Robredo’s memory lingers at Peñafrancia

Naga City’s Peñafrancia Festival is one voyador short this year without the late Jesse Robredo among the crowd.

 

Every year since he was a young man, the politician now known for his "tsinelas leadership" would go barefoot and join the sea of voyadores (devotees) for the Traslacion, the event that kicks off Naga’s Peñafrancia Festival.

 

“Nagsimula siyang maging devotee at 16,” Robredo’s wife, Atty. Leni Robredo said in her first media interview after her husband’s death. 

 

“Fifty-four na siya. Walang paltos yun. Taon-taon kasama siya sa fluvial procession. Tinuro niya sa pamilya ang devotion, pag-novena,” she shared.

 

“Siguro malungkot ang piyesta na wala siya kasi permanent fixture siya pag Peñafrancia,” she said.

 

Meanwhile, in his homily at Robredo’s requiem mass, Fr. Kulandairaj Ambrose of the Missionaries of the Poor quipped, “Who is the other woman in the life of mayor Jesse? Bicolanos' Ina, Our Lady of Peñafrancia. Viva La Virgen!” 

 

Fr. Ambrose added, “I’m told that since the age of 16, Jesse has been a devotee of Ina, year after year, without fail. I’m sure next month he will be there with us for the Peñafrancia fiesta. Look for him.” 

 

True enough, Robredo was with the Bicolanos as they carried on with the Peñafrancia festivities. 

 

For instance, during Peñafrancia festivities, many donned shirts that bore Robredo’s image. Others also wore tsinelas, to pay tribute to Robredo’s leadership, which was condensed by Energy Secretary Rene Almendras in the image of slippers in his eulogy to his colleague. 

 

A group called the Jesse Robredo Lives Movement even participated in the Civic Parade & Float Competition, and joined the parade bearing a large banner printed with Robredo’s face.

 

On the group’s Facebook page, many Nagueños shared their thoughts on Robredo’s absence from this year’s festivities.

 

“Jesse always attend traslacion...we just miss him around...and I’m sure he misses INA during Traslacion too,” said Bemboi Ragragio Badiola, who posted a photo of this year’s Traslacion, edited to include Robredo’s face. 

 

Meanwhile, Angel Dialogo Israel replied, “true, Jess may have missed the traslacion but not Ina, for he is now with her and her Son sa ‘mas maogmang lugar.’” 

 

As Nagueño professor Paz Verdades Santos had described the festival’s Traslacion, “There was a heavy downpour [at the Traslacion] but no one left his/her place in the procession; some said the skies were weeping because Jess wasn't there.”  — ELR, GMA News