the mouth of mine

On April 23, 1965, in the lands of Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines; a woman was born, a woman who in the future will fight against the biggest of odds a woman has ever faced. In the name Maria Leonor Santo Tomas Gerona, she was recognized to be first of the three children born to Naga City Regional Trial Court Judge Antonio Gerona (Father) and Salvacion Santo Tomas (Mother).

There is not much known about how Leni spent her youth or who she surrounded herself with but she is known to have attended the basic education department of Unibersidad de Sta. Isabel in Naga and graduated from elementary school in 1987, and from high school in 1982.

Leni lived a normal life, born as Filipina, and just like every Filipino, was dedicated at her passion and goals. She earned her degree in economics from the University of The Philippines Diliman in 1986, and proceeded to study law at the University of Nueva Caceres, graduating in 1992; she then passed the bar exams in 1997.

Leni knew the path she was taking, and realized her potential to help her fellow Filipinos. Not much is known about what inspired her to follow the path of politics, probably due to his father occupation but Leni chose to temporarily forego law studies and instead decided to work as a researcher for the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP) – it is a government agency tasked with integrated area development planning in the three provinces of the Bicol Region. During her work in the agency, there she met the man would finally make her heart skip a beat and someone that would impact her and give courage, one that she’ll forever treasure – Program Director Jesse Robredo. The two loved each other very dearly and was always together, helping people, providing support to those in need, and proving their capabilities as trust-worthy public servant to the masses. The wife and husband were eventually blessed with three healthy children named – Aika, Tricia, and Jillian.

Having passed the bar on her second attempt in 1996 and admittedly in May 1997, Leni served in the Public Attorney’s Office, a role in which she often took up the defense for cases pursued by her husband, who by then had become Mayor of Naga.

The family lived a very comfortable life and their children grew full of love and compassion, just like their parents but unfortunately, all this would come to pass as Jesse Robredo – Leni’s beloved husband – unfortunately died on August 18, 2012, when his plane (Piper PA-34 Seneca) a light aircraft he was traveling in crashed off the coast of Masbate Island. He was traveling back home to assist her daughter’s swimming competition.

This left Leni and her children devastated and lost. Just like any other family, they held each other dear. Jesse Robredo loved his children very much and taught them everything they need to know; it was no secret that Jesse was compassionate, kind, and warm – the way his beloved children grew up was proof of this. Jesse’s death left an impact on Leni and their children, one that would forever remain within them, even as Leni continues the fight.

Leni knew then that she needed to continue what her husband had started but even then; on her own, she was able to do good in the country by becoming the coordinator of Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligan (SALIGAN), founder of the Lakas ng Kababaihan ng Naga Federation, an organization that provides training and livelihood opportunities for women, in 1989; and being named the chairperson of the Liberal Party in Camarines Sur.

She continued on as she ran in Camarines Sur’s 3rd congressional district on 2013 and won, Participatory governance and transparency were the major objectives and thrusts of Robredo's legislative agenda. The first law Robredo authored in congress was the Full Disclosure Policy Bill (HB 19), which would have mandated all government agencies and their sub-units and projects to disclose their budget and financial transactions in a conspicuous manner "without any requests from the public.” Robredo also authored the People Empowerment Bill (HB 4911), which sought to allow more participation from Filipinos in decision and policy-making, and the Participatory Budget Process Bill (HB 3905), which sought to increase participation in budget-related decisions in government projects by locals. She also wrote the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bill (HB 3432) to prohibit discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion or belief, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, language, disability, HIV status, etc.

Leni’s passion to help and be of service amongst the Filipino people did not stop here. On October 5, 2015, after her three daughters set aside their initial objections, Leni announced that she would run for the post of Vice President of the Philippines under the Liberal Party in the 2016 election, as the running mate of presidential candidate Mar Roxas. She won the election with 14,418,817 votes, or 35.11 percent of cast ballots, narrowly defeating her closest rival, Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, by 263,473 votes or by 0.64 percent.

During her term, Leni did things on her own but provided as much help as her accompanied President – Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Leni also showed strength and fulfilled her promises she made during her campaign such as her Angat Buhay Program – a program that focuses on six advocacy areas, namely: public education, rural development, food security and nutrition, women empowerment, universal healthcare, and housing and resettlement. From the beginning of her program in 2016 up until January 2022, the program has benefitted 622,00 families in 223 cities and municipalities across the country.

These feats, accomplishments did not go unnoticed and during the year of 2016, Leni received numerous awards from different universities, non-government organizations, and foreign acknowledgements; examples of these are: her being awarded the Honorary Outstanding Woman Award of the Year by the Thai government, coinciding with Thailand’s Women Day due to her work and advocacy on women’s empowerment and gender equality, the award as the Most Influential Filipina Woman of the World given to her by Filipina Women’s Network, and different doctorates from universities within the country such as: Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of Saint Anthony in Iriga, Camarines Sur, and University of the Cordilleras.

However, despite these achievements, accomplishments, and good deeds she made count during her term; negative news, bad comments, and bullying were still thrown at her at the time. Many saw her as useless and found her to be not worthy of her position but she remained steadfast and loyal to her own morals, using her influence and power to continue helping those in need and provide a trust-worthy and corrupt free governance. She was a mother, not only to her children but also to the country.

On October 7, 2021; she announced her readiness to run for president and filed her candidacy as an independent, running with her is the Senator Kiko Pangilinan as vice president who filed his own certificate of candidacy under the Liberal Party. After all that she’s been through, the many people she’s helped, and the many challenges she’s faced; she is currently facing her biggest challenge yet.

Born in Meycauyan, Bulacan at the date of February 20, 2005; I knew I was different from the kids my age. I would often keep to myself; talking and hanging out was never my thing and the kids I keep my company with, I chose. We all know that most kids, especially back at time, never really chose who they hang out with, they love anyone and everyone, it was never hard for them to venture out and meet new people. That wasn’t the case for me.

Born as an only child, I knew how to entertain myself. Playing with toys, watching movies, and hanging out with my parents were my activities for the day and playing outside was the least of my concern. I never really wondered but I loved doing things on my own, they provided me comfort, and peace. One that I would come to love and apply in my activities as I grow up.

Growing up was never easy for me, I was known as the weird kid of the neighborhood. I was shy, quiet, and feminine for my gender. Everyone would always pick on me, make fun of me, and embarrass me. I was not safe from the adults either, most of these pranks were perpetrated by them; they were mean, bullies, and sick freaks. Despite this, I remained happy, the friends I choose to hang out with loved me enough to not care about those that hated me, and I thank them for that.

I knew as a child that I was never the kid my parents thought me to be. I hated how boys my age would act, and I hated how dirty, sweaty, and unkept men are whenever they’re outside. I preferred playing with girl toys than boys, and would always play house instead of basketball. I was a gentle soul, and I accepted it. But life really has its ways on turning itself against you.

Well, tragedies and pathetic bullying aside, I grew up fine. At the age of 7 I joined the choir. I was born as an INC and our family has always been guided by the church. My mother and father were dedicated at church work and would often bring me with them as they do duties. I found friends and company there, and they all helped me become the better version of myself. One might say that the church was my second home at the time, and it was. Playing with the minister’s kids every night was a lot of fun and I get to share similarities with them.

As I got older, probably the age of 9, talks about crushes and admiration was a trending topic at school, and everyone, even my classmates have come out to explicitly admit their feelings for one another. Honesty, to me, I found that weird. We were just kids, things like that shouldn’t be on our minds and school should be our only one priority. I was revolted at the idea and was yet to genuinely feel something for someone, till later.

At the age of 12, I finished elementary and graduated as valedictorian. It was a well-earned achievement and something that I am still proud of, even today. That whole phase of my life taught me a lot and made me realized many things. It was a fun day, one that I would never forget but unfortunately, it marked the end of my little, secluded, and fun life, and in the later years, life would subject me to numerous abrupt and depressing changes, one that I would still carry, years later.

My father was an OFW, and my mother was a house-wife; together, they did their best to give me a happy and fulfilling life and my dad loved me so much, as I was graduating, my dad decided that he wanted to see me walk up the stage and received my awards, he wanted to see and go home so much that he left his work overseas without any savings just to see me. My mother and I was surprised of course, we knew how much we missed him but just like any other family, financial problems, so was familial, would come to surface and would start to crack the relationship we’ve had.

Due to the overwhelming debt that piled up as he went home, we were forced to sell our home. I was heartbroken and devastated. I loved that house and it was everything to me. It saved me from the bullies, it saved me when I was lonely; I spent more time in that house than outside and to leave it all behind is something that cut me deeply and one that I still wouldn’t forget, years later.

I started my high school at New Era University, it was one of the significant changes in my life. The people were so different in the city than the province and every man was for himself. The city was a maze and I am yet to learn how to live amongst this culture, until a few years later.

I lived a very good life, mostly bad due to bullying and stuff, but I lived. But only in the pandemic is where I will truly discover myself for who I really am. As of now, I loved how I turned out, I am full of hatred to those that have wronged me, sure, but I loved that I remained a gentle soul and a light to my parent’s life. I was Rheaven and I never lost sight of who I really am. Despite the many challenges, suffering, and devastation, I remained hopeful, a fighter, and myself.

My life has always been an interesting topic, one that I love to talk about. I have learned lessons, tragedy, blessing, and devastation, mostly helpful and some not. My life is hard, it had its ups and downs, tragedy and comedy, but at the end of the day, it is up to me how I’ll live the life given to me.

They say that moving on, leaving the packages behind, and creating new memories are parts of life. It was one that never made sense to me and something I never put much thought to until life inevitably left me no choice but to leave behind something that is precious to me, and that is, my home. As soon as I gained consciousness, I have lived inside its walls; it was small yet big enough to fit our family of three. I always wondered why my parents never decided to have another kid, but I guess it’s one of life’s many secrets. Every toy, every furniture, and every crevice of that house was full of marks – mostly my childish drawings – that gave it spark and value. Every where I looked in that house, I was always taken back to the moments that had gone past, and to the exact moment how those markings was formed; and it humbled me, in a way that didn’t made sense to most, it reminded me of my beginnings, and it reminded me of who I truly am – inside.

Born in a poor family; things happened, and some things needed to be left behind. Life was mean, and all it needed to push our family into our spiral, is to have our dear home, taken away from us. I remember vividly as my mother started packing our things into boxes, bags, and luggage; it was messy and everywhere I looked, everything was cleaned, up to its corners, reminding me that we are really leaving our home behind, that we needed to find someplace else to live. As I mentioned, moving on was something I knew was part of life, but I wasn’t subjected to it; at such a young age, I never knew how important it was for me to understand its concept and to live with abrupt changes; due to this, leaving that home behind scarred me, it was heartbreaking, and something that I still haven’t moved on from since.

I remember it like yesterday; The sound of the moving truck as it close in at the street in front of our house, the heavy breathing of me and mother as we carry all of our things, and the faint sound of my beating heart. It all happened in just a flash; my once lively home, gone, everything that reminded me of myself, gone; and all I had left was memories, one that won’t let go off until I die.

One might wonder why it left such an impact on me. Leaving home is always going to be a part of someone’s life, especially if life fancies seeing your predicament and struggle. But I guess, the reason for that is, I was never really given a choice. Life – as soon as I aged and turn into teen – has pulled me apart, tested my every will, and given me circumstances that it knew I still wasn’t ready to handle. That house saw my every move, shaped me to who I am, It is dear to me, and leaving it behind was something I never thought I had to do. It is as devastating as losing a loved one, and as painful as knowing that you can do something about it, but was not given a chance to do so.

I loved that house and I would do everything just to see its walls again, to feel its comforting warmth, and its familiar yet elaborate walls. I would give anything just to see it all again; my childish drawings, the toys that are displayed so neatly inside the glass cabinet, and stickers I stick around the walls. That home was a part of me, and for the years I spent living among its walls, I truly felt that I belonged there.