“KUNG gusto mo ng dagat, ilog, lawa, bundok, meron kami sa Pola,” bragged Mayor Ina Alegre. “Anything na meron ka sa mind mo, dadalhin kita doon.”

Being a public servant of Pola, Oriental Mindoro came into Ina’s life even if she didn’t have any political background. She dauntlessly ventured into politics starting in 2016.

Born and raised in Pola, Oriental Mindoro, Ina initially served as vice mayor of Pola in 2016 and finished one term. She was elected mayor in 2019 and subsequently got re-elected in 2022.

“I serve with a heart,” Ina asserted. “Politicians are mostly concerned with the needs of their constituents. That’s the reason I constantly evolve.”

Last year, because of the oil spill, Pola went to ground zero. “We are slowly rising but bumalik ulit ang oil spill,” Ina lamented. “We don’t know what will happen next.

“News got around that Mayor Ina needs help. Thankful ako noon because many people came crying to me after that oil spill. Hindi nila alam ang gagawin during that crisis. Pati fishing, pinahinto ko for about a year. Mahirap ‘yun.”

Ina’s entry into showbiz gave her an edge over other politicians. “Kahit na hindi naman ako gano’n kasikat or kakilala tulad ng ibang artista, pero may napakisamahan ako na writers who saw my work as a mayor and showbiz star,” Ina explained.

“I am thankful that I got into the showbiz industry. Nagagamit ko ‘yung connections ko sa showbiz even in my political career.”

Pola is now becoming not just a favorite tourist destination, but also a locale and destination for films. Pola is now the shooting capital of Oriental Mindoro.

“Once a film company shoots in Pola, we are giving an incentive to them,” said Ina. “We are not charging for anything, but I want them to help the residents.

“I don’t require them to secure a permit first. We don’t make it a hard time for them. We even help them with what they need. The company can get the residents as extra.

“That means a lot to them if they earn P200, P300 or even P1,000. Malaking bagay sa mga tao sa Pola ‘yun na naghihirap.”

In 2021, Coco Martin and Julia Montes filmed Brillante Mendoza’s Pula, a barangay in Pola. Ina was given a meaty role in the said film. “Coco and company stayed in Pola for three weeks,” Ina shared. “Other stars filmed there, too.”

Ina refuses to acknowledge she makes it a “package deal” to get a role in every film being shot in Pola. “If there’s a role that I can do, that’s the only time I act,” Ina admitted. “Walang package deal.”

She did not deny, however, that she missed acting terribly. In the film of direk Brillante’s, Pula, she plays a supporting role and got to do scenes with Coco Martin.

“The film is intended for a small town and Pola was ideal for Pula,” said Ina. “I want people to see how beautiful Pola is and gaano kabait ang mga Poleños. They are peaceful, loving and very religious. Zero crime rate kami.”

Julia Barretto and Xian Lim were in Pola for Bahay na Pula in 2022. “Thankful ako kay direk Brillante Mendoza,” said Ina. “Thankful ako sa Viva, kay Coco and other directors who went to Pola to shoot.

“Si Coco, sobrang bait niya. Inaaral niya talaga ang script before mag-shoot. Naging super close kami. Coco bought a beach-front property in Pola.”

Since she made her big screen debut in director Joseph Villamor’s Uubusin Ko ang Tapang Mo, with action star Jess Lapid, Jr. in the lead (1995), Ina thought she would pursue making films for a long time.

In 2021, Ina started making films again. She accepted direk Brillante’s Palitan (2021). That was followed by the director’s Sisid (2022) and Bahay na Pula (2022).

Reynold Giba’s Sapul and Louie Ignacio’s AbeNida came in 2023. Direk Brillante’s Pula wrapped up in 2021, is now finally shown on Netflix.

After films started shooting in Pola, their tourism increased a hundred percent, according to Ina. “Before, we would get 20,000 tourists a year,” granted Ina. “Today, we get as many as a hundred thousand and it’s still increasing.

“They have yet to see hotels built in Pola, but we have resorts for tourists. “In almost five years, marami na kaming nakitang improvement sa Pola. Malayo na ang narating ng Pola.”

Apart from her occasional film assignments, Ina is managing two basketball teams, a job she recently accepted. She took on being an owner and team manager of Mindoro Tamaraws and Pola Pilipinas.

“One is for local competitions, while the latter competes abroad. She also makes it a point to watch the games to support the teams.”

“Mahirap ang mayor,” Ina attested. “Trabaho talaga. Mahirap mapagod. But when others thank me or say, ‘Good work’ or ‘Good job,’ parang nawawala lahat ang problema mo.”

Ina has yet to excellently divide her time, but she knows how to shuttle between her work as a mayor, a mom to her four children, her family and her other important activities.

“Time-consuming lahat ng work, but you should know how to divide and prioritize the important thing to do,” Ina said. “I don’t really know how to distinguish the quality time for my family in a week. Sometimes, my daughter was asking me, what is quality time for them.

“Days before Mother’s Day, we had lunch and they already had flowers for me. Eldest Jamima is 24; Patricia, 22; Miguel, 16 is a shooter and does firing. He’s the only boy; Samantha is the youngest turning 15.”