From Manifestos to Fishnets: The Continuing Commitment of a Former Barangay Captain
- Jonell Gregorio
- Jan 6
- 4 min read
By: April Mae B. Nabor & Angel B. Rey
Two years ago, the previous barangay head Nereo “Didoy” Fernandez would still find himself regularly in Barangay Mabilo’s Hall—delivering services, supervising people, promoting community welfare, and so on.
Now years have passed; he still does these but in a different setting. He is presently dedicated to their family milkfish farm in Barangay Pinamuk-an, New Washington and Batan, Aklan.
The Beginning and Behind
Before venturing into aqua farming, Nereo worked as a seaman until his wife gave birth. Since then, he has never returned to the ship and instead decided to assist his wife's business, and that is when the milkfish trading occurred. They buy, sell, and harvest from their fish ponds. Additionally, they have a place in Kalibo Public Market where they sell their goods.
“Naka-focus ako makaron sa amon nga bangus trading. Ga-buy and sell kami at the same time, may amon man nga sarili. Kung owa kami it mabakae sa iba hay amon do na-harvest kung may harveston,” he shared.
After waking up at 2:30 AM, Nereo would head to Kalibo Market and stay there until 7 AM. Aside from these everyday circumstances, he still faced challenges like,
“Ro utang…abong mga negosyante nga owa gabayad.”
Despite this, he still continued helping others.
When Dikes Break
The province’s aquaculture industry, particularly the milkfish farming, faces environmental problems. Persistent rain has damaged physical infrastructure, such as pond dikes, causing stress and casualties among the people.
In an hour's sail from the coast, the fish ponds and cages Nereo owns are overseen by his three helpers named Efren Pronton, 54; Jonel Azarcon, 40; and Jimboy Arsenio, 18.
Efren, who has been a watchman of the properties for almost 11 years, admitted that they faced hurdles.
“Kung mabuhangan. Nagasako-sako rayun ako iya syempre ako ro gabantay...ga-manage—akon dun nga obligasyon,” Efren explained.
He also added that he has to hire men to solve the problem in the fish pond. ,
Public Service Knows No Bounds
From 2010 to 2023, Didoy served the community of Mabilo. During his three tenure, he made the lives of Mabilonhons easier by maintaining peace and order, and fostering health, as well as the development of the town’s economic sector. And in those 13 years, he had also encountered hardships, just like when COVID-19 devastated the world.
The global coronavirus disease outbreak had affected human health and population. It has shifted the world from livelihood and socialization, causing significant loss and introducing the citizens to the new normal.
Over the dangers of the pandemic, Didoy continued to serve the public.
“During COVID, dato among pinakamalisod nga haagyan. Buwis-buhay kami nga mga barangay officials, barangay health workers, ag mga tanod that time. Owa namon gina-isipa nga basi kami man do magka-COVID kasi [do] sangka purok sa Tabay hay puro sanda na-COVID. Hato among pinakamalisod nga haagyan pero sige lang gihapon kami…syempre serbisyo…serbisyo sa tawo,” Nereo acknowledged.
Furthermore, he revealed how hard it was to handle a whole community.
“Duyon do pinakamalisod nga naagyan—gabuyot ka it bilog nga barangay. Except sa akong pamilya hay imo pagid nga nabuytan do bilog nga barangay. Halin kami sa tindahan at 7, mauli ako…mamahaw…panaw sa barangay. Duyon do akong trabaho, haeos owa eon ako it tueog dati tag barangay chairman pa ako,” he considerably told.
A Beacon of Light
Meanwhile, Ligaya Cacho, one of Nereo's political colleagues, expressed the chairman's personality.
“Si Kapitan Nereo hay manami gid imaw nga kaibahan sa trabaho dahil kat kaibahan kami sa barangay dati hay mabinuligon gid imaw, supportive, ag natao na gid ro tiwala kamon bilang Barangay Kagawad. Napatrabaho na gid kami…nataw-an na kami it mga task nga puwede namong ubrahon, ag may mga opinion ag ideas nga ginatao namon o gina-propose hay ga-support gid imaw,” the Barangay Kagawad proudly stated.
She furtherly said that even though Didoy was not previously involved in politics, he was always prepared to serve the people in their barangay.
“Imaw ro ana nga personalidad gid ni Kap Nereo nga kabulig gid-a imaw bisan sa politika imaw o sa uwa. Hasta makaron, ’pag may kinahang-ean kami nga mga tawo nga ga kinahang-ean hay ga pangayo eat-a kami kana it bulig. Una eagi imaw…uwa ga balibad—mapa baeas, mapa streetlight, mapa namatyan, mapa hospital; tanan nga bueoligan una gihapon imaw full support gid,” she seconded.
Moreover, Efren described how the former chairperson helped them to send his two daughters to college.
“Abo ta anang habulig kakon tag pag-obra nakon. Hapatapos ko ang daywa nga baying unga sa college,” he said reflectively.
Persistence, Strategy, and Abundant Faith
As their family's business expanded, he recalled how they began, “Kami nag-umpisa man sa maisot—owa man…gapa-ngutang kami sa Bombay para eang may maibakae…hasta nga nagbahoe nga nagbahoe.”
These breakdowns and breakthroughs made him realize how significant dedication and great strategy are in the business field.
“Di mo gamiton do kapital para eang mag-abo o mag-umwad baea kasi kung amat kung kumita kita it isang libo hay mabakae kita sobra sa isang libo. So, ma-down ka gid dayun. Kinahang-ean nga may diskarte kung paano mo paabuon ro sangkiri nga pondo parehas ko amon nga nakapundar ako…nakabakae ako it fish pond. Makaron may fish pond ag mga fish cages,” he said.
“Haagyan kami it bagyo…ka-perdi-perdi man kami pero bangon man. Diskarte gihapon kung siin kita makabuoe it kapital nga mabahoe,” he advised.
Nereo demonstrated that even though his political term had finished, he still remained committed to Mabilonhons—not only to lead, but also to provide chances by creating jobs through aquafarming. Indeed, helping others is not about showing off or showcasing your abilities, but more about your willingness.
Comments