Service is Her Brand of Leadership

By Jeffrey Almazan

Weeks before the proclamation, Leni sat before me in blue, fresh from her rest from the province. The close fight in the Vice Presidency held the country's breath up until the pronouncement, but she sat composed while everyone around her were on their toes. "Ako kasi, fatalistic ako. Yung asawa ko ganun din eh. Kung ano yung nakalaan, kung ano mangyayari..." Her statements trail to silence as everybody waits on her every word. Her voice commands attention.

It must be really fate that brought her to where she is today- a true probinsyana in the Metro, a woman who won as against five men in the vice-presidential race, previously a nobody before she entered politics, but now serves as an excellent example to many of servant leadership and public service.

I know that Leni has always been much more than what others might think she is. Back in Bicol, she has always been more than just the mayor’s wife, and is especially not just another politician’s trophy wife. The Robredo children are themselves achievers, acing top schools in the province, doing sports and music the same time with academic competitions. The Robredos were not just a name.

Asked how her life was before everything in politics began, Leni’s head slightly tilts as if fondly thinking of a moment she misses. "Ako, I lived a very normal life, I was a full-time human rights lawyer pero my schedule revolved around the family. I made it a point that I was only working when the children are in school.

“I was not very active in my husband’s work, but I was very supportive behind the scenes. Even if I was not involved in the politics, I was the one organizing things for him. Ako yung backroom na actor. ‘Pag napapalaban ang asawa ko, ako ang nagma-manage ng headquarters. Yung political organization niya, ako ang nagma-manage. Twice during my husband’s political career, there were attempts to ask me to take over, the two times when his term of office expired. Pero on both times, I rejected the idea and I was lucky that my husband respected my decision. Para sa akin, okay lang sa akin na sundalo -- andun lang ako sa likod -- all my husband has to do is to campaign."

Despite her busy schedule, she’s a hands-on mother who would always find ways to make time for her children. “I was also very involved with my children. Ang tawag sa akin nung mga anak ko, tiger mom - tutok na tutok. Wala kaming driver sa Naga. I would bring them to school, umuuwi pa sa amin ng lunch yung mga bata kasi everywhere is five minutes away. So ihahatid ko sa school, susunduin ko sa school, ihahatid ko naman ng hapon, pagsundo ko sa kanila sa hapon, dala ko na lahat ng gamit kasi lahat sila may sports, lahat may music. So dala ko lahat na equipment. Magbabantay ako. Yung mga anak ko nagte-training three hours a day sa swimming. Paglabas sa school ang una kong dala merienda, bihisan.

“Nasa sasakyan yan, papunta kami sa school, kumakain na sila, tapos magbabantay ako for three hours. Habang nagbabantay ako ina-outline ko na lahat ng aaralin nila. Dala ko yung mga libro, color-coded lahat. Siguro kung uso na noon pa yung online tutoring sites, dapat naglagay na ako noon. I was lucky that my children were six years apart para may isa lang akong tinututukan talaga.”

 As a human rights lawyer, she believed that equipping the distant communities with proper information of their rights and access to legal services will empower them to protect themselves and take up what is theirs.

“Full-time din ako sa lawyering: litigation work ako then community based. Halos lahat na kaso ko pro-bono. Pero hindi ako yung lawyer na nasa law office. Ako yung lawyer na pumupunta sa communities, hinahanap yung mga walang access sa abogado. Yung paniniwala namin is empowerment through paralegal education. We go to the most far-flung communities - yung mga hindi na inaabot ng abogado. Ang ginagawa namin doon, kina-capacitate namin yung mga sector na kahit walang abogado doon, they can survive on their own; they can take care of their legal problems. Ang mga batas, sinasalin namin sa dialect. Paniniwala na kapag alam nila ang karapatan nila sa batas, they are in a better position to fight for their rights - yung mga farmers, urban poor, indigenous people, laborers, women and children.

 “There were times that I had to stay overnight sa communities. Bina-block off ko yun sa schedule ng asawa ko, kasi kung aalis ako, dapat ang asawa ko hindi aalis. Ganun yung buhay ko. Nag-work naman siya. And I thought I was going to do it forever.”

“Parang naiba lang lahat nung namatay yung asawa ko. Kasi nung namatay yung asawa ko, hindi financially rewarding yung ginagawa ko kasi libre. So noong namatay yung asawa ko, nag-apply ako sa judiciary, kasi inisip ko yun yung stable, yung pwede pang solo parent, yung kaya ko pa din buhayin yung mga anak ko kahit mag-isa na lang ako. Pero before ako natanggap, dumating na yung congresswoman. Yun na. Naiba talaga yung buhay.

Her victory as the Congresswoman of the third district of Camarines Sur came as a blessing to her work as lawyer of the poor. "Noong human rights lawyer pa ako, ang tawag kasi sa amin alternative lawyering, as against traditional. Kasi yung traditional lawyering ang turo sayo, ‘Yan yung batas, kailagan sundin mo.’ Pero kami, mga alternative lawyers, ito ang batas, pero ipagpalagay mong may mga provision yung batas na hindi na nagbibigay katarungan sa sector -- palitan mo. Like kami, pag may nakikita kaming ganun, halimbawa para sa mga magsasaka, pag may nakikita kaming mga provision na kailangan nang palitan, nagda-draft kami ng batas. Nung hindi pa ako congressman, nagda-draft kami ng mga amendments, ipe-peddle namin yun sa mga congressmen, mga senador, bibihira na may pumapatol. Parang hindi sa kanila attractive.”

She understood that teaching the people their rights will give them a better standing on legal matters; that is why the offer for congresswoman enticed her. "Nung congressman na ako, hindi ko na kailangan mag-peddle. Ako na mismo yung magfa-file. Parang one step closer to heaven ka, diba? Yun yung napakalaking blessing: to a certain extent, naging shortcut siya sa trabaho. Tapos nung nagdedesisyon ako nito, kausap ko yung mga dati kong kasamahan, mga kakosa, sinasabi nila na, ‘Hindi mo ba nai-imagine na nung magkakasama pa tayo parang hirap na hirap tayo? Parang kahit anong sigaw natin, kakaunti yung nakikinig sa atin. Ngayon pag nakatsamba ka nito, hindi mo na kailangang sumigaw kasi ikaw na yung nandun. Parang pwedeng ikaw na mismo ang maging boses.’ Yun ang attraction sa akin: yung position of power kapag ginamit nang tama, sobrang difference ang magagawa sa buhay ng mga taong matagal nang hindi pinapakinggan."

It could have been Leni’s public service and political experience that have led her to her core principles and how she sees how a government should be. “Marami akong gustong gawin, pero lahat siya sa prinsipyo ng kung ano ang pagtingin ko sa governance. Ang pagtingin ko sa governance inclusive, participatory at saka empowering. Yung pagbibigay ng mas maraming boses sa tao. Hindi strong government pero strong constituency. Napakita na namin ito sa Naga na posible. Kapag ganitong klaseng governance, yung mindset ng constituency umiiba. Ang constituency, hindi sya nagiging demanding. Pero tinitingnan niya yung sarili na bahagi sya, hindi nya tinitingnan ang sarili nya na beneficiary lamang siya.”

The Tsinelas type of Leadership was very evident in this bottom-up approach. She knew that through a collaborative governance where each people is given a voice, the community will achieve genuine change that is founded in the collective effort of the constituency. This kind of leadership aims to restore the faith and confidence of the people to the government. It does not only pertain to the aspiration of the government but of the people itself.

“Kasi ngayon kung titingnan natin, very critical tayong lahat sa gobyerno. Critical tayo kasi nag-e-expect tayo na ito ang kailangan nating matanggap. Pero it will never be enough. Kahit gaano kahusay ng gobyerno, parating kulang. Pero kung pinaramdam mo sa kanya na bahagi siya ng gobyerno, una, dahil naiintindihan niya kung ano ang nagyayari (kaya yung transparency number one), mas forgiving siya sa shortcomings. Pangalawa, may ownership siya sa successes, pag ganyan yung kanyang pakiramdam. Hindi lang siya nagiging critical, pero mas collaborative siya. Gustong sabihin, nirerecognize niya na yung benefits na narereceive nya, may kaakibat yon na obligasyon. Tingin ko yun yung mas sustainable.”

Her unceasing advocacy of transparency and accountability in the government led her to become a champion of good governance, which mirrors her husband’s principles and legacy. She pushed for bills that requires full disclosure of transactions and documents of government agencies.

“Sa Naga, early on, ang hirap nung sinimulan namin kasi grabe ang resistance. Ang tagal na noon. Sustainable ang reforms. Kasi hindi nakabase sa isang tao ang success. Hindi sinasabing mahusay ang Naga dahil kay Jesse Robredo. Hindi eh. Mahusay ang Naga dahil ang tao, mahusay. Na kahit wala si Jesse Robredo, mas nagiging mahusay pa siya. Parang yung recognition na ‘Wala akong monopoly ng husay pero nagiging inspirasyon ako’. Ang tawag namin dyan sa Naga, ‘making the best better.’ Kasi dino-draw out yung best in you.

“Hindi ko alam sa position ko kasi limited ang aking authority. Actually mas powerful ang mayor kaysa vice president kasi ang mayor, sa area of jurisdiction niya, magagawa niya ang lahat. Sa VP, parati kang subservient. Pero ako, umaasa na bigyan ako ng maraming elbow room para ipakita na yung paniniwala ko, kaya sa national scale. At marami kaming like-minded na mga tao na naghihintay lang na bigyan ng ganito.

“Siyempre marami ang resistance, pero sa akin kung tingnan mo yung mga bills na filed ko in Congress, lahat talaga transparency, accountability, people empowerment. Kasi tingin ko, yun ang basics eh. Parang yung specific projects, barya lang yun eh. Pero yung lahat ng mga proyekto, lahat ginagawa sa isang basic na paniniwala ng gobyerno every step of the way.

“Example, lahat ng LGU, may City Youth Week, City Youth month. Sa Naga, we took it to the next level further. Sa Naga pag summer yung mga City Youth Officials talagang umuupo as mayors, vice mayors, councilors. Nakakapagpasa sila ng batas. Pinaparamdam mong ‘Bahagi ka.’ Tingin ko napakalaking bagay noon kasi yung paniniwala sa sarili, lumalakas; yung paniniwala sa gobyerno, lumalakas. Kasi minsan, kahit yung gobyerno matino, kahit yung gobyerno mahusay, kung hindi siya very transparent -- yung trust issues, malaki pa din. Halimbawa yung gobyernong ito, sobrang daming magandang ginawa, pero baka nakulangan sa pag-communicate. Para ramdam ng tao na ‘Hindi lang kayo to, tayo ito.’”

The success and improvement that can be seen in Naga were only the result of the active support and cooperation of the public to the programs of the local government. The city has always given her solace. But there will always be a huge difference between serving in a city or a province and serving a whole country.

As great as the opportunity there is to help to a greater number of people is the temptation to be consumed by the same power given to the one holding the post - and she understands that. How can she protect herself and the people she serves from such temptation? She stresses simplicity. “Number one yung pag maintain ng simpleng buhay. Kasi pag nag congressman ka na, andami talagang temptations as far as power is concerned. Maraming mag-a-attempt to make things easier for you: sa airport, may mag-aasikaso, di ka na pipila; ang travels mo pauwi, lahat yan pwede mo i-charge sa gobyerno. Kapag meron kang allowances na binibigyan ka nang wala masyadong accountability, merong pwedeng ipalusot - kung gusto. Parati ko lang inaalala yung parating sinasabi ng asawa ko dati na parang pinaka-basic sa aming public servants na yung wants, as close to your needs as possible; kasi oras na lumaki na yung wants mo over your needs, problema yun. Parang yung pagbu-bus, mahalaga yun sa akin, kasi nire-remind sa iyo kung sino ka. Yung simpleng sasakyan. Punta ka sa kongreso, yung sasakyan kong Innova, mas pangit pa sa sasakyan ng mga backup ng congressman. Kasi oras na makipag-sabayan ka, meron ka na ring SUV, how do you maintain that kind of lifestyle? Pag magbabyahe ka dahil nakaugalian ng mga congressman na parating naka-business class, mga little things na pag hinayaan mo ang sarili mo, paggising mo isang araw, iba ka na. Hindi mo mapapansin.

“Kasi marami din akong kilalang ganun na nagsimula: with only the very best of intentions. Pero dahil nakalimot, gumising siya na nagustuhan niya na pala yung perks at naiwan niya na kung sino siya. Kaya sa akin importante at pinagdadasal na hindi ka makalimot.”

Coming from a city of strong Catholic faith, Leni prays whenever she has a decision to make: when she had to run for Congress, when she had to run for the vice-presidency, and when she has to make tabs on herself for keeping her values in check.

When asked what her view on the youth was, “I think naa-underestimate ninyo ang inyong sarili. Ako kasi mas gusto kong mag-work with mga bata kasi pwede pang i-mold. Mahirap kasi kapag gaya na ng mga edad namin na hindi na flexible; parating sinasabi na ‘Wag mo kong turuan kasi alam ko na yun.’ Yung panahon nag-iiba eh. What worked for you then might not work now. Pero yung mga bata, dahil hindi pa sobrang bilib sa sarili, mas innovative, mas creative, mas thinking out of the box kesa sa mga matatanda. Siyempre you can always count on the wisdom tsaka experience ng matatanda, pero mas tinitingnan ko na mas consultative ang mga bata.”

As far as the interview went, she was a simple woman and her reasons were simple, straight to the point, and . Among the Vice-Presidentiables, she was the one who has reached the most number of areas during her sorties. “Sa Ocampo, Camarines Sur, parang yung urban lang sa kanilang area, tatlo o apat na barangay. Hindi ko pinupuntahan yung urban. Pinupuntahan ko yung rural, na maglalakad ka whole day na ang maaabutan mo siguro five families. Magte-trek ka, walang daan, walang lahat. Pero pag-akyat ko, ang laking bagay. Sa urban, taken ka for granted. Pero pag-akyat mo, nabigyan mo ng importansya yung tao doon (sa rural). Word gets around. ‘Wala pang nakapunta dito na iba, si ma’am pa lang.

“Ako mas tinitingnan ko ang lahat ng bagay sa returns na hindi kaagad nakukwenta. Hindi lang sa pulitika pero sa lahat ng bagay. Ang pakiramdam ko, yung measure parati, yung hindi nakikita kesa sa nakikita. Yun yung mas sustainable na measure. Nagde-defy siya ng lahat ng conventions. Kasi pag nakausap nyo yung ibang mga pulitiko, sasabihin na sira yung ulo ko. Halimbawa ngayon: everyday nung kampanya, six to eight sorties. Pero lulusot ako ng isa pa for the soul. Halimbawa pumunta kami ng Aklan. May isang fishing community. Pumunta kami; 20 tao ang kausap ko. Mas matagal akong nag-spend time doon. Pero aalis ako na happy ako. Pumunta ako ng Pampanga, umakyat ako sa Pinatubo -- pumunta ako sa Porac. Pag-akyat ko, 20 din na mga Aetas. Hindi naman ako nag speech. Ako pa nga ang nag-emcee: nagprogram kami, singing and dancing. Tuwang-tuwa sila. Posible ding pag-alis ko, hindi na nila maalala yung pangalan ko. Pero, alam mo, yun ang reward na hindi mapapalitan. Sa akin yun yung nilu-look forward ko parati. Yung magsasalita ako in front of 10,000 people na hindi mo na nga makikita ang mga mga mukha sa dami -- hindi ko yun na-e-enjoy.”

Her sensibility is needed in the current administration and could perhaps fill out what is supposedly lacking in Philippine politics. We have defined her so many times, we burned out the word simple. And yet it is exactly how we could all comprehend Leni. I asked her, “Who is Leni Robredo?”

“Mahirap nang ako ang magsabi niyan.”

But she has answered the question already.

(Originally published in the People Manager magazine, official monthly publication of People Management Association of the Philippines where I serve as Editor in Chief).