5 March 2017 Ayala Mall, Cebu, 4 March 2017

To everyone who came over this afternoon, maayong hapon sa inyong tanan.

It is a wonderful opportunity for our family and the Jesse Robredo Foundation to launch the book, Jesse Robredo and the Quest for Good Governance, here in Cebu.

Alam ninyo naman why Cebu holds a very special place in our hearts. This was the last city my husband was in before that fateful plane crash. So with that, I have always gone back to Cebu after he left us.

In each and every time I come, it feels like going home. So when I was told by my staff at the Jesse Robredo Foundation that we were allowed to launch this book in Cebu, I immediately said yes. Because I really think this is a wonderful opportunity for the Foundation and our family to keep Jesse’s spirit alive.

Alam ninyo po, hindi ito iyong first book that was published in his honor. But we decided to make a compilation of his writings and his speeches. Because after he died, marami sa amin ang humihingi ng kung anu-ano.

So we decided to make a compilation of it. But the first time it was printed, it was only intended for the local government officials. Because during that time, it was only the local government officials who asked for his speeches.

Noong una, pamigay lang sana for local government officials. But when people from the DILG, people from national agencies, people from development organizations started asking us also, we decided to have it available commercially.

As I have said, this is one way for us, that we keep his memory and legacy alive. Iyong kanyang natutunan, hindi aral sa eskuwelahan. Pero iyong kanyang shine-share ay based sa kanyang experiences when he was mayor and when he was DILG secretary.

So with this book, we hope that – he was only 54 when he left us – too young for somebody, who could have done so much more. Pero parati kong sinasabi na wala na siya pero andito pa naman ako. Nandito pa naman tayo – iyong mga naniniwala sa mga kanyang isinulong, puwede pa namang ipagpatuloy – iyong kanyang mga sinimulan.

This book says it all, iyong lahat ng paniniwala at adbokasiya, at aral ng mga napulot ng asawa ko. This is an attempt to share to all of you, what my husband advocated for when he was still alive. For us his family, we hope to keep his spirit and memory alive in all of you.

So to National Bookstore, to Ayala Cebu and to our friends from the local government of Cebu, maraming maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat.