Naga declares Aug. 18 Jesse M. Robredo Day

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY --- A year after the ill-fated crash of the Piper Seneca plane that untimely claimed the life of then DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, the local government of Naga City under the headship of Mayor John Bongat, has lined up and prepared activities in line with the celebration of “Jesse M. Robredo” Day come August 18.

This is also pursuant to Ordinance No. 2012-046, unanimously signed and endorsed by members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, which states that August 18 of every year be remembered as JMR Day “in recognition of the exceptional performance and invaluable contributions of the late Honorable Jesse Manalastas Robredo to the City of Naga which he served as City Mayor for 19 years, and to the country as Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).”

The activity will start from 5:30 in the morning with a “Tsinelas Walk” from Plaza Quezon and will converge at the Eternal Gardens where Robredo’s remains were entombed. More than 3,000 Nagueños are expected to partake in the said activity. A wreath laying ceremony will immediately follow at the memorial park.

TAU Gamma Phi will also spearhead a tree-planting activity dubbed as “Alay Ki Jess” at 730am where more than 300 varieties` of fruit-bearing seedlings will be planted at the Mount Isarog Protected Area.

Students coming from various schools in the city were also invited to participate in the Disaster Preparedness lecture at the Naga City People’s hall, just inside the City hall compound. After which, there will be a distribution of “tsinelas” or slippers to more or less 200 students from public schools. This will be spearheaded by the Philippine Women’s Basketball team.

Those who want to view Robredo’s memorabilia can visit Plaza Rizal where organizers have arranged a JMR Exhibit.

In the afternoon, the late Secretary’s sister. Dr. Josephine Robredo-Bundoc, also known as Penny will spearhead a Physician for Peace Activity in celebration of Jesse’s life with the Persons with Disabilities (PWADs). There will be wheelchair distribution and measurement of mobility facilities to ensure that PWADs are given comfortable ease when transacting at the City Hall.

Penny is a Physiatrists who goes on monthly amputee missions all over the islands to measure, fabricate and fit amputees with artificial limbs.

Wrapping up the afternoon’s events are the 2nd Discovery Women’s Basketball invitational at the JMR Coliseum and a Jess Mabalos Concert at Plaza Quezon at 6pm. Songs, dances and presentations are expected to relive the memory of the late Secretary.

Robredo figured in a plane crash in the seawaters off Masbate City last August 18 around 100 meters away from the shoreline of Ibiningay village of the said town. Captain Jessup Bahinting and student pilot Kshitz Chand also perished on the said accident. Robredo’s aide, Jun Abrazado who was with the Secretary fortunately survived the accident.