Guests at Leni’s inauguration to have native Pinoy delicacies

Vice president-elect Leni Robredo. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Just like at President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s inauguration, guests attending the inauguration of Vice President-elect Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo on June 30 will be treated to Filipino native delicacies.

READ: Robredo to hold ‘modest’ inauguration at new VP office

The 300 guests—composed of individuals from different sectors, majority from the marginalized—in the ceremony at the Quezon City Reception House will be served maja blanca, pichi pichi, different flavors of pan de sal, sotanghon soup and Choc Nut-flavored buchi (Chinese sticky rice balls), Robredo’s favorite chocolate.

But Georgina Hernandez, spokesperson of Robredo, said in a press briefing at a Quezon City restaurant on Monday that the menu is still tentative and will be subject for approval.

Duterte and Robredo will hold separate inaugurations on Thursday, as requested by the camp of Duterte so the new VP could invite as many guests as she wants.

READ: Why separate inaugurations?

The guests, said to be over 500, expected to attend Duterte’s inauguration in the Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang will also be served simple food—maruya (fried battered banana) and coconut juice.

Robredo will be sworn in by the barangay (village) chairmen from Camarines Sur and Quezon City.

Administering the oath-taking are Rolando Coner, head of Barangay Punta Tarawal, the smallest, farthest and poorest town of Camarines Sur’s third district, and Regina Celeste San Miguel, chairwoman of Barangay Mariana, Quezon City.

Hernandez said there would be no VIPs in the ceremony. Robredo’s camp also said earlier that it would be a free seating event to symbolize the equality among the guests.

The spokesperson said Robredo had personally asked the inaugural committee to make sure that all the sectors she had worked with—from women’s sector to farmers, fishermen and the labor sector—be represented.

Hernandez said Robredo wants the occasion to reflect “the core of (her) service” as the country’s second in command.

The ceremony from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. will be held at the open parking space of the QC Reception House in an upscale neighborhood in New Manila.

The inauguration will start with a flag-raising ceremony. The Payatas Children’s Choir will sing the national anthem.

After she takes her oath, Robredo will join her supporters in a gathering at the QC Memorial Circle at 5:00 p.m. RAM/rga