“Awan iti Makaatiw iti Pigsa iti Barangay nga Agkaykaysa!” (Nothing can defeat the power of a unified Barangay!) This political battle cry still reigns. Board Member Leonides Noveno Fausto, the tenacious lion heart of Cagayan, is back to legislate and serve the province and its people.

The concluded 2022 National and Local Elections announced that “Odi” Fausto, as fondly called, has gained a seat to represent the constituents from the third district as Board Member of the province.

After a brief hiatus in his political career, BM Odi who hails from the native town of Tuao, Cagayan came back bolder and wiser in serving the Cagayanos. His life as a politician is built with a strong foundation from being a 13-year Barangay Captain to a 9-year Vice Governor of the Province. These years of relentless service to the people includes his remarkable leadership as Provincial President of the Liga ng Mga Barangay in the Province seating him as an Ex-Officio Board Member in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan as well as his being President of the League of the Vice Governors of the Philippines making him the first Cagayano to hold such seat in the said league and his being a Vice President of the Union for Local Authorities of the Philippines.

Aside from his leadership roles, he is the brainchild of several leadership reformations and development such as but not limited to the incessant holding of Barangay Integration for Service Excellence and Good Governance (BISE-GOV) Seminars, deeply rooted in the fruition of his battle cry, and launching of the graduate program for Vice Governors and Local Legislators in Local Governance and Development in partnership with the Development Academy of the Philippines through the support of the other brilliant Cagayano leaders. The purpose of the former is to equip the local leaders in the smallest unit of the society to excel in its public service and governance while that of the latter is to enhance the capacity of local leaders into forging a dedicated and accountable service to all its people.

His governance as a political figure is as successful as his career as a businessman. His business, the LNF Farms is doing well. His being the owner/manager of the said Farm brought several feats as well. He became the President of the Cagayan Sugar Planter’s Association, Vice President of the National Federation of Sugar Planters and Chairman of the CARSUMCO Mill District Development council, Inc. In the said positions, he was able to forge alliances and collaboration with local and international sugar planters for the sustainability and productivity of the sugar industry not only in the province but in the country as well.

As the effects of the pandemic is lodge on his shoulders in this time of his political career, he continuously supports the Cagayano constituents through passage of several legislations that can significantly contribute to the restoration and continuance of the thriving economy of the province. This time around, in the comeback of the lion heart of Cagayan, he will continue as he has always been, to serve, to protect and to lead for the people and by the people.