Daughter shares lessons from late icon of good governance

No shortcuts. Be uncomfortable with perks. Prioritize others.

These were lessons Jessica Marie “Aika” Robredo learned from her late father, Jesus “Jesse” Robredo, a model public servant who perished in a plane crash after taking off from Cebu over a year ago.

Speaking to people of different ages, the daughter of the late Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government and mayor of Naga City, yesterday shared the values which her father espoused.

The young Robredo was the guest in a forum organized by the Dilaab Foundation Inc. which is promoting the “Vote Good” campaign and is organized in time for the Oct. 28 barangay elections.

Aika, the eldest of Robredo’s three children, presently works at the Department of Transportation and Communications and hosts a public affairs program over the government-run IBC-13 television station.

She came up with a list of qualities which his father emphasized to them.

She said her father taught them to avoid the perks government officials and their families receive while they are in power.

“He gave us a very good example that just because you are in power, you would be different from the rest. When my father was mayor of Naga City and secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), he and our family had the opportunity not to toe the line in some instances. We could have used a lot of shortcuts. But my father prohibited such practice,” Aika told about 50 individuals who attended the forum at the Capitol social hall yesterday morning.

“He told us that it would be very difficult for you to get used to these perks. Wherever he would go, he would always fall in line. He would always follow the rules,” she added.

Aika said when her father was the secretary of the DILG, he would shy away from using his position by cutting into queues ahead of others who wanted to use the elevator.

“His office was located on the 8th floor. The elevator was really small so during rush hour, there was usually a long line of people. The guards told us that my father made it a point to queue like everyone else,” she said.

Aika said her father taught them to be selfless especially in dealing with others.

“During typhoons, it was always understood that you can’t see him at home. He would always be outside. He always emphasized that it’s part of his job to make sure that people in Naga are safe. After the typhoon, he cleans the streets. That is leadership by example. What you expect others to do, you should by yourself,” she said.

Family and faith

Aika said her father taught them, above all, to prioritize “family and faith.”

“Even when he was busy as a mayor and DILG secretary, he made it a point to be a part of our daily routine. He managed to make time for us,” she said.

Aika said the late DILG secretary also emphasized having an intimate relationship with the Lord.

“In the family, he was the most religious. Everyday, he made it a point to drop by a church or the Blessed Sacrament. It was something we learn from him. He taught us by example that faith and family would always come first,” she said.

For her father, Aika said “every individual counts” and that “relationships are important.”

“He would say that the most important thing you can give to people is your time. In terms of relationship, he would always say that with other people, you don’t always agree with what they say. But you have to respect them even if you don’t see things in the same light,” she said.

Aika said her father also taught them to “know yourself,” “have a sense of purpose,” “engage,” “trust,” and “live an upright life.”

“Once you know yourself, you get a sense of purpose. Before he died, he would always say if what he was doing made sense. But he would tell himself to have faith and just trust. He would always tell us that whatever you do, you have to be good at it,” she said.

Politics

When asked if she has plans of joining politics like her father, Aika said “Politics is not for me. But it’s difficult to say I will never do it because what if I will change my mind?”

“If there’s anyone who will follow his footsteps, it would be one of my sisters,” she said.

Aika’s sisters are Janine Patricia or Tricia is a courtside reporter for ABS-CBN Sports and Jillian Therese or Jill, who was once reported to be eyeing a career in show business.

Aika refused to elaborate on questions that has something to do with politics.

Stand on ‘pork’

But she gave her personal views about calls to abolish the Priority Development Assistance Fund of lawmakers.

“This is just my own take of it. I think it (PDAF) should be abolished unless there would be mechanisms in place that would show us where it really goes. But until they don’t figure that out yet, its better to abolish it,” Aika said.

Yesterday’s forum, which was also supported by the Couples for Christ, was attended by students from different colleges in Cebu and representatives from some parishes.

Among those who spoke during the forum were Jessie Ladeth Contento, national vice president for the Visayas of political science association of the Philippines; Ace Carlo Elevera from the Youth for Christ; and John Philip Po II, president of the Cebu City Sangguniang Kabataan Federation.

In the middle of the forum, Medi Baculpo and Rene Campomanes, who won in this year’s 33rd Cebu Popular Music Festival, sang their winning piece “Magkuyog Ta, Panalipdan Ta” composed by Fr. Charles Jayme.

Former Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna as well as graft investigation and prosecution officer Sarah Vergara also led the open forum where the participants expressed their thoughts about Aika’s message.