“It's better to be hated for who you are than to be loved for who you are not,” says Brgy. Capt. Adela Nave as she cited her motto in being a public servant. It was in her character to be strong and unafraid of speaking up no matter what obstacles one might encounter.
Despite the public disappointment in this pandemic, few exceptional leaders from big to small communities have shown their capabilities in leadership. Adela Nave, a 66-year-old barangay captain from Lucena City, has been working on the front line since the first day of lockdown.
As an underprivileged who came from a poor family, she was elected as the leader in her community. This led her to be awarded by the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor as “Bayani ng Maralita.” Right now, she is the captain of Brgy. Mayao Kanluran and shows a promising journey from an underdog to an ideal leader.
From the bottom
“Hindi lang mahirap, sadyang dukha.” That was how Nave described her humble beginnings. “Kasi 13 kami sa pamilya, ako ‘yung panganay. Ako’y nakapag-dalawang taon lang sa kolehiyo na sa pagiging katulong lang. Walang support sa pamilya, kasi wala kang aasahan.” (I wasn’t just poor, I felt destitute. There are 13 of us in the family. I only finished 2 years in college while working as a maid. My family couldn’t support me financially, so I had to rely on myself.)
Before becoming a barangay captain, she was the president of one of the urban poor communities in the city. Through her leadership, it then became Kanlurang Mayao Neighborhood Association Incorporated (KMNAI). During her time as KMNAI president, she was awarded by the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) in the Malacañang Palace.
Her circumstances became her drive and strength in her service. “Tapos ‘yung, sanay ka ba sa problems. Sanay ka bang makipag-laban sa katwiran, sanay kang makipaglaban sa kahirapan… Sanay kang malampasan ang lahat kaya ang tibay na,” she said. (There comes a time when you’ll be used to handling your problems. You’ll get used to handling or fighting complaints and poverty… You’ll be used to overcoming them because you’ve already grown stronger.)
She also believed that this was what made her more empathetic and compassionate to the people. Rather than leading by terror or false promises, she wanted to lead by being respected and genuinely loved by the people. “Kapag napatunayan na ang iyong pinapangako ay ginagawa mo, sa halip na katakutan ka… ikaw ay mamahalin at rerespetuhin…Kasi ang respeto...at mga awards, di 'yan binibili.”
The development of the urban poor and her nature of being unafraid to speak up caused the people to believe in her leadership. “Inuuna niya ang kapakanan ng nakararami bago ang sariling interes… Isinantabi niya ang personal na interes at kapalit ng interest ng samahan na makamtan ang kasiguruhan sa paninirahan,” one of the KMNAI residents commented on her leadership.
Battling against the virus
Nave's compassion and close relationship with the people helped her in handling the pandemic. She said that resources were not a problem for her because the residents from Brgy. Mayao Kanluran were very supportive and did not hesitate to give donations. During the first week of lockdown, nine checkpoints were already established, and the local leaders were able to provide food assistance immediately.
“As long as may nakakapa pa ang barangay, ay may nadating, ‘Kap, eto, sampung sako ng bigas, Kap, eto, mga kape’—‘yun yung sinasabi nating bayanihan talaga,” she said, referring to how they were also able to support the volunteers due to collective effort.
“‘Yung hirap, nababawasan ng tulong ng mga ka-barangay. May mga negative man, pero ay ‘di na namin pinansin,” she continued. Although she also accepted the critical responses, she emphasized how you need to be strong despite the doubts from other people because more people will be supportive of you.
Her challenge
“Pinagmamalaki ko kako yung dalawang taon lamang na pinag-aralan na naging hagdan ko para ako’y makisalamuha sa kahit sinumang tao…kasi… doon ako nagkaroon ng lakas... ‘Yung prinsipyo ko bilang lider, doon ko kinuha. Kaya kahit papaano, dapat ganun ang maging ugali niyo paglaki niyo,” she said. That was her advice to the younger aspiring leaders.
Nave also stressed that leadership starts with your family: “Ang pagiging lider kako ay unang una, pagiging masunurin sa pamilya. Eh ‘pag nasunod ka sa pamilya mo, edi susunod ka rin sa payo ng ibang tao...Simula pa lang, ipakita mo na sa kapwa kabataan mo na tunay kang lingkod-bayan… Kalalakihan mo na ay ‘yung tamang paglilingkod….”
As a leader, she calls for people to speak up the truth. “Panawagan ko sa lahat… ay ‘yung ipaglaban ang karapatan. Huwag mahihiyang sabihin ang katotohanan. Mabuhay tayo na ang ating pinanghahawakan ay ‘yung pagiging ‘tayo’… Huwag ikahiya ang kahirapan, at huwag kang matatakot na sabihin ang katotohanan.”
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