDP–Laban Vincent Crisologo 366,215 42.19
KDP Chuck Mathay*[37] 19,106 2.20
Independent Emma Orozco 3,588 0.41
PM Henry Samonte 2,810 0.32
Independent Romeo Acebedo 2,142 0.24
Independent Andoy Rosales 2,128 0.24
Independent Esmeraldo Balosa 1,129 0.13
PGRP Alex Lague 828 0.09
PDDS Teodoro Rusios 555 0.06
Total votes 867,981 100.00
2022 Quezon City mayoral election[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Serbisyo sa Bayan Party Joy Belmonte 662,611 60.43
PFP Mike Defensor 419,064 38.74
Independent Glenda Araneta 4,282 0.39
Independent Diosdado Velasco 2,981 0.27
PDSP Ricardo Bello 2,642 0.24
Independent Wilhelmina Orozco 1,899 0.17
WPP Jose Ingles Jr. 1,238 0.11
Independent Tomas Salutan Jr. 975 0.09
Independent Rolando Jota 853 0.08
Total votes 1,096,545 100.00

References

  1. 1 2 De Leon, Dwight (October 5, 2021). "Mayor Joy Belmonte aims for reelection in Quezon City". Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Serbisyo sa Bayan Party presents candidates for 2022 elections". Manila Bulletin. October 9, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  3. ↑ Layson, Mer (March 15, 2022). "10 NCR Mayors, mananalo ulit - RPMD". Pilipino Star Ngayon. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Star's Betty Go-Belmonte dies". The Manila Standard. January 29, 1994. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Joy to the world". The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  6. ↑ Yap, DJ; Sauler, Erika (July 15, 2015). "Belmonte daughter, nephew backing Roxas". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Joy Belmonte on Sarah, Kris and her Quezon City dreams". The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 "A working woman for a better country". The Manila Times Online. October 14, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 "Quezon City Council - Sangguniang Panlungsod Lungsod Quezon | Ma. Josefina G. Belmonte". quezoncitycouncil.ph. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte's Simple But Charming Condo". realliving.com.ph. October 26, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Press Release - Liberal Party secures Metro Manila Big 3". Senate of the Philippines. November 19, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Dioquino, Rose-an Jessica (May 10, 2017). "Joy Belmonte, major Robredo backer in LP, switches allegiance to PDP-Laban". GMA News. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Quezon City's Joy Belmonte under fire for initially not suspending classes". July 27, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  14. ↑ Raymundo, Perfecto Jr. (December 28, 2018). "Quezon City launched many 'firsts in PH' in 2018". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Joy Belmonte files libel case vs Manuel Morato, tabloid execs". The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  16. ↑ "QC vice mayor files libel charges against Morato". Manila Bulletin News. February 18, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  17. ↑ Headstart- QC mayoral candidate Joy Belmonte | ANC, April 15, 2019, retrieved April 23, 2019
  18. ↑ Dela Cruz, Angie (October 8, 2018). "Partido Federal ng Pilipinas , pormal nang inilunsad sa QC". Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Tagalog). Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  19. 1 2 "Belmonte reveals pro-women platform of governance as she signs covenant with fellow leaders". Manila Bulletin News. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Joy Belmonte: Shun lies, black propaganda". MSN. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Joy Belmonte gets 50 experts to draft mayoral platform". Politiko Metro Manila. November 28, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  22. 1 2 Chavez, Chito (March 8, 2019). "Belmonte reveals pro-women platform of governance as she signs covenant with fellow leaders". Manila Bulletin.
  23. ↑ "Joy Belmonte has massive lead over Crisologo in QC mayoral contest". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  24. ↑ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (September 27, 2019). "Mayor Belmonte: City streets now cleared of obstructions". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  25. ↑ Ramos, Mariejo S. (September 14, 2019). "Ninoy Aquino's statue to be relocated". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  26. ↑ Chavez, Chito. "City gov't starts dismantling stalls inside QC Memorial Circle". news.mb.com.ph. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Joy Belmonte creates solid waste collection task force in QC". Rappler. July 13, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  28. ↑ Talabong, Rambo (August 4, 2020). "Joy Belmonte gives 'shoot-to-kill' QC official second chance: 'He apologized to me'". Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  29. 1 2 "COC Results - Quezon City". COMELEC. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Lazada Philippines names first Filipino CEO". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Joy Belmonte preparing husband, son from politiko mudslinging". Politiko Metro Manila. November 27, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Gabriela presents Joy with leadership award". Manila Standard. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  33. ↑ "Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte tests positive for COVID-19". Rappler. July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  34. ↑ "QC Mayor Belmonte tests positive for coronavirus". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  35. ↑ Marquez, Consuelo (March 29, 2021). "QC Mayor Belmonte tests positive for COVID-19 a second time". GMA News Online. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 "QC Mayor Bautista files his COC for 2016 polls". Manila Times. October 16, 2015. Archived from the original on October 17, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  37. 1 2 "Belmonte-Sotto, Mathay-Paulate tandems gun for QC top posts | Philstar.com". philstar.com. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
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