By Rex Catubig

 

SHE is a creature of habit. And the habit that drives her to the point of obsession is what has defined her– Unliserbisyo—the expeditious delivery of much-needed services not only to the public in general, but to those most in need—the indigents and marginalized sector– the children, the sick, and the elderly. Her target goals—health, education, disaster preparedness, and a livable environment.

Sleep is an unwanted distraction to her. She merely indulges in it because those she works with would already be fast asleep while she is still counting sheep. And no sooner she falls into a light slumber, than her adrenaline kicks in and gets her wired up.

Grabbing her cell phone, which is her lifeline, she would start making calls or messaging at the crack of dawn, preempting the crowing of roosters, to make sure the overload of thoughts, plans, and ideas on her mind are downloaded and at once relayed to those concerned for action.

Her morning regimen goes into high gear when she jumps out of bed and puts on her working self, ready for her daily battle. Her doting housekeepers keep her nourished for the day by preparing her usual power breakfast of eggs, sinangag, corned beef, or something similar.

But when she has to run and beat the sunrise to the dumpsite, which is her notion of an idyllic morning, they pack her food and advise the driver to hand it to her at the first instance–which is no assurance she’ll take a bite once engrossed with her activity.

Her day assumes Olympic proportions as she races from one site, one sitio, one barangay, one school, to another, sometimes without break, hobnobbing with the common folks her only breather and means of sustenance. Before she realizes it, she has covered up to fourteen areas of concern, and regrets the sun is about to set.

For she is not done yet for the day. Going back to the Mayor’s Office or to her private office in the Stadia, she would preside over endless rounds of meetings like an ancient seeress.

It would be almost midnight when the meetings wind up. But no, her day is not over. To calm her down, she would take the group for coffee and casual shop talk. It is during these times that she is most relaxed, and maybe most vulnerable, revealing her soft side– the Belen Fernandez who lovingly adores her mother and hero-worships her father, the one who was used to working odd jobs as she was growing up, grounded in work ethic since her young years. The humble Belen who never dreamed of being a leader, a public servant, but whose destiny aligned her and pointed her towards the direction of stars.

It has since become her calling serving the people in unlimited, innumerable ways.

Though children and the elderly occupy the largest portion of her heart, she would not fail to mention her dog Max and his mate, Maggie, and their eight puppies that survived. How she agonized at their delivery and would check on the progress of birthing from time to time as if she herself was the expectant mother.

Her fondness for furry friends extends to her concern for the Askals, the neglected or abandoned canines left to fend for themselves. This led to the Saving Max project, designed to care and rehabilitate the sick and suffering stray animals.

The shining example of this is Verna—a sickly, skeletal, stinky dog that she adopted from the streets. Feeding her and giving her shelter, Verna has evolved from one you wouldn’t even take a second look at to a shy canine charmer.

That is Mayor Belen Fernandez. Her service encompasses all. It goes with boundless love and unlimited compassion—a sincere and genuine empathy for others. In her words, so that “no one is left behind”.

It is her way of loving. Unlimited service born of unlimited love.

Unli-love, that’s her Valentine hashtag.

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