POLIBIZ
Bayani is my BF
I confess, that sometime in 1995, I had a rare chance to interview former Mayor Bayani Fernando of Marikina then just a municipality. His name was beginning to ring a bell because of his no nonsense liberal approach in changing the image of his town. He started picking up the pieces from the gutter early in his term of office, and voila, sans a magic wand, he transformed Marikina into what it is today.
Yes, there was resistance along the way. People were not used to his style of governance. He was called by different names — dictator, authoritarian, worst a hoodlum, etc, etc… but Bayani has a mission in mind. He needs to focus; the devil may care.
In the early 70’s though, I’ve got a clearer glimpse of Marikina. She was in the advanced state of decomposition.
The daily sight of mountainous garbage scattered indiscriminately in public places was a manifestation of human abuse and neglect. The filthy smell coming from its famous river known for its historical value is likened to a corpse. Their public market right in the heart of the town infested with rodents and cockroaches are enough for anyone to curse after doing one’s regular market chores.
Crime was at its height; drugs, gambling, prostitution, name it, they have it. It’s everybody’s business; a reminiscence of Al Capone era.
Hottie young men and the old adult male specie enjoy the best of their night time by frequenting red houses existing side by side like a bunch of mushrooms somewhere in Calumpang if not in Cule-cule. You can see them queuing like a pack of wolves waiting for their bitches to tame.
The town was notorious as a dumping site for salvage victims particularly along the Marcos Highway; its riverbank or sometimes right in your own backyard, can you beat that?
Everybody is afraid of everybody. Nobody dares to speak, not even to whisper in hush. What you see, what you hear is better left in oblivion if one has still the desire to live a minute longer.
There seems to be an orchestrated act of see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil phenomenon. Putting it simply — it is everybody’s own business. That — is a secret of longevity as far as life in Marikina is concerned.
The residents are passionately praying for miracle to save them from further infamy. Desperate as they were, they wanted to trade their souls to the devil in exchange of someone who could lead them to an exodus… where there is peace and contentment…
Just when the residents surrendered their fate to their Creator, an ordinary mortal came to their rescue. The man is devoid of supernatural apparels. He gave no promises of a rose garden neither he offered them the moon, the stars at their doorsteps.
The man they called Bayani Fernando or BF, simply gave them what they wanted – change.
Change means peace and order, discipline, infrastructure development, environmental concern, and the road for economic recovery.
BF has no secret formula. A political will is all he has. And “he fears no one,” is his only guiding principle.
The article I wrote on the Municipality of Marikina entitled “Marikina on the go!” more than a decade ago was somehow a prophetic metamorphosis of the town.
Need a proof sir? Come and visit Marikina City today!
Modesty aside, BF has sent me a letter expressing his gratitude in featuring Marikina in my column two weeks it came out from the press. This is its full context:
Dear Mr. Robles:
Mabuhay!
We are delighted to note the article about Marikina which was featured in your column (OPINION) in the 17th February 1995 issue of Pinoy Tribune. While it has been our attitude to keep a low profile about our accomplishments on the notion that they would speak for themselves, such positive perception about Marikina makes us even more determined in our efforts to get things done for the betterment of our town.
Your article has set the rightful tone about our municipality. It lends credence to the kind of political governance that we have been espousing all along.
Thank you very much.
Para sa Bayan,
BAYANI F. FERNANDO
Municipal Mayor
Former Mayor Bayani Fernando, now Chairman of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is a man on the road seeking for a greater challenge to serve his country.
Well for me, Bayani is my Best Friendly (BF) aspirant next to no one.
(For feedback, email to: roblesnelson@yahoo.com)