Simply Jesse --- read it, loved it

Much has been said about the late Secretary Jesse Robredo. I listened to every report on TV during the time that he was still missing. I suddenly got to know the man, his wife, his children ... by listening to all the news reports, reading all the press releases, watching all the videos. Surely, I'm not the only one who felt an instant attachment to this family.

When I heard that a book was coming out about him, I made a mental note to grab a copy as soon as I could. And I did ... just last weekend.

I read it in one sitting, of course. I love the illustrations and the way the story was told. He was admirable, both on and off the job. I can imagine how much his family misses him. He was a really solid and prominent figure in their lives. 

If God were to take me as abruptly as Sec. Robredo was taken, how would my family talk about me when asked? What would they say? More importantly, what is the one thing I would like to leave behind? Not referring to anything material, of course. I would rather be remembered for the lessons that I taught them, the values I successfully instilled. 

My late Dad was also big on integrity. In my last serious conversation with him over the phone before he passed away, I remember that this was our topic. He said to me, "I would rather have very little money in the bank when I die, as long as every centavo was hard-earned and clean." Okay, tissue please hihihi. And that is why integrity is a major, major thing for me as well. At the end of the day, a clean name is worth so much more than a fat bank account, tons of fancy jewellery, a garage filled with luxury cars, a huge house. 

Sec. Robredo's family has so much reason to be proud of him. 

He left them with things that money can't buy, and a long list of achievements like no one else's. 

I take my hat off to him!

Buy the book please, you'll love reading it. It costs less than P200 at National Bookstore.