With all the uncertainty floating around, there is one bound to happen: the 2022 presidential elections. And as early as now, names are being favored to run for the highest government position in the Philippines.

Vice President Leni Robredo’s tenure as the second in command of the Philippine government has not been easy. As the figurehead of the otherwise fragmented opposition, every bit of her performance is scrutinized, mocked, or praised, depending on people’s perspectives and preferences. Those who are allied with the popular president thinks she has done nothing but have media coverage 24/7; that even her office’s distribution of spaghetti earned substantial ridiculous attention to the enjoyment of the die-hard supporters’ universe.

To the other side of the fence, she’s one of the few public officials who are performing their mandates to the best of their abilities, serving as the balance to a volatile administration. Depending on who you want to sit with, Leni Robredo is either the best or the worst in the Duterte administration. However, one fact remains and will remain: she is the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Professor Ed Garcia’s book, Servant Leader Leni Robredo published in 2020 chronicled the rise of the Bicolana in Philippine politics. The book was divided into three main parts of Robredo’s public career. The first part talked about her unprecedented journey to the vice presidency in 2016, while the second part highlighted her brief yet meaningful appointment as the drug czar in 2019. And the final pages tackled what’s next for the woman who is ready to do the job.

With contributions from different people who served with or knew Robredo in one way or another, the likes of Bam Aquino, Dean Mel Sta. Maria, even her daughters Aika and Tricia, Servant Leader Leni Robredo serves as the primer why the Philippines, and the world, needs more women like Robredo to lead and serve.

The first part titled ‘To Give and Not to Count the Cost’ retold her road to becoming vice president. It cannot be denied that there are parallelisms between the stories of Robredo and that of former president Cory Aquino. That even Bam Aquino acknowledged this speaks volumes. Yet, there are prominent differences as well between the two. While both were thrust into the public consciousness due to the early demise of their prominent husbands, their personal backgrounds are exact opposites. Aquino was born into powerful political clans while Robredo’s not. The eldest of three of an RTC judge and an educator, it pales in comparison to Cory’s political roots which include Juan Sumulong and Melecio Cojuangco among others. While Cory’s ascension to power is a byproduct of the collective dissent of the Filipino people, Robredo’s 2016 victory is the Filipinos’ answer of never again.

It can be said that Robredo’s fight for the vice presidency is historically peculiar. Among the candidates, she was the only woman with the least experience in politics. More so, all of her opponents were career politicians and incumbent senators. Aptly titled, Robredo’s victory over Bongbong Marcos, Chiz Escudero, Gringo Honasan, and Sonny Trillanes is to recall an improbable journey. Numbers don’t lie but it does not mean numbers could not be changed. Her reluctance was turned into persistence. From gaining the hearts of those in the ‘laylayan’, Leni Robredo was elected as the second woman to serve as vice president of the Republic in 2016.

The book was successful to continue the narrative of how Robredo fell in love with public service and although it still healthily mentioned the symmetry of hers to Aquino, it impliedly disassociated the two by saying that from the beginning, Robredo is not just a plain politician’s housewife. She’s a public servant first before becoming a public servant’s wife.

The second chapter focused on Robredo’s appointment as the co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs. The campaign promise of Rodrigo Duterte to eradicate illegal drugs within 3-6 months of his presidency was extended indefinitely. The bloody drug war was a constant issue being thrown against the Duterte administration for its inhumane and short-sighted approach. Robredo was at the forefront of the criticism which drew the ire not only of the President’s people but of his supporters as well. Robredo’s appointment was considered by most as a brilliant political ploy played by the administration. If she decided not to accept, then the flames that she is just all talk will be burned for the rest of her term while if she decided to take on the challenge, then it is to be expected that her work will be discredited as a nuisance and she will be branded as an inefficient mouthpiece of the opposition. In essence, both political sides are of the opinion that Robredo will commit political harakiri whatever decision she will choose.

In the end, Robredo accepted the appointment and served as the co-chair of ICAD for precisely 19 days. As expected, whatever she did in that short span of time was credited to be nothing helpful. For weeks leading to her termination, the propaganda against her was in full swing. Ultimately, the president cited he lost confidence in Robredo and terminated her services only three weeks in the position. To no one’s surprise, the banner story circulated was one and the same: that Robredo does cannot lead and does not know how to lead; that it is still better to have someone who shows results (whatever that might be) more than they talk.

However, the decision to accept the position despite the obvious repercussions is what makes Robredo different. While traditional politicians think by the book, she deviates from it. While offers like this reek of political agenda, she disregarded it. While most will not dare to put themselves in a losing position, she takes the risk and fights her way back.

Yes, her acceptance to lead ICAD may be political suicide. But the question is, whose career did it kill? The book impliedly asked this question left to be answered by the people.

Finally, the final pages of the book lead to no clear ending. Maybe because there is nothing to conclude yet. In fact, it looks that her 19-day stint as the ICAD co-chair was just the beginning. Before that dare, Robredo was always on the defensive. Her personal life has been attacked, manipulated, and heavily altered. Her office was demonized for its mere existence. Her presence was treated like a plague. When most thought that the offer will lead to a classic political checkmate, she managed to find a winning position. With the continued attacks still going on, it is evident that her presence is still a plague to someone’s political ambitions. With her office providing solid help in the ongoing fight against COVID19, the presence of her office can no longer be discounted. With the success of her daughters in their respective careers, it is a testament that no amount of smear campaign can put Leni Robredo down. In her words, she is ready, but the better question is, ‘are you ready for me?’

Servant Leader Leni Robredo raised interesting points, highlighting Robredo’s qualities and why there is a need not to count the lady out of consideration. After all, in 2016, she was virtually unknown, totally out of the radar yet she claimed the victory. Now that she has the attention of all factions, whether that publicity is rooted in disdain, worry, and fear that a 2016 repeat may happen or the recognition is genuinely generated because the public can already pierce the illusion created by social media, it is for the people to decide whether or not they are ready to let Leni lead the way.