The transformation of VP Leni Robredo
I only met VP Robredo after the passing of her husband, Secretary Jesse. She never attended the functions and conferences of Synergeia, which her husband co-founded. I think Mayor Jesse deliberately protected their private space as a family. It was only recently when I found out that she went to our office several times to gift us with Naga’s delicacies. But she only left them with the guard. I finally met her during the inauguration of the J Robredo Institute of Governance and Development at Bicol University. Sobs and tears punctuated my speech. In contrast, her response was so very Jacqueline Kennedy—calm, regal, dignified, and unemotional. But we knew her heart was broken into pieces. She was real courage in pain.
The next time I met her was when I introduced her to a group of friends to solicit their support for her Congressional run. She shyly sat in one corner and did not take center stage when she spoke. She merely stood up from where she was seated and related her painful decision to run for public office.
She did not disappoint when she was elected legislator. She relentlessly pursued the advocacy of Sec. Jesse on Good Governance. All her proposals aimed to strengthen people’s participation and how to instill transparency and accountability in government’s operations. She succeeded in legislating a long-needed measure---making public the costs and values of tax incentives that the government awards. Who benefits from the revenues that we forego because of tax exemptions? But she never lost her humility and simplicity. Her bus ride to go home to Naga is legendary.
It seems that fate has destined her for higher responsibilities in government. The voters’ preference for her rose from 0 percent in March 2015 to 25 percent in March 2016. She bested other candidates in the vice-presidential debates through her no-nonsense answers and views on national issues. She was sharp in discussing the inequities of martial law and was resolute in her demand for justice for martial law victims. She floored us with her last comment during the debate—“May the best woman win.” And she did!
She surprised us with a visit to our office and was apologetic for the advance presence of the PSG. She even paid for the PSG's coffee in a nearby canteen. She was worried on how to finance the education of her youngest daughter Gillian abroad. Were there scholarship opportunities that we know of? That was a queer question! Who would think that the Vice President of the land would have such a problem? But it was a déjà vu. Mayor Jesse needed a scholarship as well to go to Harvard for graduate education. The Robredos could not afford simple basic “luxuries” as they lived within the salaries of a public servant.
I was not part of her political family but met her occasionally when the organization “I lead” gave her technical briefings. I began to get a glimpse of how she has become more astute and sharper in analyzing national issues such as the proposed shift to federalism. She was polite but firm in articulating her views that were opposite to ours and in suggesting alternative ways of looking at the problem. She made it clear that she was open to diverse perspectives but was equally clear that she was the decision-maker. Her consistent yardstick was how can the Office of the Vice President effectively serve the poor? It was a tough job considering her marginalization by the administration.
This mission must have been her shield from all the criticisms, fake news, and insults she undeservedly received. There were times, when like the others, I became impatient with what appeared to be her silence on the abuses reaped on her. Now, I understand that she was bidding for time to refocus the discussions not on personalities but on issues like alternative ways to solve the drug problem, upholding our victory on the West Philippine Seas, managing the Covid problem, and empowering ordinary citizens.
She was criticized for reading her speeches from a teleprompter. It is an unjust criticism. She is highly articulated, well-versed on all issues, and speaks from her heart. She leaves her audience totally mesmerized. Whoever gave her the advice to read prepared speeches so that she can keep her discourses short was quite wrong.
Secretary Robredo always asked us to discover the essence of events and why things happen. (Hanapin ninyo ang saysay.) The essence of VP Robredo’s transformation is now unfolding before our very eyes.
For comments: mguevara@synergeia.org.ph