MANILA, Philippines – A “simple and modest” inauguration will usher in Leni Robredo, a neophyte legislator who trumped veteran rivals, to the vice presidency on Thursday, June 30.

Before the clock strikes 10 on Thursday morning, Robredo will have officially taken her oath as the 14th vice president of the country at the Quezon City Reception house, where she will hold office. (Check our Live Blog on the Duterte-Robredo inauguration)

The inauguration, which starts at 9 am, departs from tradition. (WATCH: Live: Robredo inauguration)

Usually, the Vice President’s inauguration coincides with the President’s but President-elect Rodrigo Duterte opted to hold his separately.

It will also be a quick one starting with a flag raising ceremony, an ecumenical service, the oath-taking proper, then a message from Robredo.

“Sinisigurado po kasi natin na magiging akma sa pagkatao at sa mga paniniwala ni VP-elect Robredo iyong ating Inagurasyon kaya gusto po natin ito na maliit lamang, maging simple, maging modest at maging makabuluhan po,” Robredo’s spokesperson Georgina Hernandez said in a radio interview on Wednesday, June 29.

(We’re making sure that the inauguration reflects the personality and beliefs of VP-elect Robredo so we want it to be small, simple, modest, and meaningful.)

Only a handful of guests have been invited to the inauguration, including sectoral representatives, defeated Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II, allies in the ruling party, and presidential sister Kris Aquino.

Robredo’s roots

The program reflects Robredo’s track record and chosen advocacies.

Her oath will be administered by two barangay (village) captains – Ronaldo Coner, from Barangay Punta Tarawal in Calabangga, Camarines Sur and Regina Celeste from Barangay Mariana in Quezon City.

Punta Tarawal is among the farthest and poorest barangay in the 3rd district of Camarines Sur, which Robredo used to represent in Congress.

The same barangay, which can only be reached via boat, was one of Robredo’s first stops after she was officially proclaimed Vice President-elect. 

Robredo’s youngest daughter, Jillian, will be holding the bible during her oath-taking. Older daughters Aika and Tricia will also be onstage with their mother.

The flag-raising ceremony also involves sectoral representatives from often-ignored sectors of societies. The following are the flag raisers of the program:

• Jehanne Mutin, a Bangsamoro woman leader; 
• Bajekjek Merida, a Sumilao Farmer;
• Alice Murphy, an urban poor leader; and
• Gabriel Querubin, a PWD representative

Robredo, who only joined politics in 2013, boasts of vast experience in dealing with poor and marginalized sectors through her years as a lawyer. She was a Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) lawyer in Naga City, before she joined the legal resource non-governmental organization Saligan.

Her campaign emphasized the need for programs to empower women, ensure sustainable anti-poverty measures, and rural empowerment.

It was the “laylayan ng lipunan” – or those in the fringes of society – that she championed as she campaigned around the country.

It was also these same groups that bolstered her campaign. The Sumilao farmers, for instance, walked from Mindanao to Manila to campaign for her.

Nearly a decade ago, Robredo and her husband, the late Naga city mayor and interior secretary Jesse Robredo, hosted the Sumilao farmers when they first marched to Manila in a bid to secure their land. – Rappler.com