Limampu’t apat lang si Jesse Robredo nang iwan niya tayo. Ang mabuting damo nga raw, maagang kinukuha. Upang tayo raw na iniwan ay maging kasing-buti nila at upang ipagpatuloy raw natin ang kanilang sinimulan.
Ang pamana sa atin ni Jesse ay ang kanyang halimbawa sa maayos na pamamahala, serbisyo publiko, at pagiging mapagkumbaba.
Napakasimpleng tao ni Jesse: Nakatira sa komunidad ng kanyang pinaglilingkuran. Naglalakad nang walang bodyguard. Tumutulong maglinis pagkatapos ng bagyo. Umiikot sa lungsod nang naka-tsinelas.
Partner o katuwang ang tingin niya sa mahihirap. Katuwang na kailangang pakinggan. Katuwang dahil merong kakayahang gumawa ng pagbabagong may sustansya at makabuluhan.
Bilang meyor, binigyang sigla niya ang mga kababayan niyang taga Naga City para lumahok at tumaya sa pagbabago ng lungsod.
Bilang DILG secretary, pinalawak niya sa buong Pilipinas ang pagpapatupad ng kanyang formula sa Naga ng isang matatag at maayos na komunidad.
Bilang mga kasama sa Partido Liberal, tungkulin naming ipagpatuloy ang tatak ng kanyang pamumuno.
Tinutuloy ng kanyang balo na si VP Leni, ang aming chairperson sa partido, ang pagiging inspirasyon ng kanyang halimbawa sa lakas ng loob, sa pagtataguyod ng kanilang pamilya, sa pagpapakilos sa partidong palaban, at sa pamumuno sa isang bayang nagsisikap pa ring maging karapat-dapat sa kanyang mamamayan.
Miss ka na namin, Jesse. Ang ikli ng buhay mo, pero ang dami mo nang ginawang tama para sa bayan. Ang buhay mo, ang panahong ginugol mo para sa amin, yan ang pangarap naming bukas.
**
Jesse Robredo was only 54 years old when he left us. They say the good die young, so that those who are left behind may be as good and carry on their legacy.
Jesse Robredo’s legacy is his life of good governance, public service, and humility.
He was an ordinary person who lived with the people he served. He walked on the streets without bodyguards. He took the shovel after a storm. He went around the city in slippers.
He saw the poor as partners who should be heard and who have the ability to make a difference.
As mayor, he rallied the people of Naga City to get involved and have a stake in transforming the city.
As Interior and Local Government Secretary, he expanded to the entire Philippines his formula for Naga for an empowered community.
As his party mates in the Liberal Party, we are tasked to take up the torch of his brand of leadership and continue the work he started.
His widow, Vice President Leni Robredo, also the Liberal Party chairperson, continues to be the inspiration in her grace and grit in raising their family, in mobilizing a fighting party, and in leading a nation struggling to build a future worthy of its people.
We miss you, Jesse. You lived a short life, but you have done so much for the country. Your life and the time you spent on us, they are the promise of our tomorrow.