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Ex home-care nurse brings selflessness, Pinoy values as public servant in Belgium

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Raquel Bernal-Crisostomo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/overseas/05/09/20190509-mary-jewel-de-graeve.jpg"/><figcaption>Board member Mary Jewel De Graeve has made it her personal mission to make living conditions more dignified for disadvantaged residents. Handout</figcaption></figure></div>FLORENNES, Belgium—Filipina-Belgian Mary Jewel De Graeve is now into her sixth month as one of the elected board members in this town in Namur province. De Graeve, 28, did not expect to end up in politics, but she believes that being honest, caring and approachable are among the traits that got her elected.As a home-care nurse, she is known to be passionate, kind and is well-loved by her patients and their families, which convinced the town mayor to include De Graeve in his party.“To be honest po, hindi pumasok sa isip ko mag-politics. Nakumbinsi lang po ako ng mayor dito sa Florennes kasi naririnig-rinig na po niya ang pangalan ko dahil nga po naging home-care nurse po ako, so naging known po ako sa mga pasyente ko. Lalo na tawag nila sa akin la petite Philippine, little Philippine, kaya po ’yung mayor nagkaroon ng interes sa akin para matulungan siya na maging popular,” she said.Once elected, De Graeve requested the mayor to assign her at Centre Public D’Action Sociales (CPAS), the government agency tasked to provide assistance and dignified living conditions to residents.“ ’Yung role po ng CPAS dito sa Belgium is to help people na nangangailangan to be more comfortable sa life nila. Example, help them pay electricity, pay house, paying their rental, water and everything. Kaya po mas nakikita ko po ang sarili ko doon, social help kesa po sa municipality,” she said.Rehabilitation of former drug users, unemployed training programs and easy access to transportation for the elders are among the services provided by her office.In fact, when not in office, she still visits former patients who are now being cared at senior homes. <div>CAMPAIGNING FOR HER PARTY LIST</div>Apart from her work, De Graeve is now busy campaigning for her Party List. If elected on May 26, she can be assured that all her projects will be supported and implemented.Her family, on the other hand, is proud of her achievements.“Bilang isang magulang, ang mai-aadvise ko sa kaniya ay stay humble, ’wag siyang makakalimot na isa siyang Pinoy at dahil du’n kami ay proud, dapat siya ay madaling lapitan ng mga tao,” her mother Lila De Graeve said.She attributed the fact that Mary Jewel De Graeve was brought up in a typical Filipino way, which taught her to be respectful and caring to elders, humble and sincere.De Graeve was only elected last October, but her office has now built a new building for seniors, which has all the necessary amenities. She hopes to carry out all her projects before her term ends in 2024.

Board member Mary Jewel De Graeve has made it her personal mission to make living conditions more dignified for disadvantaged residents.

Board member Mary Jewel De Graeve has made it her personal mission to make living conditions more dignified for disadvantaged residents.

Ex home-care nurse brings selflessness, Pinoy values as public servant in Belgium

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Ex home-care nurse brings selflessness, Pinoy values as public servant in Belgium

Raquel Bernal-Crisostomo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 09, 2019 06:34 PM PHT

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Mary Jewel De Graeve

Florennes

Belgium

politics

Balitang Global

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