Robredo underscores need for progressive leadership in governance
By AJ Siytangco
Published Sep 18, 2019 04:29 pm
By Raymund Antonio
Vice President and opposition leader Leni Robredo told aspiring young leaders that a shift in their mindset will be needed if they are to improve public governance in the future.
Robredo delivered her keynote address on the need for progressive leadership in governance at the Angat Buhay Young Leaders in Government Fellowship held in San Mateo, Rizal.
Vice President Leni Robredo
(OVP / MANILA BULLETIN) The Office of the Vice President and the Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung Philippine office organized the training program for youth leaders who are currently doing government or legislative work to hone their leadership skills. “The reason why we are doing this—because we want this to be a platform. We want this to be a sanctuary of progressive leaders. We want this to be a family of ethical, empowering, and effective leader,” she said. In her speech, Robredo underscored the need to “create an environment” for young leaders to “learn from each other” to achieve their full potential. “I’m sure this will not be perfect, but if only for the fact that we will be able to create a community where everyone is encouraged to keep on fighting. Not against the government, but keep on fighting the good fight and never losing hope, that’s okay. And inspiring others to be hopeful as well,” she said. The Vice President shared how some government agencies would not reply to her request for assistance for the implementation of her anti-poverty program in far-flung areas. Robredo said the young leaders should not allow any difficulties to get in the way of their performance at work. “So kung mataas iyong aking ego, ay, hindi ko na iyon gagawin. Pero because we are focused on the kind of the work that we want to do, parang you have to set aside all these. Hindi lang ego, pero all the difficulties,” she said. (So if I have a big ego, I won’t do that anymore. But because we are focused on the kind of work that we want to do, you have to set aside all these. Not only ego but all difficulties.) “If you are too sensitive about these things, you will lose your focus,” Robredo added.
Vice President Leni Robredo(OVP / MANILA BULLETIN) The Office of the Vice President and the Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung Philippine office organized the training program for youth leaders who are currently doing government or legislative work to hone their leadership skills. “The reason why we are doing this—because we want this to be a platform. We want this to be a sanctuary of progressive leaders. We want this to be a family of ethical, empowering, and effective leader,” she said. In her speech, Robredo underscored the need to “create an environment” for young leaders to “learn from each other” to achieve their full potential. “I’m sure this will not be perfect, but if only for the fact that we will be able to create a community where everyone is encouraged to keep on fighting. Not against the government, but keep on fighting the good fight and never losing hope, that’s okay. And inspiring others to be hopeful as well,” she said. The Vice President shared how some government agencies would not reply to her request for assistance for the implementation of her anti-poverty program in far-flung areas. Robredo said the young leaders should not allow any difficulties to get in the way of their performance at work. “So kung mataas iyong aking ego, ay, hindi ko na iyon gagawin. Pero because we are focused on the kind of the work that we want to do, parang you have to set aside all these. Hindi lang ego, pero all the difficulties,” she said. (So if I have a big ego, I won’t do that anymore. But because we are focused on the kind of work that we want to do, you have to set aside all these. Not only ego but all difficulties.) “If you are too sensitive about these things, you will lose your focus,” Robredo added.