Former Vice President Leni Robredo shared she had “mixed emotions” about spending her last day at the Quezon City Reception House (QCRH), as her three daughters took to social media to express pride about their mother’s six-year stint as the country’s second-highest official.
“Mixed emotions today. Pero nangibabaw sa lahat ang pasasalamat sa pagkakataon na makapaglingkod (But what’s prevailing is the gratitude for the chance to serve),” she wrote on Facebook as she shared a more than 20-minute video of her last day on Wednesday, June 29, at the QCRH.
The ex-vice president, who officially steps down from office at noon today, said she is thankful for her staff at the Office of the Vice President (OVP), crediting their integrity and excellence as public servants.
“Mahirap isipin na maghihiwahiwalay na kami pagkatapos ng 6 na taon na magkakasama kaming naglingkod sa gitna ng napakahirap na (It is hard to think that we will go our separate ways after 6 years of being together, serving in the midst of a very difficult) political landscape,” she posted.
READ: Robredo stands proud as she leaves a legacy for OVP; 'no regrets'
“Kaya siguro naging matibay ang aming samahan dahil sa gitna ng kahirapan (Maybe that’s why our relationship became strong because in the middle of difficulties), we were able to render the kind of governance we feel every Filipino deserves,” Robredo added.
She said she was most proud for having given it her all and for not wasting time and opportunity.
Robredo also took to Facebook minutes before she ends her term at noon today to thank her close-in staff. aide de camp, security detail, and driver, who she spent the most time with the past six years.
“Sumusundo sa akin at naghahatid sa bahay, kasama ko sa lahat na lakad, kadamay sa lahat na hirap at ginhawa (Fetches me from and brings me back home, with me in all my trips, with me through the bad and good times),” she wrote.
As her term comes to an end, Robredo also changed the title of her official Facebook page to “Atty. Leni Robredo”.
“Isang karangalan pong mapaglingkuran kayo nitong nakalipas na anim na taon. Tuloy lang tayo. Maraming, maraming salamat po (It’s an honor to serve you in the past six years. Let us keep going. Thank you very much)!” she said in a post.
Meanwhile, her daughters—Aika, Tricia, and Jillian—also reminisced about the past six years, with Jillian welcoming back their mom, now a private citizen.
“Anim na taon. Taas noo (Six years. Head raised high) Happy to have you back full-time, Mama,” she wrote on Twitter.
READ: What’s Leni Robredo's first order of business as private citizen? K-dramas and books
Tricia, a doctor, posted a video highlight on her Instagram Story with the background song “Closing Time” by Semisonic.
She quoted the song, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
Also on Instagram, Tricia posted about the Vice President Security Detachment (VPSD), who became like family to them. She admitted trying to escape from her security during the first few months of her mom’s vice-presidency, but eventually learned to live with having them alongside her.
Aika, the eldest, also posted a photo of the four of them in Robredo’s former office.
“Sa hirap at ginhawa (In hardships and easiness),” she wrote, followed by pink flower emoticons.