Category Archives: Testimonials

He never made us feel that civil society is a hindrance. He never turned down any of our invitations for dialogue nor fail to respond to my many texts and calls for SOS! When we disagree on some issues he would try to spare you the longest time he could give to listen to you and would always end it with “i have to go..magtawagan tayo!”. In face to face meetings he would encourage me to speak out in front of colonels and generals and not be afraid because he will back me up. He is a true public servant. I would really miss his parting line after each meeting “Salamat Anton sa tulong mo, as if he was the one who is seeking help! Sometimes when he can’t give in to our request he would say Anton …Anton ….Anton intindihin mo naman ang posisyon ng gobiyerno …pero sige magusap ulit tayo and you know he was sincere about it because he gave me even his private cell phone number. How many public servants do that? May sec Jesse inspire our youth to seek, demand and work for good governance! – Anton Mari H. Lim via Facebook

It was in 2004 when I first a met man who made me realize that Good Governance is possible in the public sector. Then, Mayor Robredo met us in his office full of local and international recognition including his diploma from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and his Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service. As a university student of the Humanities, having such audience with a decorated CEO of a city in Bicol is very memorable. In his conversations with us – a group of student-leaders from Manila he mentioned one important lesson in Governance: let public service truly be of service to the public. Secretary Robredo is such an asset to this country. Such an inspiration not only to the men and women working for and with Government but to all Filipino citizens. We cannot lose Secretary Robredo.. We cannot. – Erwin Ronase via Facebook

I was 18 years old when I first met him. The year was 1997. I was a new grad, and Robredo has been mayor of Naga for quiet some time. I was a cub reporter for the first daily newspaper of Bicol, and my job was to interview him about the highly controversial Marasigan Land issue.

At that time, the Naguenos had not yet developed this love for Robredo. The Naguenos were a hard headed lot, opposing almost every change that the Mayor instituted. Continue reading →

masayahain sya at friendly sa neighborhood namin, sya yung tipo ng tao kahit diko kayo magkakilala babati sya sayo goodmorning or ngingitian ka as a way of saying hello. nung binati nya nga kami nung nagbabbike kami sya pa yung nauna mag goodmorning at the time sya pa yung mayor naga, yung ganun kahit sya mayor pero simpleng tao lang din sya naka simpleng tshirt and chinelas nga lang din pag nakikita namin ^^ kaya diko nagtataka daming nagdadasal sa para sa kanya at mahal sya ng mga taga naga. – Sharky Vergil via Facebook

Only a few weeks ago, I sat on my seat on a plane to Manila. Passengers were still enplaning, but the seat next to me was vacant, until came along Secretary Jesse Robredo who occupied that very seat. A group of women behind us instantly recognized him and spoke to him in Bicolano. Exchanging pleasantries with them, they told him they were also from Naga. Continue reading →