Former congressman and ex-governor Atty. Edgar Migriño Chatto reflected on a year of transition as he closed out 2025, expressing gratitude for 43 years of public service while pledging to continue supporting the people of Bohol from outside government.
In an interview with journalist Ardy Araneta-Batoy on dyTR radio, Chatto shared his thoughts on reverting to private citizenship after losing his bid for a congressional seat in last year’s elections, stressing that his commitment to serving Boholanos remains unchanged.
“I am thankful for the gift of life, of family, of friendship and of service,” Chatto said, crediting God for providing him opportunities to serve the people of Bohol in different capacities over more than four decades. “For me, being able to serve the Boholano people is a gift as I now embrace a new environment, and face challenges as a private citizen.”
NO BITTERNESS AFTER ELECTORAL LOSS
Despite his electoral defeat, Chatto addressed online comments noting the absence of bitterness in his demeanor, explaining his philosophical approach to setbacks.
“A person defines who he is by the things that he does and not by the things other people think about him,” Chatto said. “I do not believe in burning bridges as there will come a time when those who you wish to unfriend might become close buddies in the future.”
The former governor, who served Bohol’s first district in Congress before his recent loss, said he wants only positivity for himself, his friends, relatives and neighbors.
While acknowledging that he cannot control people who may dislike him, he said he is enjoying his experience as a private citizen.
CONTINUED SERVICE FROM THE SIDELINES
Even outside official government positions, Chatto maintains an active role in community affairs.
He continues to receive visitors daily at his farmhouse in Balilihan, keeping his gates open to people from all walks of life seeking assistance or advice.
“Even as a private person, I still share my experiences and expertise as I give not just material things but also my advice to anybody who needs it,” Chatto explained.
He described himself as acting as a bridge between government agencies, private offices and individuals who believe he can help connect them with needed resources.
The former governor said he treasures the relationships built during his decades in public service.
He recently hosted members of his Management Executive Board from his tenure as governor from 2010 to 2019, viewing it as an opportunity to bond and thank them for maintaining their friendship beyond professional obligations.
Local officials including mayors and other town leaders have continued visiting Chatto and his family, maintaining bonds that he said “transcend time and space.”
He said his readiness to assist current Bohol leaders and officials in the province’s various municipalities in advancing development initiatives.
HEALTHCARE LEGACY TAKES SHAPE
Among Chatto’s most remarkable accomplishments, he pointed to the Governor Celestino Gallares Multi-Specialty Medical Center in Cortes, which has now become operational.
“The hospital started as an idea or a dream and I tried to work on it until it became a reality,” Chatto said, thanking all those who helped bring the facility to fruition.
The hospital represents one of the Department of Health’s largest investments in the Philippines, according to Chatto, who described widespread amazement at the scale of the project.
He noted that the facility serves not only Bohol but the entire country.
“The hospital in Cortes is a trailblazer as this is the first government hospital that is multi-specialty in status and in nature,” Chatto said. “The goal is to bring the hospital into the level of the specialty hospital in Manila.”
MEDICAL EDUCATION INITIATIVE
Chatto also championed the establishment of the College of Medicine at Bohol Island State University, consulting with Dr. Ryan Tirol of University of Bohol and Fr. Ruel Lero of Holy Name University before initiating the project.
He expressed gratitude to BISU’s current administration for continuing the plans and vision from his tenure, and said he prays that doctors produced by the institution will strengthen healthcare systems in Bohol and neighboring provinces.
FAMILY TRADITIONS AND VALUES
The transition to private life has allowed Chatto more time with family, enabling him to focus on personal matters and budget his own time while maintaining his support system.
He quoted philosopher George Santayana, describing the family as “one of nature’s masterpieces” and stressing its irreplaceable role in creating lasting memories.
Chatto and his family maintained their annual Christmas tradition on December 25, opening their home to well-wishers, friends and visitors – a practice started by his parents that he feels grateful to sustain.
“Whatever you have, share it,” Chatto said, explaining that visitors received gifts as a way for his family to share their blessings. “The season is a time for caring, loving, and sharing what we can share with people if we are blessed enough.”
Beyond his immediate family, Chatto said he was raised thinking about a bigger family consisting of people not just in Balilihan or Bohol, but around the world.
PRAYER AS FAMILY BOND
Chatto said the importance of the saying “The family that prays together, stays together,” noting that distance poses no obstacle for family members to pray as one community through technology.
His family schedules regular online prayer times, allowing members abroad and elsewhere to participate regardless of location. Before or after prayers, they use the opportunity to share updates about concerns and happy moments, strengthening family bonds.
“Technology is enabling me and my family to pray together, removing distance as a barrier against unity,” Chatto said. When family members cannot join due to other activities, they ensure a representative is present and informed of everyone’s whereabouts.
He encouraged other families with similar geographic separations to maintain regular contact, particularly through prayer.
Balilihan councilor Pureza Chatto, the former governor’s wife, said in the same interview that she wants to leave 2025 with gratitude despite challenges faced by the family.
“2025 was a tough year and our family went through different challenges, trials, and pains but still came out blessed that we were able to overcome the challenges and survived and see the challenges with joy and peace in our hearts,” Pureza Chatto said, expressing hope for renewal in 2026.
Balilihan Mayor Trisha Chatto, the couple’s daughter, said she is taking advantage of the holiday season to bond with family and hoped others are doing the same.
“The holidays are a time to be with family and a time to take a break from the usual grind of life,” Mayor Chatto said.
Observers note that the former governor continues to receive daily visitors at his residence, maintaining the accessible leadership style that characterized his decades in public office.