MANILA, Philippines – Vice President-elect Leni Robredo appealed to her supporters on Monday, May 30, to help her stay on the right path as the Philippines’ second highest official. 

“Sana po sa araw-araw na gagampanan ko ‘yung aking papel bilang pangalawang pangulo, hinding hindi pa rin kayo magsawa sa pagbabantay sa akin,” Robredo said Monday morning.

(I hope that every day that I play my role as vice president, you will never get tired in watching over me.)

Robredo then explained what she needs: “‘Yung sigurado lang pong hindi ako mawawalay sa tamang landas ‘pag kayo, binabantayan ako. ‘Pag nagkakamali, ‘pinapaalala. ‘Pag tama ang ginagawa, binibigyan lalo ng lakas ng loob.”

(It’s the assurance that I won’t stray from the right path if you watch over me. It’s that if one makes a mistake, one is given a reminder. When one does the right thing, one is given more encouragement.)

Robredo made this statement during a Thanksgiving Mass on Monday for her victory as vice president-elect.

The Mass was held at Saint Peter Parish along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, a 5-minute ride away from the House of Representatives. 

The Mass was scheduled from 10 to 11 am, around 5 hours before Robredo was officially proclaimed vice president-elect.

Minimizing bus rides

Minutes after her proclamation, Robredo held a news conference, where one of her personal practices was also brought up.

This is her and her 3 daughters’ practice of riding a bus when going home to Naga from Manila.

Robredo admitted that there have been concerns about her security because she continues riding buses to Naga. 

“Actually po alam ko na nag-aalala kayo. Ano naman po ‘yon, isang bagay na nag-e-evolve,” the vice president-elect said. (Actually I know that you’re concerned. That’s one thing that is evolving.)

Robredo explained that she prefers to ride a bus, instead of taking a plane, because one plane ticket to Naga costs around P9,000* ($192) each. On the other hand, a bus ticket to Naga costs around P1,000 ($21) each.

Robredo said she and her 3 daughters often travel together to Naga. She said that if she pays P9,000 “times 4,” she could probably rent the whole bus.

Because of security concerns, however, Robredo said she plans to minimize her bus rides.

“Hindi po ako makaka-promise na totally hindi na, pero siguro po mas magiging madalang na,” she said. (I cannot promise that I’ll stop it, but perhaps it will be less frequent.)

“Siguro po mai-internalize ko rin (Perhaps I can eventually internalize it),” Robredo said, referring to her new circumstances as vice president-elect.

“Ngayon po kasi parang hindi pa po masyado nagsi-sink in kaya matigas pa po talaga ‘yung ulo ko. Pero promise po, over time, magpapalit din po ‘yon,” she said. (Now it’s not yet sinking in that much, so I’m still a bit hard-headed. But I promise that over time, that will change.)

“Basta hindi lang magpapalit ‘yung pagkatao namin.” (What will not change is our character.) – Rappler.com

*US$1 = P46.72