Albert Del Rosario: Firm diplomat, always a gentleman
This letter was written by Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras on Feb. 26, shortly after the retirement of Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario was announced.
March 13, 2016
This letter was written by Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras on Feb. 26, shortly after the retirement of Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario was announced.
SOMETIME in 2013, I had the chance to spend an afternoon with Leni Robredo and daughters Aika and Jillian, most of it in a van driving around Naga, then in the airport, waiting for President Aquino to finish his tour of the province and take off for Manila.
A book chronicling the best practices in local governance and public service examples of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo was launched on Thursday, following a clamor by local officials wanting to emulate his leadership.
After making the decision to run for Congress, Leni Robredo, a widow at 47, now stands on the cusp of history wondering if she can indeed cross into the world her husband had inhabited.
With its low unguarded gate, the unremarkable two-story townhouse of the Robredos on Dayangdang Street in Naga City encourages easy access from the main road. Anyone can just enter the gate, knock on the door and engage the city’s former mayor in a neighborly chat or, on a really bad day, target him for a quick, easy assassination.
Contemporary Philippine history records August as the month of deaths of individuals highly admired like Cory Aquino (Aug. 1), Cory Aquino’s Interior Secretary Jaime Ferrer (Aug. 2), Ninoy Aquino (Aug. 21), and the most recent, P-Noy’s Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo (Aug. 18). These dates should give greater relevance and meaning to the annual holiday at the end of the month, National Heroes Day.
After the funeral of Jesse Robredo and the appointment of Lourdes Sereno as chief justice, I looked forward to the luxury of a good night’s sleep. Surely nobody appreciates a good night’s sleep like seniors.
Until the fatal plane crash of her father, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Jessica Marie “Aika” Robredo has not been in the public eye. She appeared on national TV on the second day of the agonizing three-day wait—waiting for word on her father and his missing plane.
The past week was a time of grief and loss for our people and our nation as we mourned the death of Jesse Robredo, a true public servant and a genuine servant-leader.
Even in death, Secretary Jesse Robredo continues to teach us many lessons. His loss has affected our nation so deeply that even those who did not have the blessing of having worked with him or known him were saddened by his passing.
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