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Robredo’s last entry in his blog was about visiting President Cory’s wake

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By Raïssa Robles

When former President Corazon Aquino died three years ago, a grief-stricken Jesse Robredo wrote in his blog:

Bakit nga naman ngayon na muling nababalot sa krisis ang Pilipinas lumisan na siya? Hindi pa tapos ang laban ni Ninoy. Hindi pa tapos ang laban ni Cory.

***

Hindi lamang demokrasya bilang isang paraan ng pamamahala, kung hindi higit sa lahat, demokrasya na mag-aangat ng antas ng buhay ng ordinaryong Pilipino.

Rather than despair, Robredo drew courage from her death:

Dahil sa pagpanaw ni Pangulong Cory muling matatagpuan natin sa ating mga sarili ang pagmamahal sa bayan, ang manindigan para sa matuwid at ang paggamit ng ating mga kapangyarihan para mabago na ang kalakaran sa ating lipunan.  Ito lang ang tanging paraan para magkaroon ng saysay ang ating pagdalamhati, ang pagkamatay ni Ninoy at pagpanaw ni Cory.

Ituloy ang laban ni Ninoy at Cory!

His blog entry was dated August 16, 2009 – or three years before his own death on August 18, 2012.

It was Robredo’s last entry in his blog which he had named “Oddball”, perhaps to describe himself because he was an odd man out in Philippine politics.  I’d like to thank a commenter named @Noggy who had pointed me to Robredo’s blog. I really  appreciate it because I had been looking for it.

In more mature democracies, a politician like Robredo would not be unusual. But in the Philippines, he is indeed a rarity and an oddity.

Boy, was he odd

In the Philippines, most politicians once elected lose no time acquiring the trappings of power. Especially what I would call the two “M’s” – mansions and mistresses.

Philippine society aids and abets this practice and in fact heaps attention on such “successful” polticians. Their mansions are featured in loving detail in glossy mags. Their mistresses grace the annual best dressed list wearing high-end creations.

But Robredo was odd. Although a former San Miguel Corporation senior executive, he chose to live a middle-class existence. This was even though he could afford a higher lifestyle. His official Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) for 2011 posted on the Interaksyon blog showed he had a net worth of P9 million. Still, he casually went about the city – where he was mayor for 18 years – wearing floppies and baggy shorts sometimes. During the annual Peñafrancia festival, he would go barefoot.

Thank you for sharing this photo on FAcebook @Arnel Eclarinal

At work as the powerful Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Governments, he wore short-sleeved barong and a locally-assembled watch that survived his undersea tragedy.

In more mature democracies, senior government officials riding public transport isn’t unusual. Not so in the Philippines.

Robredo believed in being thrifty when spending the people’s money. In one blog entry entitled “Luho”, he scolded the Department of Foreign Affairs officers who had pulled out the “mobile passporting” service from Naga City because they disliked the accommodations provided by the city government. He wrote –

Ang kanilang reklamo ay tinitira daw sila sa Naga City Hostel. Hindi ”5-star” ang hostel. Subali’t lahat ng kuwarto nito ay air-conditioned at may sariling banyo.

Robredo recalled that when news broke about the million-peso supper of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her entourage in the United States, he thought at once of the picky DFA personnel and wondered:

Ito na nga ba ang kalakaran sa pamahalaan ngayon? Utusan ang ordinaryong kawani magtipid. Subali’t ang mga may tungkulin at kapangyarihan ay di-sakop sa mga utos na ito. Sa gitna ng kahirapan, may karapatan pa ba tayong maging “class”?…Kawawa mga mamamayan. Hindi niya kaya ang luho ng mga naninilbihan sa kanya!

Robredo went on to write a column in Abante but these were not as frank and as personal as those entries in his blog where he expounded on his political philosophy.

He believed in trying to find common ground with those whose views he differed from. Politicians of various stripes trooped to Naga City and he welcomed them all. It is for this reason that many were grief-stricken by his death, regardless of their political bent.

Mayor Robredo was visited in Naga City by (clockwise) Makati Mayor (now VP) Jejomar Binay, Senator (now President) Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, Senator Manuel Villar, Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Bong Revilla, Senator Joker Arroyo. I made this photo collage from pictures I found on Robredo’s “Oddball” blog, which were uploaded in Picasa by rexalbeus2009

 

Robredo was likewise visited in Naga City by (clockwise) Congressman Teddy Casino, Senator (now DOTC Secretary) Mar Roxas and Senator Francis Pangilinan. I made this collage from photos I found on Robredo’s blog “Oddball”, which were provided by @rexalbeus2009 in Picasa

Many feel a profound loss with his passing. It is perhaps the same way Robredo himself had felt over the death of Ninoy Aquino – which had pushed him out of his comfort zone and made him enter public service. Sixteen years later, the death of Cory Aquino made him carry on. On President Cory’s death, he noted that many Filipinos desired change but without working hard for it:

Marami sa ating kababayan ang nagnanais na makamtan ang pagbabago subali’t ayaw niyang makilahok. Sana sa pagpanaw ni Pangulong Cory, maantig ang ating isip at damdamin at tatanggapin natin ang hamon na sinimulan ni Ninoy, pinagpatuloy ni Cory at magiging daan para sa tagumpay ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino. Hindi lamang demokrasya bilang isang paraan ng pamamahala, kung hindi higit sa lahat, demokrasya na mag-aangat ng antas ng buhay ng ordinaryong Pilipino.

I guess that’s Jesse Robredo’s message for all those weeping over his death like me – that it’s OUR TURN to carry on.

Somehow, that makes me smile. I realize that he doesn’t need to be confirmed as DILG Secretary by the Commission on Appointments because he has shifted the burdens of that office to all of us.

And he’s right. The only thing that can make LGUs (local government units) really work and cities and towns prosper is if ordinary people continuously hold the feet of their local officials to the fire.

This also means we have to change our way of measuring the success of our government officials. For instance, no more tolerance and even admiration for politicians’ mansions and mistresses.

It’s time to adopt the Jesse Robredo standard of modest living and pro-poor thinking.

Turn the Oddball into the Norm.

Go on. Laugh your heart out, Sir. The tables have been turned.

 

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Related Stories: 

Dear CA: Be more honest in explaining why you bypassed Robredo 3 times

Why so many are praying for Jesse Robredo 

Comments

  1. He was indeed a rarity. Pathetic because his way of thinking and lifestyle were what I expect a public servant would have. Instead, knowing the average Filipino politician, Robredo’s life sounds like a mere soap opera- doesn’t happen in reality. From a spiritual standpoint, he was lent on a “short-term basis” to the Philippines just to remind us how it’s like to govern. He’s the right fit for governance and he didn’t back down to live it fully, that is “kagitingan”. Now we know why the “good die young”.

    I agree to a high profile campaign for his biography (to be written first) to be disseminated in popular and consistent forms, so we all don’t forget.

    • Everything happens for a reason. Sec. Jesse did not die too soon in vain. With his passing, everyone becomes aware of how different he was. He becomes an inspiration for all of us.

  3. In a 2007 PCIJ interview…

    One of the problems the first time was the issue of patronage. Has it been totally cast away?

    I think, in a sense, no. But in many ways, yes. In City hall the bureaucracy here is based on merit.

    My role is always ministerial, when we fill a permanent position in city hall, they go through a selection process that involves a representative from the employees association. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the person they recommend is appointed. So my role most of the time is ministerial.

    On the other hand, let me also say that we have not removed it totally. Because for instance, I do kasal, binyag, libing. But you know I don’t give personal gifts to all of these. The libing thing is charged to City hall.

    The kasal, binyag is charged to my presence. The only thing I can give them is my personal presence. Beyond that, none. And I think most people know that when they invite me to be a wedding sponsor, baptism sponsor, it has been a practice that I just attend. I do not provide gifts to them.

    The libing thing is patronage in the sense that we provide burial assistance to people who need it. We allow free burial at the city cemetery.

    http://pcij.org/blog/wp-docs/Interview-Jesse-Robredo.pdf

    • @baycas

      Gee, thanks @baycas.

      Very unusual, unpopular… untraditional.

      The name in their baptisimal and/or marriage certificates are for life.
      (Never mind about death certificate)

      Gifts, presents fade away. But his name, would definitely speak volumes, wonders and gratitude when the young matures and ask the ‘Who’ question. And yes, anniversaries – brings back memories.

      “The kasal, binyag is charged to my presence. The only thing I can give them is my personal presence. Beyond that, none.” – Jesse Robredo.

      mabalos

  4. Hi Raissa,
    Just a wishful thinking, puwede mo bang magawa ang biography ni Sec. Jesse Robredo at gawing libro ito? Para mabasa, magsilbing aral at paalaala sa mga mamayang Pilipino kung paano siyang nagsilbing tapat sa bayan.
    Maraming salamat.

  5. Sec Jesse, thank you for being the picture of hope and on how lgu’s should be manage. :)

    i hope that the jalosjos, olegario, lobregat, hofer, co, cerilles of zamboanga peninsula- zamboanga del norte, sur and sibugay will emulate Sec. Jesse on how to manage the LGU’s; then i guess, there is still hope in ZamPen and it will not go down into the drain.

    Sec Jesse, thank you!

  6. with a leader like robredo, our country has hope… now that he is gone, may we take up the challenge to be robredo-like in our own little way. robredo’s life is well lived..

  7. Di ko masyado kilala si sec robredo pero alam ko na madami sya nagawa at natulungan, di tulad ng mag politico na simula ng bata ako eh lamang na ng dyaryo at telebisyon at hangang ngayon nakaupo pa rin pero wala pa rin nagagawa, ang layo talaga ng taong may malasakit sa taong puro sarili lang ang iniisip…kawalang ka sa pilipinas sec robredo …

    • True ka dyan, siguro kaya hindi mo makikita ang mga likes ni old dirty politicians dahil wala silang mukhang ihaharap sa mga tao dahil wala silang ginawa kundi nagpayaman sa puwesto. Sana naman gumisi na ang ating mga kababayan at matuto silang bumuto ng tamang tao sa ating pamahalaan.US citizen na ako pero Pusong Pinoy parin ako.May the likes of Sec. Robredo be all among us.

  9. Kawanaka, T. (2007). The Robredo Style: Philippine Local Politics in Transition. Kasarinlan: Philippine Journal Of Third World Studies, 13(3). Retrieved August 27, 2012, from http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/kasarinlan/article/view/351/321

    Abstract:

    Politics in the Philippines has been a matter of patronage. The political elite solicits the support of the relatively powerful who draw strength from the individually powerless voters for assistance.

    In return, the former will reward the latter with the fruits of influence and whatever else that was agreed upon. This relationship of patronage is renewed during elections and is understood as the way the political system worked until the late President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law and did away with patronage politics. In its place came a more unilateral relationship which voided contracts with traditional power brokers.

    The Aquino administration facilitated the return of patronage politics but at the same time introduced a new breed of leaders. One such politician is Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo.

    Robredo consolidated popular support without the aid of mutually rewarding ties, a strong political machine or a monopoly of power. The manner in which he secured the maximum term of office and improved the lives of his constituents sets a new standard in governance.

    The author calls it the Robredo Style.

      • @raissa,

        umabot na si angela (stuart santiago) sa 2007 entries ni jesse. nasa “boy scout” pa lang ako.

        jesse’s wife leni encouraged him to blog, angela wrote.

        gaya nang sinabi ni angela, sana jesse’s girls will “keep the blog alive”.

        @raissa, sana mahikayat n’yo si leni and kids…kayo ni angela na mga magigiting na mga bloggers.

      • @raissa,

        like i said to angela,

        “know what? reading his blog, i’m kinda celebrating the oddball’s life now rather than mourn his death.”

        thanks for pointing to jesse’s blog (of course, thanks to @noggy too).

  10. napaka interesting, sana hindi mabawasan ang mga katulad nya sa ating pamahalaan, sa pagpanaw nito, mabuhay po!, Thank you for the info.

  11. magkaisa sana ang mga pilipino sa matuwid na daan na pina fight ni Jesse Robredo at Pinoy para sa ika unlad ng pilipinas.

  12. Thanks again Raissa for letting us know Sec.Robredo more…

    Ito ang sinulat kong tula para sa kanya.Simple lang pero galing sa puso ko.

    Sa pagbabasa nakilala ko siya at naramdamang totoo siyang tao…..totoong makabayan….totoong Pilipinong nais ang pagbabago at tatahakin ang matuwid na daan para sa pagbabagong ito….

    PAALAM,SEC.ROBREDO

    May isang umaga,balita’y malungkot
    Sumagi sa isip,nakakakilabot
    Maraming lumuha,mga noo’y kunot
    Sa labi’y nabigkas,”Mahabaging Diyos”.

    Maraming tumulong,maraming nagdasal
    “Iligtas nyo po sila,”tanging inuusal
    Subalit niloob ng Poong Maykapal
    Na di mabahiran pangalang may dangal.

    Ama ng Reporma ng Pamahalaang Lokal
    Sec.Robredo,tao kang marangal
    Kaya buong bansa sa iyo nagmamahal
    Kami’y nagluluksa sa iyong pagpanaw.

    Di mo man nakamit sa iyo’y nararapat,
    Di bale,sa langit higit ang katapat.
    Di mo man makita,bunga ng pagsisikap
    Di bale,buhay mo’y salamin ng lahat.

    Paalam,paalam,Sec.Robredo,
    Uliran kang ama,ulirang pinuno,
    Kaya sa iyo kami ay sumasaludo
    Mananatili ka sa isip at puso.

  13. Death to SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) .

    Long live FDP (Full Disclosure Policy).

    May the blueprint of Jesse

    Be done in any city

    • Government will always have to deal with the twin givens of a constant lack of resources, and an ever-increasing demand for services and facilities.

      Over the past 14 years, Naga City has tried to address this twin predicament through: a system of partnerships with the private sector and non-government organizations; and a series of reforms within City Hall itself.

      The city’s procurement practices form part of the internal reforms we have been instituting within the city government.

      – Reductions in city procurement cost
      – Enabling environment
      – Improving transparency
      – Participation by more qualified entities

      Our experience shows that the present government procurement system can work. However, we should not only focus on guidelines and procedures, although they have their own value.

      Ultimately, it is the people and institutions that can ensure that government gets the “best deal”. This requires building an environment that puts a value on service and cost standards.

      Good practices must be reinforced while improper ones must be exposed to public scrutiny. This is where transparency and participation become valuable.

      – Jesse M. Robredo, August 8, 2002

      http://www.naga.gov.ph/cityhall/pwi.pdf

  14. I agree that for democracy to work, we should all get involved; that for the excesses of our elected officials to be put to stop, we should “fight”. In towns ruled by political warlords, getting actively and meaningfully involved would be a no-no. You’d most likely end up dead.

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