Robredo shares Tsinelas leadership to UNEP Graduates

Her husband’s legacy will live and will remain to be one of the most modest means of serving the people—the tsinelas leadership that our very own Bicolano leader, the late SILG Jesse M. Robredo left to us after he perished in that un- fateful plane crash more than a year ago.

 This kind of leadership was shared by his wife, now Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Hon. Maria Leonor Gerona-Robredo during the University of Northeastern Philippines’ (UNEP) 66th Graduation rites over the weekend.
 
“When my husband died, the world took notice of this particular brand of servant leadership which many referred to as “tsinelas leadership.” They said Tsinelas leadership is about the willingness na lumusob sa baha; to be willing to go where you normally do not go –to the most remote areas just to be with the most disadvantaged people,” Robredo said in her speech.
 
The 370-UNEP graduates were all ears and seemed to be intently fascinated in listening to the message that the lady solon wished them to absorb. Robredo continued by posing a question and a challenge to the graduates.
 
“As you pass through the halls of your university one last time, I ask you to think about what tsinelas means to you. Ask yourself. If you were to don the slippers of service, how would you do it? There are many ways to serve the tsinelas-leadership fashion- in your family, community, at work. Make it your own. Jess has passed on, but you can bring it alive.” 
 
Also under the theme for this year: “2014 graduates in the forefront of a seamless economy”, Robredo also challenged the graduates to be demand driven and for them to be able to identify and fit themselves to the needs of their respective communities.
 
She lamented the fact that many preferred to leave to look for a greener pasture when there are local opportunities here where they are called to serve.  She said that each graduate should see first the value of themselves before embarking on a journey of finding themselves under the sun.
 
Robredo also recalled his husband’s famous adage that “it is not the one-time drama of a street revolution that will take us where we want to go. It is having comprehensive program of transparency and accountability. The real revolution is our collective acts of daily service.”

Before Robredo left the portals of the university, UNEP President Atty. Remelisa Alfelor-Moraleda handed over a cash donation to the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation. This, Moraleda said will be used by the JMR Foundation to feed more mouths, sustain more families and help those who are in dire need.
 
Moraleda also left a challenging message to this year’s graduates.
 
“I hope that they use this success that they have achieved to propel them to greater success in the future ---  and I hope that they bring along with them, not just the knowledge but most especially the good attitude and values that they learned here in the university. (UNEP)
 
Lizel S. Macatangay
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