DAGUPAN CITY -- Actress and GMA 7 talent Maybelyn Dela Cruz-Fernandez secured a legislative post after winning as a councilor in the recently concluded May 10 elections.
Not only did she capture the heart of the most eligible political figure in the city, Councilor Michael Fernandez, but she also won the trust of the Dagupenos via a landslide win.
She was elected as number one city councilor, besting those who are seeking fresh terms as well as those old timer politicians here, garnering 47,087 votes.
The others who made it to the magic 10 in the City Council are Marc Brian Lim with (43,569), Jesus Canto (40,435), Karlos Liberato Reyna IV (39,484), Maria Librada Fe Reyna (38,619), Jeslito Seen (37,904), Alipio Serafin Fernandez (33,432), Luis Samson Jr. (31,320), Redford Christian Erfe-Mejia (29,289), and Alvin Coquia (27,790).
Maybelyn was in the line-up of re-electionists Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. and Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez of the Liberal Party.
The mayor however lost to former mayor Benjamin Lim. Only Brian Lim and Erfe-Mejia made it under Lim's line-up.
Aside from the sorties, Maybelyn she also campaigned house-to-house as what her husband did in the past three elections.
“As early as 6 a.m., nasa labas na kami ng aking mga kasama para mangampanya. Sa mga kasuloksulukan ng Dagupan pinasok ko para magpakilala sa mga tao; at para ipakita na sincere ako sa aking pagtakbo para maglingkod sa siyudad,” she said.
Maybelyn is not only a typical young actress. She is an active member of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) for a long time, where she served as a member of the board of PNRC-Pangasinan. Her lawyer father served as a three termer councilor of Las Pinas City.
The actress had been on-leave from her showbiz work for about six months now.
She said her talent manager had called her up for a job but she begged-off saying she have to concentrate on campaigning, hoping to gain the Majority Floor Leader post at the City Council.
“I have to study and learn a lot of things. Our job is very crucial during the first few months, so i have to focus,” she stressed.
“Moreover, kailangan kung i-maximize kung ano ang magagawa ko dahil sa pagkakataong ibinigay sa akin para magsilbi sa mga kababayan namin dito sa Dagupan,” she remarked.
Maybelyn started as child star with the Ang TV of ABS-CBN and worked with Dolphy and Nova Villa in the Home Along the Riles sitcom before she transferred to GMA 7.