Those privileged to have met or known him, even briefly, even fleetingly, when he was alive attest to the goodness, kindness, genuineness of Sec. Jesse Robredo, as a person and as a public servant.
Naga residents, those he interacted with in the Cabinet, in his work as DILG secretary, the groups and individuals he inspired and formed had the distinct privilege of having met a legend in Sec. Jesse.
No light, no lamp can be hidden forever. Not even the deep waters of Masbate could submerge, could extinguish the realness, the simplicity and the greatness of Sec. Jesse as a person, as a public leader, as a genuine servant of God and our people.
“His death seemed to have unified our people once more and had a cleansing effect on many,” Atty. Ian Manticajon of UP Cebu observed.
The grief was evident, the loss deep, the mourning still ongoing.
However, even in death, Sec. Jesse Robredo allowed all to realize that there is never any substitute to authentic goodness and love from the heart. His death let loose the gates of prayers, for his safe return to us, including those of the 2 other pilots, for their eternal rest and repose with the Lord, and for his legacy of goodness and genuine service to proceed, to be emulated and practiced by all, especially the public servant-leaders.
May his goodness beget more goodness, his hard work and dedication and love for God and people replicated, until each and every Filipino is redeemed and a nation truly, genuinely reborn and renewed.
Already, so many public declaration of carrying his torch and legacy of goodness and public service have been recorded in various types of media. The unpublished personal pledges, for sure, have also been made by many private individuals and groups.
Sec. Jesse also allowed many to go beyond grief, to smile and to be inspired to move on bravely, more confidently to do their own share for nation-building.
Allow us to share this beautiful message from a reader, Gian Tudlasan, with certain portions edited by me (hope ok lang Gian? Thanks)…
“I just read your column about Sec. Robredo, and somehow it reminded me of an Italian general who was killed during the Second Mafia War in Italy in the 1980s. I remember seeing on television the throngs of people who came out for his funeral. One thing that struck me was that during that occasion, instead of somberness, silence (the atmosphere that we are accustomed to as Filipinos), I saw the people applauding. They were applauding, thankful, in the truest sense of the word, for the general’s life’s work, who paid the ultimate price to stop the violence in Palermo. Although with different circumstances, I am, in my own way, thankful and applauding Sec. Jesse Robredo!”
In the postscript, Gian added: “It got me into thinking also, that as much as we are aghast at the evil things that men do and their personifications, here comes Sec. Robredo (he was shown on the ABS-CBN network wearing a T-shirt and sandals and all, walking around in his city of Naga), the embodiment of a real public servant, of such impeccable character, that you cannot help but be taken aback. And it’s such a striking paradox that makes me a little more optimistic.”
Robredo’s wife stated that God rewarded Sec. Jesse by allowing him to return earlier to God, at 54. God also did not allow Sec. Jesse’s good deeds to be hidden or submerged in the deep waters of Masbate or known only to a few select.
Painful as the crash may have been, God seems to have used that long wait to allow Sec. Jesse’s good deeds and great love and service for God and our people to shine and be widely known by all.
Without doubt, even the heavens welcomed Sec. Jesse Robredo with grateful, happy applause! For sure, Sec. Jesse’s genuine love and service for God and Filipinos will live on among those inspired by his exemplary simplicity and goodness.
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Email: cherryb_thefreeman@yahoo.com