Jesse Robredo and his siblings read newspapers and books to their blind dad

You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips. — Oliver Goldsmith

MANILA, Philippines - A week before Palm Sunday, on March 15, Summit Media successfully launched its Simply Jesse children’s book on the inspiring life of the late statesman Jesse Robredo at the new National Bookstore in Glorietta 1, Makati City.

The event was a celebration of the late Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo, not just as an incorruptible political leader, but as a exceptionally loving family man.

I had the privilege to have met him years ago when he was then Naga City Mayor and introduced to me by his childhood friend topnotch lawyer Joel Cadiz, who suggested that this Magsaysay Awardee would be a good subject for a column. Robredo was unique, a humble, visionary and outstanding La Salle/Harvard-educated mayor who rode a bicycle and was one with his people. He shunned extravagance and waste.

The children’s book Simply Jesse focuses more on Robredo as a loving husband and doting father, but I asked at the book launch how he was as a son.

His widow, Attorney Leni Robredo, said, “Jesse was very devoted to his parents. His father became totally blind when Jesse was only five years old. One of their siblings became the eyes of their father. Their blind dad was able to repair boats and build furniture. The children read newspapers and books to him every day while they were growing up. Until he died, Jesse believed that he became who he was due to the example of his parents.”

Jesse’s blind father is ethnic Chinese entrepreneur Jose Chan Robredo, Sr. — the Chinese surname is Lim and Robredo is an adopted surname. Jesse Robredo’s Chinese name in Hokkien is Lim Pieng Ti. An aide of the late Jesse Robredo told this writer that up to now, his elderly parents had still not been informed that their son had died last year. 

All net proceeds from book sales will be donated to Robredo Foundation

Among those from different sectors that attended the Simply Jesse book launch were the Robredo family led by his widow and CamSur congressional candidate Leni Robredo with her daughters Aika, Tricia, and Jillian; the Ramos family of National Book Store led by matriarch Socorro C. Ramos; Summit Media officials led by founder Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, Yes! Magazine/Pep.ph editor in chief Jo-ann Maglipon and Summit Books publisher Christine “Koko” Ko; book author and Town & Country magazine editor in chief Yvette Fernandez; book illustrator Nicole Lim; presidential sister Viel Aquino-Dee; senatorial candidate Bam Aquino; Ayala Group boss Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala’s book-loving wife and literacy advocate Lizzie Zobel; Goldilocks bakeshop chain marketing director Pinky T. Yee and many others.

In her speech, Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng shared, “All net proceeds from this book will go to the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation established by his family and friends to continue his legacy of public service and good governance. The author, Yvette Fernandez, has also agreed to donate her royalties to the foundation.”

Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng added, “The author’s mom, Dely Fernandez, one day enthusiastically recommended Jesse Robredo as the fourth subject of the (Dream Big) series, (and) we enthusiastically and unanimously agreed! With Jesse Robredo, we had the archetypal Dream Big hero.”

A simple life dedicated to serving others

Lisa stated: “In a society where wealth, power, and the number of one’s Facebook friends have become the de facto barometers for success, Jesse Robredo’s life, short as it was, stands out as an example of a different kind of success that we have forgotten to celebrate — a quiet and simple life dedicated to serving others. Paradoxically, while he did not court fame and adulation, the way he chose to live his life did attract such in the end. Simply Jesse is our contribution to that celebration.”

She added, “The parts I loved most in the book though were about the stolen moments he had with his family while juggling a very taxing schedule. As a cabinet secretary based in Manila, he would call his family every day. At times, he would use this time to patiently tutor his youngest daughter, Jillian, over the phone.”

“On weekends, when he had taken that long bus ride home to Naga from Manila, he spent his time like any regular Joe — fixing broken things around the house, playing basketball with neighbors, engaging in a game of chess, and just hanging out with his wife and kids. It was clear what Jesse Robredo valued in his life.”

“We are very proud to be the publisher of Simply Jesse and to introduce his inspiring story to Filipinos — both young and old — as we have realized that older readers read our books too. If it inspires just one child or one public servant to follow in his footsteps, what a wonderful thing that would be.”

Bam Aquino okay with Kris or P-Noy’s future son being called Benigno iv

One of the guests at the Simply Jesse book launch was social entrepreneur Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV, who was having his picture taken with a lot of the attendees. Why was the presidential cousin, Ateneo management engineering summa cum laude and Harvard graduate at the book launch? What was his connection to the late Jesse Robredo?

Bam Aquino explained that apart from his being an admirer of “the exemplary, selfless leadership of the late Jesse Robredo” who expressed support for his senatorial bid when they last met, Robredo’s personal aide and political assistant Bernie Navae is now Bam’s political executive assistant.

Aquino recounted that Bernie Navae was always with Robredo six days a week daily, except on Sundays. It was only on that fateful Cebu trip which Navae didn’t accompany his boss, because Robredo had suddenly told him not to join and had advised Navae to spend the long weekend with his own family.

When this writer asked Bam his reaction to rumors that director Lino Cayetano — the unmarried brother of Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano- — might be dating his first cousin Kris Aquino, Bam replied, “This is the first time I heard this news. I only wish the best for Kris, I believe she deserves to be happy.”

Coincidentally in the Naga City hometown of Jesse Robredo with P-Noy on March 21 after Kris Aquino tearfully announced on primetime TV news that she was resigning from showbiz due to a bitter feud with her ex-husband James Yap, Bam came to the defense of Kris. He said she is not the kind of person who would use her influence with brother President Noynoy C. Aquino against Yap. Bam also expressed support for Kris on her seeking court protection for herself and her son Bimby against James Yap.

I asked if Bam was close to cousin Kris. “I’m actually closer to Ate Pinky, who I had asked to be my wedding godmother last year.”

Since P-Noy or Noynoy, is Benigno Aquino III and first-cousin Bam is Benigno Aquino IV, if the president sires a son in the future, would he name him Benigno Aquino V? Bam replied, “P-Noy’s son can still have the name Benigno Aquino IV, because my ‘IV’ is with my name Paulo and not with the Benigno (side). My father is Paul Aquino, a businessman from whom I learned to be an honest and good person. Actually, some people confuse me as the son of P-Noy, also because of our 17-year age difference.”

Bam Aquino added, “For political leaders who sincerely want to serve the country and be reformers, the exemplary life, solid achievements and positive moral values of Secretary Jesse Robredo are our inspiration.”

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 Simply Jesse is published by Summit Media’s Summit Books.

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