By JACKY LYNNE A. OIGA
August 8, 2009

What they had was the classic blind date success story. She was a young and lovely consultant while he was a dashing mechanical engineer. Their “fixer” (a common friend who fixed their date) was skeptical but hopeful. Little did she know that the blind date would lead to marriage and recognition of Marikina’s most renowned political couple.

Unlike other guys that she had met, Marikina Mayor Ma. Lourdes Fernando found MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando to be very mature, sincere and wise beyond his years.

“I was 25 years old and he was 33 but even at that age I was struck by Bayani’s noticeable maturity. He was nothing like the other guys I was meeting at that time, he already had a straight outlook in life,” shared Mayor Fernando.

On the other hand, Chairman Bayani Fernando was easily smitten by Mayor Marides’ (as Marikeños fondly call her) charm and beauty. After their introductory date, he immediately asked her, if he could see her again.

“After we first met, I invited her out several times. I often took her to the theater and we would sometimes drive to Infanta, Quezon for a picnic,” Chairman Fernando mused.

But what actually sealed the fate of the couple was Chairman Fernando’s incessant phone calls and frequent visits to Mayor Fernando’s home.

“Noong nililigawan pa niya ko, lagi siyang tumatawag sa bahay. He would also visit me at home, tapos everyday niya akong hinahatid-sundo, So I said yes to him na,” said Mayor Fernando.

They dated for more than 10 months and then, much to Mayor Fernando’s surprise, Chairman Fernando asked her to marry him.

“I was surprised, really. I felt that I still had a lot to know about him and he didn’t know me that well either. So I didn’t say yes at that  very moment. I thought about it muna. I told him we should get to know each other better first,” Mayor Fernando explained.

“Well, I was dead sure I wanted to marry her and I was actually ready to settle down at that time. So I asked her to… or did you ask me? Chairman Fernando laughingly said.

Although Chairman Fernando playfully avers that it was really his wife who proposed; he quickly made up for it by saying that his fondest memory of their marriage was that of their wedding day as he stood in front of the altar waiting and there she was, his bride, so beautiful, walking down the aisle towards him.

Shortly after their marriage, the couple went on to put up a construction empire that has built the county’s tallest buildings, malls, and residential subdivisions. It goes without saying that even before their consequent terms as mayor of Marikina, Chairman and Mayor Fernando were already working hard to establish a prolific life with each other and for their only daughter Tala.

“If there’s one strength that me and Bayani proudly share, it’s definitely our passion – the passion to work, to get things done and the vision of a better life for our family and for others. It drives us to work harder,” explained Mayor Fernando.

As for Chairman Fernando, in order to get things done, they face each day with determination and dedication.

“You just have to keep on going. Sometimes, we don’t even ask ourselves if we’re happy or not and I think that could be the secret to happiness. Just do it. No questions asked,” Chairman Fernando firmly said.

“We encourage each other by supporting our individual programs. Whatever he wants to do, I support it or I do some of the work for him and he does the same for me,” Mayor Fernando said.

They have been happily married for 27 years and according to them, the secret to their strong and lasting relationship is that they defy all the rules of marriage.

“Bayani and I don’t follow any rules. That is something he established early on in our marriage. There will be no “should” in our marriage, walang “I should do this” or “you should do that. We discuss every decision. If he wants to do something, he does it. If he doesn’t want to do it, or I don’t want him to do it, I will tell it to him. Same is true with me,” Mayor Fernando enlightened.

When asked what’s the best thing about each other,  the couple only has this to say:

“Every morning I always ask her, ‘okay ba ko?’ Because I have to be reassured that I look okay and I did okay with my job. That’s the one thing you can always expect your wife to do for you, to be honest, to tell you exactly what she sees,” Chairman Fernando said with a smile.

“What I love about Bayani is that he allows me to do my own thing, to shine in my own right. He lets me do what I want to do and backs me up for it,” Mayor Fernando quips.

On having a happy and stable marriage

He said: Wag kayong pumayag na maging burden kayo for each other. When you’re too caring you become a burden, especially when you expect something in return. Eh di wala na kayong ginawa kundi caring for each other, without any need for most of it.

She said: Talk to each other. If you have a something to say, talk. It is important to communicate. If you have a problem, say it, don’t expect him to just feel it.

On being a good parent

He said: For me a good parent is someone who exercises political will. If you know it will not be good for her, you say no. We don’t spoil our child. We tell her straight if it’s right or wrong.

She said: Well, you need to be there for your child all the time. Dapat alam niya na priority mo siya and even if you’re busy, any time she needs you, you’ll be there. And make sure that the values you instilled in your child are intact so she will turn out to be a good person.

On finding time to travel together

He said: Simple lang kami when we travel. We just walk around, observe what common folks do. To me it’s an opportunity to know different people and culture and most of all spend time with my family while doing it. That’s actually the best.

She said: We used to take annual vacations when we weren’t so busy. We try to make it different every year, like sometimes it’s in America, sometimes in Asia. Sometimes we travel with Tala, sometimes it’s just us.

On dining

He said: She does the cooking. I love her sinigang.

She said: I love to cook, but lately I don’t have the time. Sinigang is not really my specialty, paborito lang talaga ni Bayani 'yun.

On staying hale and hearty

He said: I make it a point to stationary jog everyday.

She said: I don’t have a diet. I eat anything. But I play badminton to burn the calories.

On what makes a house a real home

He said: It has to be spacious. It has to be functional and practical.

She said: Mine’s more simple. It just has to be clean.

On shopping for clothes

He said: I rarely shop for ready-to-wear clothes, my wife usually asks our tailor to make the clothes for me.

She said: I love buying classic outfits, something that I can wear for a long time without being outdated.

Manila Bulletin