BELINDA Sales Canlas is the second child among the brood of five of the late Atty. Isabelo Marante Sales, Jr. and Dr. Rosalinda Lungay Sales. That is really the basic reason her name starts with a “B” (B being the second letter of the alphabet). Our parents were apparently more practical than poetic in naming their kids.
I remember that our parents used to say she was also named Belinda in memory of our grandfather, the late Isabelo Balagot Sales, Sr. whose nickname was “Beling.”
Our late father, Isabelo Jr., served two terms as board member in Bohol while our late grandfather, Isabelo Sr. or “Beling,” served as mayor of Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija. We heard that when the late president Carlos P. Garcia, who also hailed from Bohol, learned that a fellow Boholano was a mayor in Nueva Ecija, he asked to meet our grandpa. He was surprised why a Boholano would end up being a mayor there. Lolo Beling went on to serve under the then administration of Pres. Garcia.
So, this streak of serving in public office is not alien to Belinda or Bebett as some would call her.
In her university days, she ran and was elected as first woman Vice President of the Supreme Student Government of the University of Bohol. Bebett could speak and argue even in the midst of all male presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
Passionate. Excellence. Going the extra mile. These are the words and phrase that I would associate with her. Not bad, right? Wait, is that a “thumbs up” or a “heart” from you? Thanks then. – DELORA SALES SIMBAJON, Academic Advisor
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Kinsa ug Unsa Siya?
Dili lang siya guapa ug “sexy”, bright ug isog pa gyud!
Confident.
Unpretentious. Real.
Articulate.
Eloquent.
Not afraid to speak her mind out. One of my encouragers… She inspires by just being her…
She knows her worth… Faithful to her Creator…
Carrying her parents’ genes, if they were alive today, they would have been so proud and fully supportive of her pursuing her desire and passion for public service.
Ug unsa siya ka-determined?
Running for Councilor in this city as an Independent Candidate!
Wa’ magsalig ug political party!
Indeed, Belinda Bebett Sales Canlas, is an empowered woman! – DR. GALINA DAÑO-YUMANG, A lifetime friend
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Belinda… Bebett as we fondly call you.
Your name simply means beautiful and bright.
Your flexible persona can be relied on in many ways where you can be of service. Me and Celine can personally attest to that, a strong defender of women cause.
A loyal friend and a positive influence on everyone you meet.
I’m sure you will do best as City Councilor of GenSan as you are born a LEADER. Hindi leader-leaderan lang.
You possess the quality of a leader that we most aspire for: Proactive and Result-oriented.
All the best Bett!
Praying for more successful endeavors coming your way! – RUTH FERNANDEZ, A friend for many seasons
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My first meeting with Belinda, Tita Bel, as I call her, three years ago is still a vivid memory, she spent Christmas with us at home in Iloilo, and I would never forget the delicious Chocolate Opera cake she bought for us that night. Tita Bel’s charming and peppy vibe made it comfortably easy to talk to her – the feeling was not intimidating, and I felt like I’m just casually talking to guys my age. Her lovely aura filled our home with warmth on Christmas eve which made that day extra special.
I am glad that even with the passing of time, the bubbly spirit that Tita Belinda had since the first time we met never changed; I could still comfortably share my thoughts and enjoyably converse with her – genuinely like that of a Generation Z vibe.
I love how I can be open with her and how we could blend with each other’s vibes just by hanging out together. I also look up to her as an empowered woman and I hope she would be given a chance in politics so she could inspire more people my age because we need a leader like Tita Bel whom we could easily blend and relate with. – MADELINE SOLIS, Iloilo City, Gen Z Friend.
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Writer can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
