The main living room of the house is more of a multi-purpose hall for gatherings and parties. (Photo by JUDE THADDEUS BAUTISTA)

Contrary to what people may expect, the home of Mayor Marides Fernando of Marikina City and hubby Bayani is not painted pink. This in fact comes as a surprise to those fortunate enough to visit their home in Monte Vista—one of the oldest planned communities in what is surely one of the most progressive cities in the country.  Actually, the house is painted white and has been the Fernando home for several decades now.

“We’ve lived in this house since 1987,” says the gracious Mayor, who spared several hours of her precious time to give us a tour of their home.  “And it has undergone five renovations since then.”

The main house, the Mayor informed, was already built when they moved in. In fact, the series of renovations started when they acquired the property and continued in several phases since then.  Although the plan of the original house remained intact, additions and several buildings (not part of the home) were built through the years to provide public areas and housing for their staff.

Viewed from the outside, the house presents a very modern and stream-lined aspect and despite the huge windows in the main living areas, is seemingly solidly built.  It’s also easy to maintain and very practical as well—just the way her husband wants it, says the Mayor.
In fact, the Mayor credits her husband’s foresight in terms of how their home turned out.  She relates that even before they were house hunting, Bayani was very insistent that they buy a home in that particular area.  As events proved thereafter, Monte Vista was one of the few communities in Marikina City that got spared when typhoon Ondoy hit the country—this, despite the fact that the Marikina River was just nearby.

Her husband’s practicality also helped shape the way their house was designed.  “As public officials, we regularly hold meetings and entertain guests,” she says, noting that it would be very difficult for their staff to negotiate the lot’s uneven terrain without the ramps that Bayani incorporated into the design of their home. 

“The house is truly engineered for efficiency,” she says, adding that it’s easy to maintain as well. Of course, this ease in maintaining their home extends to their house’s furnishing and accents. For example, some of the furnishings are stained dark and even come in modules for easy installation.

She points out four tables that were set-up in the main living area. “Actually, these four tables can be set up in the dining room as one big table,” the Mayor shares, noting that they can also be set-up elsewhere if they need additional chairs and tables when entertaining guests. Nonetheless, the house’s furnishing and accents must adhere to the rules set-down by her husband which includes “walang masusugatan (no one will get hurt), walang matatamaan (no one will get hit or bump into anything), walang matigas (not too many hard surfaces) and that chairs if possible should always have arm rests.”

The Mayor admits though that she has a soft spot for antique furnishings, noting that she her own collection of antique wood furniture and accents that she brought into the home when they moved in.  Some of the pieces she points out have since been part of the public areas—although most she has kept in her own private study.

At present, the Mayor does not see any major renovations in the near future as the last one was the most drastic in terms of construction. She notes that the main living area—which is one big multi-purpose hall, actually—used to be her own garden where she indulged in horticulture by raising her prized orchids, among other plants.  However, they saw the need to expand and they’ve since constructed the hall a few years back.

In terms of appearance, the hall is actually reminiscent of the lobby of one five-star hotel in Ortigas.  Despite its size though, it actually looks lived in as it here where they entertain most of the time. Because her husband likes to sing a lot, musical instruments and a sound system has been set-up along one side of the hall.  An entertainment center has likewise been set-up nearby.

According to the Mayor, she doesn’t see her family moving elsewhere, as their ties to the immediate community is quite deep and bound by the friendships they’ve made in Monte Vista through the years.  After all, their house (and community) is their sanctuary where they go home to at the end of the day, and where they find rest, peace and security.