By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – A baby girl was named after Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez after her mother gave birth in a tricycle parked at the local chief executive’s designated space at the Bacolod City Government Center on Monday.
Michelle Bolangaita, 34, of Barangay Handumanan, named her daughter Albea Bless in honor of the mayor.
Dondon Parandas, building safety officer at the government center, said he responded to an emergency after being alerted by a coworker about a woman in labor in the parking lot.
Parandas, a former officer-in-charge of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, helped deliver the baby before an ambulance arrived to bring the mother and newborn to a lying-in facility for medical care.
This was the fourth childbirth Parandas has assisted.
Mayor Benitez said Bolangaita was en route to a lying-in clinic when the tricycle driver decided to head to the government center for help as she was already in active labor.
The mother said her expected due date was May 13, but she felt severe pain that morning and decided to seek immediate medical help.
A tearful Bolangaita expressed gratitude to those who assisted her and ensured her and her baby’s safety.
Mayor Benitez said the incident was a blessing and praised the swift, compassionate action of government personnel.
“Your actions reflect the true spirit of public service we uphold in our city government,” he said.
“You are living examples of what it means to ‘Be the Change,’” he added.
Benitez said he is willing to be the baby’s godfather.
