I
remember a year ago, I was cramming an editorial about Jesse Robredo. I didn’t
know who he was, or what all the grieving was about. I was not even following the
news regarding the crash to the recovery of his body, until I actually had to
write about it. In my prayers, may be yes, he was mentioned once. What makes
this person, so important to so many people – I had no idea.
In
order to write the editorial, I had to read about various articles/writings
about him. I learned that he won a Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service.
He acquired a degree in Industrial Management Engineering and Mechanical
Engineering from De La Salle University and a Masters in Business
Administration from the University of the Philippines, and graduated from
Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government with a Masters of
Public Administration degree. These things about him though, I got from
Wikipedia, because most articles written about him, from those who know him
personally or not, commends and talks of not his achievements, but him and his
service.
Truth
be told, I have no awesome or epic leadership story. I am a student and a volunteer,
which I am both proud to be. I am not the great president or leader, who saved
everybody’s neck by taking the blame. I am not the noble leader, who does all
the work either. The thing about having Jesse Robredo as my example is that I
get to do all my obligations or responsibilities and tasks, while applying his
principles. I learned to do my everyday thing extraordinarily, with excellence
and conscience.
I
have always admired how he incorporated the suggestions and concerns of members
of the community in his projects and decisions. This pushed citizens of Naga to
be active, not only in the planning, but also upon implementation of policies
and developments. I realized that despite my good intentions and plans for my
group, I will not succeed without everyone’s thoughts, support, and
cooperation. I learned to not only ask, “What do you think of my idea?” but
also, “What are your ideas?” I came to see that leadership does not revolve
around being in control and superiority. I learned from him that a few good
words can go a long way. It lifts people to their feet; it moves us.
In
spite of all the success, all the praise, and all the awards, Jesse Robredo
always go back to his roots and to his loved ones. I know that as much as many
Filipinos admired him, to his family, he was also their biggest hero. In his
own way, he depicted how everything starts at home. He showed me that for the
time and effort we spend helping other people, we must never forget to attend
first to our family and loved ones, without neglecting our oaths, principles,
and responsibilities.
Whenever
I hear ‘Tsinelas leadership’, a picture pops into my mind: Jesse Robredo
sweeping the streets of Naga after a typhoon. He could have formed and managed
a task force for the clean-up, but he did not. I realized then that if I want
something achieved, I have to do it, but I don’t have to do it alone. I see his
pictures – a picture of a great frontrunner, but I see him surrounded by
people. It pushed me to take action whenever the time and situation calls for
it.
The
thing about him is that he brought back the real essence of public service. If
one opts for climbing the social or career ladder or high salary, then this is
definitely not the way to go, because this kind of service requires genuine
will and effort to serve other people. As I have seen with the home of the
Robredos’, doing public service may not bring about a new or a bigger house,
but it brings good company, good people around.
I
never thought how a person, who I have only met after he has been gone, will
bring about positive or any change to me at all. I know that he may not be
perfect, but I know that he tried to do right. He showed me way on how to lead
a fulfilling life. From him, I realized that public service is not bounded by
material things, credits, and intention. It is a way of life by which we should
live in. Given that we are brought in this world to live alongside other people
by whatever force or reason that we believe in, I guess that is already a hint.
In a way, Jesse started a blaze, because I know that whatever traits I got from
him, they are being mirrored by those people, whose lives I have touched.
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| This is a photo of me and Rep. Leni Robredo, wife of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. |
