Chocnut-filled buchi on the menu in Leni Robredo’s inaugural merienda

Simple Filipino merienda fare will be served to guests when Vice President-elect Leni Robredo takes her oath of office on Thursday before two barangay chairpersons—one from among the poorest and farthest villages in Camarines Sur, the other from a community of the wealthy in Quezon City.

In keeping with Robredo’s desire to keep the event low-key, Robredo's spokesperson Georgina Ann Hernandez said simple Filipino food would be served.

Hernandez said the tentative menu included only five items: sotanghon, maja blanca, pichi pichi, different kinds of pandesal and buchi with chocnut.

The popular Filipino chocolate was chosen as the filling for buchi because it was Robredo’s favorite, Hernandez said.

The program for the inauguration will start at 9 a.m. and will end in an hour.

Robredo will be sworn in by two barangay captains: Rolando Coner of Punta Tarawal, the "smallest, farthest, and poorest" barangay in the third district of Camarines Sur, and Regina Celeste San Miguel of Barangay Mariana, where the QC Reception House is located.

The reception house is a mansion in posh New Manila. It was abandoned after it figured in the investigation of alleged ill-gotten wealth in the early 2000s.

After formally assuming the vice presidency, Hernandez said Robredo would administer the oaths of certain officials and attend a few meetings before going to a thanksgiving party organized by her supporters.

The party will be at the Quezon City Memorial Circle at 5 p.m.

Some celebrities who supported Robredo’s vice presidential bid are expected at the party. —NB, GMA News