CEBU, Philippines - The task of managing the Talisay City Street Children Feeding Center at Barangay Maghaway, a project of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, keeps Joavan Fernandez busy these days.
Joavan claims that this is his chance to help people, whether young or old.
“Ayaw hukmi ang usa ka tawo, suwayi sa og kuyog aron makasinati mo,” Joavan advised to those people who are judgmental to his personality. (Don’t judge a person. Try getting to know him more.)
Joavan, in an interview with The FREEMAN, said that he is “happy” his father entrusted him his charity project that aims to help poor children in Talisay City.
The mayor’s son has grabbed headlines in the past couple of months for his frequent involvement in harassment incidents. In some cases his alleged victims retracted, while he has posted bail for his other cases.
The most recent one was the one involving a registered nurse who accused Joavan of pointing a gun at him during a traffic incident. A gun was later found in Joavan’s vehicle, which the court ordered released from police custody just the other day.
According to Joavan, taking care of his mayor-father’s charity work is a “big responsibility” but he considers it as an opportunity to serve his fellow Talisaynons, especially the children.
He cited one family that he saw sleeping near a big establishment in Talisay City, whom he approached and helped find a shelter to live on.
Despite the many controversies that he was in and contrary to what people perceive him to be, he stressed that he is just one “simple person” who wants to live a life away from troubles. — THE FREEMAN