Kaban ni D_BystandeR: ANG MABULOKONG KINABUHI NI JESSE M. ROBREDO

The colorful life of DILG Sec. Jesse M. Robredo was snatched from him last Saturday after attending a series of meetings with Local Government Units and CIDG Officials in Cebu. He could have taken a bigger plane on his way back where he was originally booked in his return trip but he was in a hurry to go home to Naga City to witness the awarding of his youngest daughter Jilian who won the top award in a "swimming competition." 

Believing that flight would be no different from the others, he chose a veteran pilot Jessup Bajenting, the owner of that aviation company  to personally "fly" it for him. There would have been another pilot to "do the job" but the owner Jessup Bajenting could just "not say no" to a request from DILG Secretary, in line with his "benevolent heart's nature" where recently he also "volunteered" to get 4 vials in Camiguin to answer the need to "save the life" of  that Cebu City Zoo employee bitten by a "wandering cobra" who was in a critical condition. That "fateful" Saturday, a throng of media reporters asked him to give them a "little time" for interview before going home to Naga City but he "politely" turned them down. Even Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado asked the good Secretary if he can extend his visit in the evening for relevant "questions and answers" but just the same it was turned down. And so he was all set for that trip which unknown to him would be his "last flight" in his entire public career. His medals and accolades would take us a "mile long" to enumerate. In 1999 he was cited by Asiaweek Magazine for transforming Naga City from a lethargic Philippine city into one of Asia's Most Improved, Robredo energized the bureaucracy, dramatically improved stakeholdership and people participation in governance, in the process restoring Naga to its preeminent position premier city of the Bicol Region. Today, Naga is considered a model local government in the country and a laboratory of local government innovation. 

It took three days for the "search and rescue operation" personally supervised by Pres. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino right from the "crashed site" to finally find him in the sea waters of Masbate which was reported to be in the depths of 180 feet from the sea surface and "200 meters away from the shore line." The pilot decided to make an emergency landing in Masbate when he noticed there was "engine trouble" of that private plane "piper seneca" but could not make it to the airport but to the sea. 

By "twist of fate" his "aide-de-camp" Jun Abrazado was saved. In a report quoting him by some "media accounts," when the plane was on its "descent" to the body of sea water below he reportedly "embraced" the Secretary and "saw to it his seat belt was properly fastened." 

It was unclear if he likewise fastened his seat belt thereafter like what he did to his "Boss" because he was able "to jump to safety" outside the plane leaving the Secretary inside with the two pilots who all perished in that mishap. He was 54 when he died.

(Bug-os ang  pasalamat sa KAHAYAG ngadto sa nagsulat niining  artikulo  nga si JOHNNY LOVE. Nagtakuban siya sa pangalan, "D_BystandeR".  Natawo siya sa Sugbo apan anaa na karon manimuyo sa Illinois sa tinipong nasod sa Amerika. Ang kusog nga koneksyon sa kasayuran pinaagi sa internet kanunayng naghaling sa iyang kadasig  pagtuki sa mga nagbukalbukal nga hisgutanan dinhi sa atong nataran. Usa siya ka magsusulat nga gradwado sa kursong komersiyo padulong sa pagka accountant sa University of San Carlos kaniadtong tuig 1961.  Nahimo siyang miyembro sa usa ka hugpong sa mga batan-ong magsusulat nga gitawag ug STUDENT PRESS.  Nahimo usab siyang   Associate Editor sa basahon  USC-JPIAN sa tuig 1962-63. Magtatampo usab siya isip magsusulat sa nasudnong magasin,  "Philippines Free Press" ug sa mga nag-unang peryodiko dinhi sa dakbayan sa Sugbo sa lunhaw pa ang iyang pangedaron. Nahimo siyang mamumuo sa usa ka pribadong kompaniya sa dakbayan sa Sugbo, ESCANO LINES, sulod sa napulo ug duha (12) ka tuig  dayon niyang tapon  ngadto sa NAPOCOR  ug nahimong kawani sa kagamhanan  sulod sa bayente dos (22) ka tuig. Niadtong tunga-tungang bahin sa tuig 2000, nilalin siya ngadto sa tinipong nasod sa Amerika ug sulod sa napulo (10) ka tuig, nagtrabaho siya sa  buhatan sa kagamhanan sa nasod sama  sa  UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE (USPS).  Karon sa pangedaron nga 67,  gihuptan gihapon niya ang walay pagkutat nga kadasig ug walay busganan nga kaikag sa pagpaambit sa iyang nahuptang abilidad  ug kabatid sa panulat.  Dili niya mapugngan ang kaugalingon sa pagpaambit sa iyang mga hunahuna labi na kon molambigit kini ug hisgotanan nga makadani sa iyang mga mata.)