This city commemorates today the 64th birth anniversary of former mayor and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, the man who is best remembered for his “tsinelas” leadership.
Dubbed “Paggirumdom” or looking back, the event was meant to relive the great deeds and legacy of Jesse M. Robredo, commemorating his notable contribution to the emergence of good politics and popularizing it as good governance.
“To everyone, so iba na yaon igde sa Naga na dae pa aware sa kalakawan sa gobyerno local, I would like you all to be conscious of what Jesse M. Robredo (JMR) has introduced and instituted in improving our quality of life,” Mayor Nelson Legacion said as he addressed all attendees at the Museo ni Jesse Robredo, Civic Center, here, on May 27, Friday.
Legacion narrated how former Interior Secretary Robredo cleansed the city of prostitution and eradicated the culture of gambling among Nagueños. He cited the changes that the former mayor initiated at the City Hall to ensure that all programs trickled down to the grassroots community and reached the poorest of the poor.
The Sanggawadan and the Quality Universal Elementary and High School Education in Naga or QUEEN program which are just some of the many notable initiatives of the former SILG continues to help a lot of school children to date. His participatory governance paved the way for a more transparent and democratic practice.
Legacion said that he and all others who had the chance to be with the late DILG Secretary were indeed lucky for having witnessed what kind of person he was.
“Maswerte po ako na nabisto ko si Mayor Jesse kan sya nabubuhay pa. Maswerte po kita gabos na nakaibanan ta si Mayor Jess Robredo kan sya nabubuhay pa. sa pagtugot kan saiyang pamilya, pig seselebrar nyato ngunyan ang saiyang ika 64th na taon kan saiyang kamundagan, bilang pag rekonosir sa saiyang mga nagibo sa satuyang ciudad asin pagpapagirumdom sa gabos kan mga prinsipyo na saiyang pighiras sa mga Nagueno,” Legacion said.
(“I am lucky to have known Mayor Jesse when he was still alive. We were all lucky that we had the chance to be with Mayor Jesse Robredo when he was still alive.
With the permission of his family, we are now commemorating his 64th birth anniversary, in acknowledgment of his contributions to our city, as we relive and celebrate the principles that he has shared to all Nagueños.”)
Butch Robredo, JMR’s brother also thanked all the people who never failed to remember his brother, even after his unfortunate demise.
Re-elected and three-termer Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Gabriel Bordado centered his message on bringing back the power to the hands of the people as one of JMR’s legacies.
“Pagpuon po kan term nya, 1992, pig gibo nya po ang governance model – actually good governance model na yaon po ang tolong aspeto: Enot po, dapat po igwa daa progresibong lider, may progresibong perspektibo. Ikaduwa po daa, partnership with the sectors of the community; and ang ikatulo, ang participation kan mga tawo sa mga programa kan komunidad (When he started his term in 1992, he came up with a governance model. First, a leader should be progressive, with progressive perspective. Second, partnership with the sectors of the community and the third one, people’s participation), Bordado added.
Before the program wrapped up, Vice President Leni Robredo, who was still in New York after attending her youngest daughter’s graduation, delivered a one-minute video message.
In her message, she extended her gratitude to all Nagueños for keeping her husband’s memory alive all through these years and for continuing his legacy as they commemorate his birthday every year.
The commemoration of JMR’s 64th birthday started with a solemn mass and was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony spearheaded by Legacion and city officials.
Source: (PIA5/Camarines Sur)