By Eva C. Visperas

 

AS the country inches closer to the next local election, in Pangasinan, especially in Dagupan City, all eyes are once again on Mayor Belen Fernandez—a figure who, despite political noise and intense scrutiny, remains unshaken, committed, and deeply connected to her people.

We had the chance to sit down with her shortly after the Holy Week. Despite her whirlwind schedule filled with campaign ‘garongcades’, back-to-back rallies, City Hall duties, and the ongoing Bangus Festival events, she still made time for a quick interview.

That’s no surprise. Multi-tasking has always been second nature to Mayor Belen. Whether she’s shaking hands in barangays or making executive decisions at City Hall, it is a familiar scene: the energetic mayor stays calm, collected, and confident — just as she’s always been.

In every barangay she visits, she’s met with cheers, warm embraces, and genuine smiles. People flock to see her — not just because she’s the mayor, but because they’ve felt her presence long before the campaign period. Children wave flags, elders reach out to shake her hand, and vendors rush to her with warm smiles. There’s a familiar comfort in her presence, like seeing a family member come home. These aren’t staged scenes. This is real affection built over time, through real work and real service.

Critics and detractors, of course, have tried to paint a different picture. Issues like road elevation, flood mitigation, the new city hall, city budget, and scholarships have been twisted and turned into political ammunition.

But what many admire about Mayor Belen is her quiet but firm grace in the face of negativity. She addresses issues with facts, and lets her track record speak louder than any hate campaign. Some try to discredit her, but as we always say in the Sunday PUNCH — truth is mighty; it will prevail.

Her ability to stay composed while delivering results, even under pressure, and even receiving insults, is a mark of true leadership. While some sling mud, she builds bridges. While others point fingers, she rolls up her sleeves and gets to work. And the people see that. They see who shows up when it matters. They remember who listened when no one else would. And that memory is powerful.

After her 2022 victory, she wasted no time. We visited the Bonuan dumpsite, where rival claims of a cleanup didn’t match the reality we saw with our own eyes: towering heaps of trash and families living among them. We took pictures and videos. That image didn’t deter her. She just rolled up her sleeves and got to work.

And there were moments of warmth too — sharing grilled barbecue at a shed in Tondaligan, eating with vendors in the public market’s carinderias, or having late-night pigar-pigar past 10 PM with her team. No airs. No drama. Just a leader among her people, always moving, always serving.

I say all these not just as an observer, but as someone who once worked closely with her as the City Information Officer. I’ve witnessed the long days that start before sunrise and stretch past almost midnight. I’ve seen her unbothered by heat, by exhaustion, by obstacles. I’ve seen her meet poverty head-on in the dumpsites, not with pity, but with purpose. I’ve watched her rally her team with the words, “Andami kasing dapat gawin.”

And truly, there is still so much to do. But with a leader like Mayor Belen at the helm, Dagupeños know they are in capable hands. When people say this might be the Golden Age of Dagupan, they say it with hope — and with good reason. Survey results already show Team Unliserbisyo leading the race, a clear sign of trust earned through tireless work and proven leadership.

Dagupan doesn’t need empty promises. It needs someone who understands the weight of every community’s needs and meets them with action. Mayor Belen has proven, time and again, that she is that person.

In every rally, every barangay visit, every simple handshake — what you see is not just a politician campaigning. You see a public servant who has given her all, and still finds more to give. That’s not just admirable, that’s leadership. That’s Mayor Belen Fernandez.

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