HER INSPIRATION. Aika Robredo with parents Leni and Jesse Robredo during a recent trip abroad. [Photo from Aika Robredo's Facebook page.]

MANILA, Philippines - It was the little things that made Jesse Robredo an amazing husband and father.

In a Tuesday evening interview on ABS-CBN's Bandila, the eldest daughter of the late Jesse Robredo talked about what he was like as a family man.

"Talagang sinisiguro niyang nandoon siya," said Aika Robredo. "Kahit for dinner lang, or may assignment mga kapatid ko, or may magpapahatid sa school."

(He'd always make sure he was there…He'd be there even just for dinner, to help my siblings with their homework, or bring someone to school.)

Aika was speaking from Naga City, where necrological services for the late Interior Secretary began Tuesday evening.

The plane carrying Jesse Robredo, his aide-de-camp Jun Abrasado, pilot Jessup Bahinting and co-pilot Kshitiz Chand crashed Saturday afternoon, August 18. Robredo's remains were recovered Tuesday morning.

She had said the same thing about her father when she was only 15.

"As he goes about serving others, I have never been left wanting for his time and attention," she wrote in an essay that won the grand prize for the high school category of the Ramon Magsaysay Student Essay Competition in 2003.

'Bittersweet' for the Robredo family

The eldest of 3 daughters, Aika also talked about how the family is coping with their father's death.

"Malungkot man kami, nakikita naman namin na marami palang nagmamahal kay Papa. Nakakatulong po sa amin iyon nang malaki," she said. (We are sad but at the same time, we're seeing how so many people loved Papa. It's helping us a lot.)

She added, "Siguro kung nakikita [tayo ngayon], nakangiti yun, tumatawa-tawa pa." (If he was seeing us right now, he'd be smiling -- laughing even.)

Youngest sister Jill is also doing fine, said Aika.

"Okay naman, hindi niya rin masyadong dinamdam. May awarding ceremony man o wala, the soonest na pwede siyang umuwi, umuuwi talaga siya," she said.

(She's doing fine. [Jesse Robredo] always makes it a point to go home, awarding ceremony or not.)

Aika was referring to reports that said the 12-year-old Jill was guilt-stricken over her father's passing.

The family would rather not speculate on what happened between her father's last phone call to wife Leni and the plane crash.

"Paniniwala ng magulang ko na kung oras mo na, oras mo na…Kahit ako rin po, sabihin natin na iisipin pa natin yun… [pero] wala na ring magbabago," she said. (My parents believe that when your time is up, that's it. Personally, I'd rather not think about it. It wouldn't change a thing.)

"Nung nakita namin yung remains, napaka-peaceful ni Papa." (When we saw his remains, he looked peaceful.) - Rappler.com

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• Robredo state funeral: Fit for 'heroes'
• 'Abrasado did everything he could'
• Aika Robredo: Family 'at peace'
• The day Naga found out Robredo died
• National Days of Mourning for Robredo
• Jesse Robredo's journey back home
• Pilots' families in deep sorrow
• PNoy's promises to Robredo's wife
• Robredo family: We're bracing for worst