MAYOR JOY BELMONTE: THE REFORMIST LARA CROFT REBUILDING QUEZON CITY'S FUTURE

QC Mayor Joy Belmonte spoke candidly and answered diverse questions from 120 young Anvil entrepreneurs ranging from economic opportunities, social reforms to culture topics.

- WILSON LEE FLORES

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte is not your typical politician. She's part archaeologist, part educator, part cultural warrior, part green visionary—and wholly unafraid to govern with both heart and backbone.

At a recent two-hour, candid dialogue with 120 young Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs of Anvil Business Club led by president Chris Yae and EVP William Lim, Jr. at the grand ballroom of Solaire Resort North (the city's first and only five-star hotel, as she proudly notes), she spoke with the polish of a seasoned public servant and the curiosity of someone who still treats governance like an ongoing excavation—always searching for what lies beneath, what can be built better.

RUNNING THE REPUBLIC OF QUEZON CITY

"Kamusta ang Republika ng Quezon City?" national politicians often jokingly ask her—and for good reason. Under Belmonte's watch, the country's largest megacity, now home to over three million residents, has become a living laboratory for progressive change. From digital governance to social housing, from tourism development and gender equality to urban agriculture, the city is doing everything—and often, all at once.

Belmonte proudly affirms her commitment to no new local taxes, despite the city's massive responsibilities. Instead, she focuses on efficiency, transparency, and digitalization to boost revenue collection and curb corruption.