
I was
doing my morning rounds at the wards when I overheard on the radio that
finally, Hon. Sec. Jesse Robredo’s body was recovered from the deep seawaters
of Masbate City.
I felt a mixture of emotions rush
all throughout my body. I was happy that
the secretary’s body was finally recovered, but it was a lifeless body that was
found, the reason why sadness also looms.
I saw in the news that the late secretary
was a good swimmer. I held on to that
hope while the search and rescue operations were on, that God-willing, the
secretary is able to make use of his swimming skills to save his own life, and would
just be found swimming and holding on to a makeshift flotation device, probably
a part of the private plane he rode in, or that he was just ushered by the sea
currents to a nearby deserted island.
I
had this scene at the back of my head. He is finally found by the rescuers on a
deserted island all by himself. He is waving to them, his spirits on a high,
his energy unmeasurable, a glaring contradiction of his bearing. His hair is disheveled, and his mustache
slightly longer than he usually sports it, and there are
minor scratches all over his body, and his clothes are tattered but still, he
is a thing of beauty, a sight to behold.
But
all that will just remain at the back of my head right now.
Reality
has set in.
I
couldn’t help but be teary-eyed looking at the news, hearing at the same time
all the amazing attributes of this man.
He was a real silent worker, dedicated to his commitment of serving the
people, without trying to make a big fuss out of it. To top it all, indeed, it was the little
things that he did that truly made him great, most especially to his
family. I could only shake my head in
awe that in spite of his schedule he made it a point to be with his family each
time he had a chance.
The
late Hon. Sec. Jesse Robredo was a rare find, a real gem, in this time and age. He was our light at the end of the tunnel
that there is hope for change in the tradition of Philippine politics. Indeed, there will be big shoes to fill by
whoever is appointed to take his position in the government.
Thank
you, Sir, for everything you have done for us as a country. Thank you for your time, your life, which you
have spent serving the people. Thank you
for setting an example to your fellow politicians, to the young and the young
at heart, and to the Filipino people as a whole. Probably that was your mission, to set an
example, and to cast on a glimmer of hope, that things like serving the people
through good and responsible governance can be done without veering towards the
crooked side. That there is such a thing
as word of honor. That our feet can
still stand sturdy on the ground even if success is sky high. That fathers, no matter how busy, can still
make time for their children.
You
have also done your job as a father well.
A proof to that is when your eldest daughter Aika, had an interview on
television last night. Her grace and
poise and disposition truly reflected that of yours. Admirable in this time of loss that family is in. Indeed, she is your daughter.
Thank you, Sir Jesse. Rest
in peace, sir. You will forever be
missed.
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