The Lady in Pink

image credits to People Asia

     The lady who scoured places most candidates had never been, made a radical change on volunteerism. On October 7, 2021, when she signed up for her presidential bid, she wore a blue blouse with a pink ribbon. Though she had not planned on the campaign pink color, according to her, it is the color of volunteerism, protest, and battle... thus Pink Phenomenon was born...nay for those times when candidates were the ones who gave foods and gifts, she seems like the rockstar whose supporters are like fans. People were so delightful, gave her gifts, shared talents, and dole-out foods to fellow 'kakampinks'... the outgoing Vice President of the Philippines and the number 2, in Presidential elections according to COMELEC swift count. 

        For most people, businessmen, entrepreneurs, artists, talents, farmers, vendors, laborers, and students... she is number 1 as she had conquered the toughest hurdles in this year's presidential elections. Served as Vice President of the Philippines yet contributed to a radical change in the history of Philippine elections. Poems, songs, dance movements, paintings, and murals are dedicated to her candidacy and the people who supported her. Dubbed as the pink light at the end of the tunnel by People Asia Magazine. She is also awarded the Honorary Outstanding Woman Award of the Year (2016) by the Thailand government.

     As Vice President, Leni Robredo's office has these flagship programs that catapulted her into somewhat like an icon, a rockstar being given gifts during the campaign period. 

• Ahon Laylayan Koalisyon - for working with grassroots organizations to form multi-sectoral coalitions that develop their concerns into a common agenda and work with the private and public sectors in fighting poverty through Angat Buhay.
• Angat Buhay - bringing together the public and private sectors to address the needs of families and communities in the farthest and the poorest areas in the country.
• Istorya ng Pag-asa - showcasing extraordinary stories of ordinary people who remind us of the Filipino's strength, compassion, and resiliency for rising above the challenges of the times.
• BISErbisyong Level Up - building the Office of the Vice President into a model agency that went from performing largely ceremonial functions to leading advocacies for the laylayan.

     The Office of the Vice President has also been granted ISO Certification and still maintains it today. The OVP successfully emerged from the audit certification, assessing the office implementation of its quality management system under ISO 90011:2015, which the OVP first obtained in 2017. 

     VP Leni is Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo, a mother of 3 and a widow by his late husband Jesse Robredo.  The latter died from a plane crash and at that time the Secretary of  Interior and Local Government under the leadership of then President Benigno Aquino III. Being a single Mom, VP Leni as she is popularly known, managed to send her daughters to prestigious universities with their intelligence and demeanor and with the help of scholarships abroad. Her eldest daughter, Jessica Marie Robredo also known as Aika is a graduate of B.S Management Engineering at Ateneo de Manila University. She has had her master's degree in Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School, USA. According to her Linked profile, she is currently the Executive director of Restart Micro-Enterprise Inc. (ReStartMe), a wholesale micro-finance NGO that assists micro-entrepreneurs to recover from disasters in the form of financing and business development grants through its member micro-finance institutions. Aika is also the chairman, along with Doc Tricia,  of the Jesse Robredo Foundation. VP Lenis's second daughter, a doctor by profession is Janine Patricia Robredo, also known as Doc Tricia. She is a graduate of B.S in Health Sciences at Ateneo de Manila University. Doc Tricia earned her Doctor of Medicine degree also in Ateneo with another degree of Masters in Business Administration. Doc Tricia also served as one of the volunteer doctors for the Office of the Vice President's initiative of  BEK (Bayanihan E-Konsulta). After the May 2022 election, VP Leni along with her three daughters went to the US for the graduation rites of her youngest daughter, Jillian Therese Robredo. Jillian is a scholar of New York University with a double major degree in Economics and Math.

     VP Leni has been known as a strong advocate of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) and a supporter of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. If you have been visiting the OVP website, one can observe that FOI is noticeable and inherent in the office itself. Transparency at its finest. Leni Robredo had served the country before being hailed as the 14th Vice President of the Philippines.    

     As her term ends this 30th of June, her supporters are waiting for a Non-Government Organization that stems from her campaign slogan, "Angat Buhay Lahat".

Educational Background: 

1997 - Philippine Bar Passer

1992 - Juris Doctor, University of Nueva Caceres

1986 - Bachelor of Arts in Economics, University of the Philippines

Occupational Background before politics:

2008-2010 > President of Naga City Council for Women

1998-2011 > Branch Coordinator and Lawyer of SALIGAN (Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligan)

1997-1999 > Lawyer, Public Attorney's Office

1987-1997 > Economics Professor, Universidad de Sta. Isabel

1986-1987 > Researcher and Economist, Bicol River Basin Development Program Office

1992 > Founded Lakas ng Kababaihan in Naga

Political Background: 

2016-2022 > 14th Vice President of the Philippines

2013-2016 >  Representative, 3rd District of Camarines Sur

            Vice-Chairman on Good Governance and Public Accountability

            Vice-Chairman, Committee on Revision of Laws

            Member, Committee of Appropriations

            Member, Bicol Recovery and  Economic Development

            Member, Climate Change

            Member, Human Rights

            Member, Land Use

            Member,  Local Government

            Member, People's Participation

            Member, Rural Development

            Member, Suffrage and Electoral Reforms

            Member, Welfare of Children

            Member, Women and Gender Equality

from OVP website