‘Davide is like my husband – no money or socks’

IN asking people to draw inspiration from her late husband as an honest public servant, Rep. Leni Robredo yesterday compared him to Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III.

The widow’s compliment was made in her remarks at the opening of a three-day memorabilia exhibit of the late Secretary Jesse Robredo at SM City Cebu.

Davide joined Robredo in cutting the ceremonial ribbon.

“I hope this exhibit will inspire not only government officials but ordinary people as well to go into public service and be the kind of public servant that he was,” Robredo said.

She then referred to Davide as someone she knew from her husband’s accounts.

“I knew him (Davide) very well but this is the first time I see him in person. I knew him from the stories of my husband. Sabi ng asawa ko, ‘parang ako din yan si gov.. wala rin yan pera katulad natin”. (My husband told me the governor is like me – he has no money like us.)

“Nakita ko rin na wala ka ring medyas. Parang asawa ko nga,” Robredo joked as the crowd, laughed in amusement. (I can also see you’re not wearing socks. Like my husband indeed.)

Davide, who was in the audience, smiled and was overheard commenting in mock protest that his “socks were not yet dried”.

Davide, who was elected last May, is the provincial chairman of the Liberal Party-Cebu chapter. He ran on an anti-corruption campaign that stressed the need for “change” in the Capitol and defeated the gubernatorial bid of Rep. Pablo John Garcia, brother of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

The exhibit on the life and works of Robredo is on the third floor of the Main Hall of SM City Cebu.

“I am a fan of Secretary Jesse Robredo. He inspired Cebuanos including me to do good in public service,” Governor Davide said.

He described Robredo as hardworking with very simple ways. “He was a great loss and left a lasting legacy for all of us.”

“In my first term as a governor, I am inspired to follow what he has done good to the people.”

Davide recalled how quickly Robredo would reply to his text messages whenever he raised concerns.

The exhibit of memorabilia portrays Robredo as a “modern day Filipino Hero” and his other side as a devoted “Family Man”.

Some photos show him on holiday with his wife and three daughters Jessica Marie, Janine Patricia, and Jillian Therese in trips abroad to Venice and Paris.

The exhibit also shows Robredo recognized as a multi-awarded mayor of Naga City, “Public Education Reform Advocate” , “Champion of Good Governance” , “Champion of Persons with Disabilities” and a “Hero of the Urban Poor”.

Other officials at the exhibit opening were Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmeña and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella.

Leni Robredo and Councilor Osmeña left together for a private lunch, where they were expected to meet with former Rep. Tomas Osmeña before the congresswoman took a flight back to Manila at 3 p.m.