Profile of Bayani “BF” Flores Fernando

Date of Birth: July 25, 1946

Place of Birth: San Juan, Metro Manila

Civil Status: Married Ma. Lourdes Fernando, the incumbent mayor of Marikina City

Children: Tala Fernando

Summary

Bayani Fernando was born in San Juan del Monte, Rizal and finished his secondary education at the Marikina School of Arts and Trades (renamed Marikina Institute of Science and Technology in 1979, now Marikina Science High School since 2001). He finished college with a degree on Mechanical Engineering at the Mapúa Institute of Technology. He established BF Corporation, an umbrella company that includes BF Construction Company and BF Metal Works. His company became involved in the construction of structures for the Mall of Asia Arena, SM City Marikina, SM City Sucat, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Ermita, Shangri-La Plaza, Edsa Shangri-La, Manila, and buildings in Makati’s business district such as Rufino Tower and the Philippines’ tallest, PBCom Tower.

Bayani Fernando first ran for public office in 1992, becoming mayor of Marikina City. His administration as mayor transformed the former municipality into one of the best-managed cities and a paradigm of responsive and effective governance. His term saw the transformation of Marikina from a 4th class municipality to a model Philippine city accorded with 55 citations and distinctions. He was re-elected mayor twice, serving until 2001. He was succeeded by his wife, Ma. Lourdes C. Fernando.

In 2002, he was appointed Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, directing him to duplicate his transformation work in Marikina City, but for the entire Metro Manila. For his work as Chairman, he was conferred the Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa, Ateneo de Cagayan, The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Award for Government Service, the H.R Reyes Academic Medallion of Honor, Central Colleges of the Philippines and Doctor of the Public Administration, Honoris Causa by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He is notable for introducing U-Turn slots, greatly increasing the amount of pedestrian overpasses at road intersections, pioneering broadcasting of the MMDA, sidewalk clearing operations, and revitalizing the assets and fleets of the government agency. Subsequent MMDA chairmen continued many of BF’s contributions.

He also briefly served as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from January 15, 2003 until April 15, 2003. Bayani Fernando announced ran for the Vice Presidency under Richard Gordon in the 2010 elections but lost to Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay. He marked his political comeback in the 2016 elections as he is now the Representative of the 1st District of Marikina City.