Fund-raising sale of Leni Robredo-inspired art gets her NGO going
JULY 1, 2022 | Guests line up outside the Art Exhibit room where artworks given to then Vice-President now private citizen Atty. Leni Robredo and donated to Angat Buhay NGO are on display. Legally registered as Angat Pinas Inc., it was formally launched today by Robredo at the Leni-Kiko Volunteer Center in Katipunan Ave., Quezon City. At left is a guest wearing an outfit based on the Ifugao traditional attire being guided by a volunteer. —INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
You can say that, indeed, she will be the “face” of this movement.
About 1,000 artworks for sale—mostly portraits of former Vice President Leni Robredo—will serve as the initial funding source for programs under her new nongovernmental organization (NGO) Angat Buhay Foundation.
Robredo launched this latest of her civic enterprises on Friday, a day after officially vacating the vice presidency.
The foundation will carry the corporate name Angat Pinas, Inc., since the Securities and Exchange Commission, which approved the foundation’s registration last month, already recognizes an entity named Angat Buhay.
But Robredo said her new undertaking may still be called Angat Buhay.
Article continues after this advertisementAmong those who attended the foundation’s launching, held at the Leni-Kiko Volunteer Center at Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, were Robredo’s running mate in this year’s general elections, former Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan; human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, who ran for senator under the Robredo-Pangilinan ticket; and former Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, who was Robredo’s campaign manager.
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JULY 1, 2022 | Former Vice-President now private citizen Atty. Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo delivers her message during the formal launch of the Angat Buhay Non-Government Organization, legally registered as Angat Pinas Inc., at the Volunteer Center in Katipunan Ave., Quezon City. Robredo said its advocacy areas are on nutrition and food security, addressing stunting in young children; continuing their community learning hubs (currently 129) but converting these into reading centers focusing on reading and math (skills), training volunteer tutors for remedial programs; disaster relief response and support for rehabilitation; community engagement. —INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
Robredo, in her remarks, said “supporters” donated the paintings, illustrations and other artworks during her campaign.
According to her, “some of these … were given to us while we were on stage during the campaign, sometimes while we were walking, while [others] would just put [their paintings] inside our vehicle.”
The prices of these works range from a minimum of P1,000 to a maximum of P10,000.
The former veep, who is back to being a cause-oriented lawyer, said proceeds of the sale will serve as funding source for Angat Buhay’s programs, of which she identified four “key advocacy areas”—health, education, disaster relief and response, and community engagement.
“I hope this is OK to the artists. We will properly acknowledge you all and we are working on identifying each of you,” she said.
But not all these can be sold soon enough. Those still in the foundation’s possession for the time being will be housed in a “Museo ng Pag-asa” also at the volunteer center.
“It will be a museum for everyone since we were all instrumental in forming this,” Robredo said.
Robredo was the subject of most of the artworks, which took off from her official portraits as Vice President and from various campaign photos.
There were different renditions of her, including one showing her riding a carabao.
‘Inspiring the youth’
JULY 1, 2022 | Guest are let inside by batches to prevent crowding at the Art Exhibit room, where artworks given to then Vice-President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo and donated to Angat Buhay Non-Government Organization are on display and can be taken home in exchange for a small donation to the organization. Legally registered as Angat Pinas Inc., the NGO was formally launched today by Atty. Robredo at the Leni-Kiko Volunteer Center in Katipunan Ave., Quezon City. Majority of the drawings feature the image of Leni using different mediums (sketch, ink, paint, wood carving, etc.), some with a written dedication. —INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
Some of the art pieces have dedications to her at the back, thanking Robredo for inspiring the youth “to do better and love this country.”
She said the foundation won’t have any designated “chapters” in certain areas, as she wanted the volunteers to be independent and craft their own programs for nation-building at the community level.
“We believe in the type of governance which will be participatory, a kind of governance that would be from the ground up without anyone from the higher-ups dictating what we should do,” Robredo said.
“Moving forward, … we will help one another by strengthening our capacity building in all volunteer groups, so all of you would be more independent as well and will be local implementers of Angat Buhay programs,” she added.
She emphasized that Angat Buhay is intended to continue the spirit of volunteerism.
“Whatever we started should not be put to waste. We may not have won, but we were still successful because I am sure everyone would agree that we started something very, very special during the campaign, [and] we have to continue this,” Robredo said.
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