Simply Jesse: Robredo's daughter shares dad's love for life's simple things

For Aika, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo’s eldest daughter, it is the simple things that she will miss most about her dad.

 

In an interview on GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation,” Robredo’s daughter said her dad was not fond of “grand gestures.”

 

“’Yung pagka-simple, ‘yun ‘yung pinakanaaalala namin. Hindi mo kailangang mag-aim for the grand gestures. No matter how simple it is, if it makes someone happy, it’s okay,” she told GMA News’ Jessica Soho on Tuesday night.  

She added that she will always remember how her “Papa” encouraged her to do her best in whatever she does, even in simple tasks.

 

“’Yung pinaka-lesson siguro na natutunan naming magkakapatid sa kanya is that kahit anong gawin mo, kailangan pagbutihin mo siya. It doesn’t matter kung ano ‘yun, basta nakakatulong ka, okay ka,” she said.

 

Secretary Robredo’s body was found off the coast of Masbate City on Tuesday morning almost three days after the small plane crashed in the area. 

 

The bodies of the aircraft’s pilot, Captain Jessup Bahinting, and his Nepalese co-pilot, Kshitiz Chand, have yet to be recovered from the submerged plane wreckage as of posting time. 

 

Robredo’s aide, Jun Abrasado, was the lone survivor of the plane crash. He has been released from a hospital in Masbate after being treated of injuries he obtained during the crash. Traditional meals   Aika also shared how her dad found joy in little things, such as a simple meal with his family. She added that the thought of going home to his family always excited her father   "Tradition siya na we eat together. Nung mayor pa siya, lunch and dinner, dito kami sa bahay. He makes it a point to be home by 7 p.m. Kain kami sandali. Kung may lakad man siya after, dadaan siya sa bahay,” she said.   She added that it was a normal thing for her father to always want to go home as soon as possible, especially during weekends.   “Hindi naman siya extraordinary kasi parang natural talaga sa kanya na laging nagmamadali. More of excited siya umuwi like in any normal weekend, na the soonest na pwede siyang umuwi, uuwi talaga siya,”she said    Aika also shared that her mom and two siblings are still coping with their loss. She added that she does not regret expressing her love to her father every single day of his life.   “Actually,  yung tatay ko po, malambing. So  yung mga  ‘I love you’ na  yan, I don’t regret saying it to him kasi it ‘s something that we say on a daily basis. I don’t think meron akong kailangang sabihin na hindi pa niya alam,”she said.   “Kaya magaan din siguro  yung loob namin ngayon, wala kaming mga what ifs. Talagang okay po talaga kami,”she added.   Robredo ‘s remains are currently at the Archbishop‘s Palace in Naga City. They will be flown to Manila on Friday for a state funeral, and then will be brought back to Naga City, the late Cabinet official ‘s hometown. ­­–KG, GMA News