The Philippine Online Chronicles

Bayani Fernando is seen by many as a no nonsense new breed of politician.

Our country badly needs transformational change. With that in mind, Bayani Fernando as a vice presidential candidate together with running mate Dick Gordon, have dubbed themselves as "The Transformers."

"The Transformers" is not just a label.  Bayani Fernando has a lot of achievements tied to his name to prove that he can transform our country to a better one.  When he first came into the political scene, he ran for and won, as the mayor of Marikina city back in 1992.  He was re-elected twice by the people of Marikina.  It is clear why they kept voting him back into office.

In Marikina, people saw a leader that could deliver.  At the start of his term, Marikina was a 4th class municipality.  But by the end of Bayani Fernando's term, he made Marikina a model city.  He led with great political will, with focus & determination and never waivered on his principles.  He was able to help more than 30 thousand families who were squatters and at the same time get rid of the squatters problem in Marikina's public places & near the edges of waters.

He implemented programs and reforms so that relocation was not the end goal, but providing means so that families could be self sustaining was the ultimate goal.  He has indeed succeeded in being able to turn around Marikina during his terms in office as mayor.

I can clearly remember when I first visited Marikina and my friend was telling me how different it was in Marikina.  He said it's like entering another dimension, you won't even believe it's part of Metro Manila.  He was very confident in saying that there is almost zero crime rate in Marikina, very clean & disciplined city, how the place was transformed by a Bayani administration.  And I believed him because I noticed the same thing when we went to Marikina.

And you'd think that this would be enough, but results are what matter, and is clearly seen in the rise in revenue collection during Fernando's term.  Rising from P77 million to P1 billion.  If there's anything you take away from Fernando's terms in office as Mayor, it is this astounding number.  Just imagine what he would be able to do with the whole of the Philippines.

His father was also mayor of Marikina back when he was just child, but his love of math, numbers, and building things is what made him pursue mechanical engineering.  He would later use this experience as a mechanical engineer in his own construction company, and later on, in heading the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

In 2002, Fernando would again utilize his skills for reforms, coupled with his leadership and management style, not to mention his unwaivering political will, and he would take up the call of being Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman.  It would be this position that would greatly increase his profile, but more importantly, it was this position that proved just how important a key leader in a key position could be when it came to making a positive change in the lives of Filipinos.  Being a mechanical engineer has helped Fernando greatly as he has put a structured approach in his management of the MMDA.  He has begun the streamlining of the infrastructure of Metro Manila.

The experience that he has garnered as chairman of the MMDA can be translated on a greater national level.  Programs that the nation so desperately needs.  With the MMDA, Fernando has been able to implement and utilize traffic programs, urban transportation programs, traffic engineering, and the Urban Transport Integration Project.  All of which focus on the transportation sector.   But by far, a key focus that should also be highlighted, and probably not even downplayed as MMDA  chairman is his leadership in bringing programs that deals with flood control and drainage management.  Again, Fernando's ability to get to the actual problems, and dealing with them squarely is yet another sign of his management style.

Bayani is a man of few words.  I bet he's not the best debater or speaker out there but his actions are undeniable.  I noticed this first-hand when I interviewed him a few months back.  As I already know his achievements, I decided to ask him very light questions.

Here's a transcript:

Why do we have pink and baby blue as the colors of MMDA?

Pink goes with the saying 'in the pink of health'.  We all want to be in the pink of health.  That is the main #1 responsibility of the government to help its citizen and it started in Marikina.  When we were made the center in city's initiatives by the WHO (World Health Organization), we were asked to come up with a motto.  We have chosen "Marikina - a city in the pink of health".

When I was made chairman of MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority), I continued on using that pink.  I find it a good color for the roads because it's kind of attractive.  It counters the environment of metro manila, somehow that will serve as the flowers.  We cannot grow flowers so at least pink all around.

Baby blue is the color of MMDA since then.  I just combined the pink with the baby blue.

Who approached who when it comes to the partnership of Gordon-Bayani?

It was me who initiated the talk.  I was asking him to be my president a few days before the deadline of registration (December 1).  3rd week of November we started talking.  Midnight of November 30, I decided to join him as vice president.

Did Gordon choose you or did you choose Gordon as your running mate?

For one, he's the only one without a vice president.  He has signified his intent to seriously run.  He has his own party Bagumbayan.  One thing is I consented to be vice president because i find him to have more experience.  I'm not with Lakas-Kampi CMD anymore when I talked to Gordon.  I talked to Gordon initially to get him as vice president.  I was planning to run as independent but ended up joining his party, Bagumbayan.  Which is actually wise to do, our partnership multiplied, our synergies and it is a good viable thing to do.

Being a potential successor to the president, what role would you be willing to play or what initiatives and issues will you be focusing on as vice president?

I do not intend to get a cabinet post because that may tie me down on a particular job.  I probably oversee, move around and kind of check on all departments.  Primarily to push activity because i find that as a problem: our very low productivity in all sectors.  If all Filipinos will do their jobs well, we will move forward.  I'll just support the platform of Gordon.  This way monitoring departments and just in case anything untoward happens to the president, I'll be ready to attend to the problems.

The greatest role of a Vice President is the knowledge that at any given point, for whatever situation cited in The Constitution, if the Office of The President has been vacated or is not occupied, that The Vice President must succeed in his/her place.  Are you ready to succeed, at a moment's notice?

I guess so.  Actually my original intention was to run for president because i feel i have enough background.

Bayani Fernando is an man of action.  Our country needs to see results & change.  I believe Bayani can bring change to the Philippines.  Just think Marikina & MMDA.  We have all seen the improvements and the changes there, let's put him into a position that can help him transform the whole country, to help us get out of this bad situation that we're in.  This is the reason why I'm supporting Bayani Fernando as vice president.  I believe in him and I have hope in him.