Robredo podcasts to reach, interact with younger audiences

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo is diving into the world of podcasting as she seeks to connect and interact with the younger population who have patronized podcasts, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Monday, Robredo announced on her official Facebook page the launch of her own podcast on music streaming site Spotify, with television host Bianca Gonzalez as her first guest.

She said that the project was a long time coming, as several young people including her own staffers at the Office of the Vice President have urged her to make a channel appealing to young listeners.

“For so long, so many people have been asking me to do a podcast of my own, lalo dito sa office because a lot of our staff our very young people, and sinasabi nila para naman makausap mo ‘yong mga age group namin, pero nine-nerbyos ako kasi sabi ko baka hindi ko kayanin,” Robredo told Gonzalez.

“So hopefully with this podcast I will be able to reach the generation of my daughters,” she added.

https://www.facebook.com/VPLeniRobredoPH/posts/4162967833820853

According to the Vice President, she envisioned the podcast to provide an outlet for people already wary of the current crisis, by listening to discussions that are not as heavy as politics and other more serious matters.

“Marami siguro sa atin may gusto lang maka-kwentuhan, napakahalagang bahagi na ito ng buhay natin lalo na sa panahong ito, mapa-chat, text, o tawag, kahit pa zoom meetings, lumalawak man ang pagitan dahil kailangan munang dumistansya sa isa’t isa, humahanap tayo ng ibang paraan to stay connected,” Robredo said in her podcast’s introduction.

“In this space, relax lang: pwedeng sumandal at tumawa, safe space kung saan pwede tayong magpakatotoo.  Kaya halika, magkwentuhan tayo, samahan ninyo ako sa The Leni Robredo Podcast,” she added.

The first episode, entitled Growing Into the Role, featured discussions between Robredo and Gonzales on how they could fit into their current jobs despite them, in reality seeking to be away from the limelight.

Robredo said that she could relate to how Gonzalez tried to thrive within the entertainment industry despite the latter being admittedly shy — just like her, as she felt forced into the political scene after her husband, former Interior secretary Jesse Robredo, died.

Gonzalez revealed during the podcast a lesser-known fact about her that she preferred to work in the communication arts industry but as an off-camera talent until an opportunity to do a modeling gig presented itself.

“Parang, the first time I’ve been reading your blogs, parang, you were not as active yet sa TV, you were not yet that.  Pero, when I started watching you, parang naalala ko ‘yon, ‘yong kinuwento mo before, so naisip ko Bianca parang medyo pareho tayo,” Robredo said.

“Na parang accidental din ‘yong turn of events pero we sort of adapted already?  So ‘yong sa akin ‘yong nakikita ko lang, halimbawa ikaw, this was not really the kind of parang communications path that you initially planned, pero when you decided that this was going to be the one you will pursue, you’re so good at it,” she added.

This is not the first radio show for Robredo, as her regular Sunday program with Radio Mindanao Network’s DZXL features her and other OVP officials.  However, the topics on the Biserbisyong Leni program tend to focus on national issues, giving it a heavy vibe and a serious note.

This neither the first time that Robredo explored something that young people usually do: in 2018, she tried making a vlog after she visited the United States for the commencement rites of her daughter Aika, who got her Master’s Degree from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

READ: Robredo takes first shot at vlogging