Naga Camarines Sur - Cerebral Insights

The Tarpaulin Irony: Naga’s Tribute to Its Golden Boy

jesse flags — Flags around the city flew half mast to honor this great man. Yellow ribbons were tied around poles, streetlamps, gates, fences — almost everywhere. Naga was a sea of yellow. Photo by Macky Garcera.

For the past 2 weeks, Naga City has been adorned left and right with yellow ribbons and countless streamers & banners all in honor of one man – the man who made it possible to live in Naga prosperously, safely and contentedly. Never have businesses willingly spent a portion of their hard earned profit to pay homage to a politician. After all, politicians have the reputation of being shrewd businessmen who are also after profit of their own. Now this is something not all hard-working businessmen appreciates especially when it involves turning some of their revenues into that politician’s gain.

jesse tarps — Various private entities hung banners outside their establishments to convey their deep gratitude for what he has done. Photos by Macky Garcera.

But that is not the case for the Nagueño businessmen and Naga’s Mayor, Jesse Robredo. Mayor Jess respected the businessmen’s plight to earn decent money. He made it possible for businesses to thrive in the city legally and profitably. In return, businessmen respected his wits and principles. They respected his character and his decency that he was not in the position for personal gain but he was there for genuine service. And so he gained their trust.

And when he left, businesses didn’t think twice in paying him tribute the only way they can – by displaying banner after banner, streamer after streamer, thanking him for his selfless dedication and honest work. The guy who shied away from traditional Welcome Home or Happy Fiesta banners that most politicians succumb to was given in his return home countless banners displayed in every corner and establishment. Mayor Jess didn’t want to spend the taxpayer’s money in privileges he can do without. He didn’t like to announce his homecoming, his greetings, his message or whatsoever in banners because he believed that the money to be spent for that can be spent in other more productive ways.

jesse tarps 2 — Some business tried to infuse their brands into their tarps but nonetheless carried the same messages of love and deep gratitude. Photos by Macky Garcera.

So in his honor, just this one time, businesses gave him what he withdrew from himself. Some hung small banners; some made really huge ones the size of standard billboards. Some dedicated entire parking spaces in his honor.

Others were more creative with their tributes – creating permanent graffiti in their store decors or creating message photowalls for people to leave their messages for him. Whatever medium they used, the practice around Naga City was the same. Businesses – big and small – paid their hero their last respects.

Business establishments were not the only ones who honored him in this way. He also touched many private schools who also accorded him the same honor. Some even made honorary trips to his wake – from elementary students who only know him as their all too famous alumnus to college students who stayed up all night and even made a vigil walk for him.

jesse6 — Schools, volunteer organizations, religious institutions, homeowners associations all clamored to pay their tributes. Photos by Macky Garcera.

Jesse Robredo was a well-loved man. It was evident in the city of Naga. He pleased not just private institutions but public agencies as well. He knew how to balance the private and public interests. And he knew how to prioritize the poor without sacrificing the businessman’s private interests. He was one 0f a kind.

jesse5 — Government agencies paid their respects as well. Photos by Macky Garcera.

jesse7 — He was especially near to the hearts of the poor and the physically challenged. Photos by Macky Garcera.

jesse8 — Some even paid him anonymous tributes. Others welcomed him back to the city he belonged, loved and served. Photos by Macky Garcera.

During the vigil before he was found, during the wake before his funeral and during his funeral, people from all walks of life were there. Telling personal stories of how Jesse has helped them. Crying their hearts out for the loss they felt. Giving whatever they can give – from free food to free shirt printing for the people who trooped to see him one last time.

shirtjesse — Free shirt printing was available from early morning till late at night in various points in the city. A man even said that he was willing to print as many shirts as he can so long as he has paint. This is his way of saying thanks to Jess who helped him establish his small shirt printing business in the city market which enabled him to send his kids to school. (Jess did not ban sidewalk vendors. Instead, he introduced regulated vending in the city.) Photos by Macky Garcera.

He was available to everyone. Everyone could talk to him. Everyone had their own personal moments with him. And so, for them, he was a man gone to soon. He was Naga’s Golden Boy – the bearer of hope, the beacon of light. And his passing will leave a dent in every Nagueños heart.

yellow ribbons — Photo by Macky Garcera.

The First of Its Kind

It’s seldom anyone witnesses a momentous occasion that is bound to go down the annals of history. Yesterday, I witnessed just that – a sight like no other. An event that I can tell my grand kids over and over again. It was not an entirely celebratory occasion. It was a death after all. But it was a legendary death.

yellow ribbon for Jesse — Black and Yellow Ribbons were tied on trees, posts and fences as tribute symbols to a great man.

When it was declared that Jesse Robredo was to be given a state funeral, at first, I did not understand what it was. I knew it to be some pompous funeral rites to be held in honor of great men. And indeed it was befitting Mayor Jess (as we call him) since in our eyes and our hearts, he probably was the greatest man to grace this planet. We all love him. How can we not? But the gravity of how huge or important the occasion was lost to me.

At first I thought this was the first time the country will hold a state funeral in the longest time. But upon further research, I learned that the last state funeral actually happened just last July 4, 2012. This was for a National Scientist, Perla Santos-Ocampo. National Scientists and National Artists by virtue of law have the right to be given a state funeral. Apart from them, heads of state (president, vice-president, senate president and speaker of the house) are also entitled to state funerals. Diosdado Macapagal was the last president given a state funeral which happened on April 1997. But does any of us remember what happened during those state funerals? Frankly, I don’t. I was still a kid in 1997 and the state funeral last July 2012 was probably not given much attention by the media (which is sad because she was a great scientist).

crowds for Jesse — Despite the blistering sun, the Basilica grounds were packed with people, paying homage to their great leader.

And so, it was not until yesterday, while under the blistering sun; amid the grief and sorrow that plagued the collective hearts of us Nagueños, I saw just how pompous the rites were. After the usual mass was said and the priest’s moving homily was given, came the eulogies delivered by Atty. Leni and Pres. Noynoy. But before the eulogies, Mayor Jess was awarded the Legion of Honor, the highest award the President can give without approval from Congress. The medal was really huge. And it was such an honor for the entire Naga to have our beloved mayor awarded with such.

After the eulogies, the rites were performed. Fancy dressed military personnel paraded in the space in front of Basilica. When the casket was brought out, the Philippine National Anthem was played amid 19- gun salutes performed in nearby Eternal Gardens. It was a sight and sound to behold. Although I did not follow the procession to the crematorium, I later watched replays in TV of how the rites, as pompous as ever, were carried out in front of the crematorium. Each step – each process – was a tribute to the greatness of Jesse Robredo. Such pomp was never really synonymous with the simple man. As to Atty. Leni’s words, if Jess was alive, he would say that everything was too much. But just this last time, we all want to give him the highest form of honor we all can.

In my mind, I can’t help but think, how even in death, he brought prestige to our humble city. Our city, who was once riddled with various woes and problems typical of 3rd class cities. Our city who thru him has earned various recognition for matters that has helped each one of us progress into the kind of citizens we are now. Mayor Jess, in his true fashion, served us to the very end. With his death, he brought national attention to Naga City. Even USec. Manolo Quezon said in a tweet, that for yesterday, Naga was the capital of the country. Major media networks flew in their top anchors and reporters to cover the events. Dignitaries and VIPs graced our streets. The world saw what kind of a city Naga truly was.

Whereas before, my friends from Manila would have a hard time deciding where Naga was, or what Naga looked like, now, everyone in the country, even abroad, knows of this humble, land-locked city existing as a living testimony to the possibility of good governance; the possibility that honest public servants exist amid the sea of corrupt traditional political dynasties.

jesse funeral — Policemen line up the paths to guide people where to go. Order was ensured during the entire funeral. I overheard some policemen remarked how Nagueños were very disciplined.

Mayor Jess, even in his death, gave us great honor, for which we are grateful for. In his death, he brought the country’s – and the world’s – eyes to our doorsteps. He showed the entire nation that progress is possible if only public servants would become true servants and citizens would become active constituents. Mayor Jess showed how democracy should really be played out – where the leaders craft solutions and where the constituents participate actively not just in the implementation but in the crafting of such solutions. Where leaders can impose but constituents are welcome to debate and argue with their impositions. Where such discussions are held in a civil manner, not in the streets as most often portrayed by the media as the only means for citizens to air out their sentiments over certain issues.

Much laud and praise have been accorded this great man. Stories, both from ordinary citizens and from well-versed writers, have been told over and over again. Those are just but a taste, a glimpse, of how truly great he was and how much impact he has made in all our lives. Not just in the present, but in the future as well. Naga City, hasn’t been accorded this much honor, this much publicity, this much praise, as it has been given now. And we all owe it to him, our faithful and dedicated Mayor Jess who even in death, served us well.

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What happened to all the good men?

After such a long time, we finally have a long weekend holiday. And for someone who’s working, long holidays are a much welcome respite even if admittedly, we would have to do some work during the time period. Yet I still welcome the pressure-free & stress-free 4 days.

Yet what should have been a blissful holiday has turned into a tension-filled waiting game for Naga City – and the whole nation for that matter. Saturday afternoon, I received a text from a friend that DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo’s plane crashed in the waters of Masbate. I checked the news and true enough, it really happened. Then the waiting game began.

It was horrendous. This game of not knowing what would happen next. After that fateful crash, came rescue efforts and news casts clamor to be the first to report what was happening. There was even a false alarm that he was found which many believed. But after checking with close sources to the family, I knew that the worst was not yet over.

I am not here to talk about what the public already knows. Every second, social media updates us on how the rescue efforts are coming along. It’s all that the news contain now – the President is personally leading the rescue efforts – what could be more newsworthy than that? Even the typhoon threatening the northern provinces receive much less airtime than what is happening now at Masbate, at the Robredo’s residence and at prayer vigils in Manila.

Rather, I am here to narrate how kind a man Robredo ~~was~~ is. (I refuse to talk to him in the past tense.) I am in the same batch as his eldest child, Aika. She became my classmate back in Grade 4 and for a time being, when the entire family went to the US, she became my close friend through letters we constantly sent each other. It was there I caught a glimpse of the humble life they lead.

Yes, they were part of the high society of Naga City – I guess all politicians in high places are. But never did they make anyone feel like they were elite and you were beneath them. They embodied the true meaning of public servant – someone who serves the public first and put them above themselves.

My mom tells me that when she arrived in Naga it was a very sleepy town. It was a far cry from the city it is now – and indeed I recall how backwards it was back then. But under Robredo’s guidance and leadership, it bloomed to the city it is now. It now has so much potential that I was encouraged to go back and live here; starting my career here – a feat that would have been impossible if Naga has remained the backward city that it was before.

Under Robredo’s leadership, my faith in good governance returned. It was he who started transparency in the city government – where the public can easily access records and see how project biddings went so that we knew what transpired in all projects and were assured there was no corruption involved. With Robredo, the faith of the people returned to the government. Good governance was possible. And so he won election after election until his term expired. Then he would rest, run again, and win. He would have continued on becoming mayor if not for the offer of PNoy to be the DILG Secretary.

Robredo has no ambition for greater power. He could have easily became congressman, senator and climb up the political ladder. But that was not his intention in becoming a politician. His intent was to transform Naga and show the entire country that it was possible to become a progressive nation. Naga City is a testament to that.

Yet he is the only politician I know who doesn’t flaunt his projects. Not once did I see a waiting shed, or any other government project with his name etched on it. He didn’t preserve power by reminding people he erected this and that. He preserved power because he remained true to his oath of serving the people. And the people saw his sincerity. He is their champion.

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