Outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo said Wednesday she had no regrets about losing in the presidential elections and that if only for the experience of a volunteer-driven campaign, she would do it all over again with the same results.
Supporters waved as Robredo left her Quezon City office for the last time, as she looked forward to starting her anti-poverty NGO Angat Buhay.
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The 57-year-old widow and mother of three said she was excited to have more time for K-drama, books, unrestricted travels, and mornings without an alarm.
"Kahit hindi ako nanalo, at ito sinabi ko na ito several times: if I have to do it all over again, knowing what the results will be, I will still do it. Kasi para sa akin, ‘yun ‘yung pinakamasaya, pinaka-satisfying na campaign that I’ve been through in the many years na nai-involve ako sa political exercises," said Robredo.
"Kung kailangan ko siyang gawin ulit knowing na matatalo ako in the end, gagawin ko pa rin siya."
Robredo, who served three years as congresswoman before her six-year term as vice president, said she was excited to have more free time.
Asked if she had regrets over her work as vice president, Robredo said: "Kung regrets, wala siguro. Kasi ‘yung lahat na mga difficult decisions na ginawa ay nag-turn out for the best. Kahit ‘yung limitations that were thrown our way, proved to be blessings in disguise."
Robredo called her 18 days as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) the most memorable part of her job because that's when her office worked the hardest.
"At the end of the day, nakapag-submit kami ng full-blown na recommendations na very satisfying siya. Very satisfying siya in the sense na alam namin na trap ‘yun."
Despite losing the race to Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Robredo called her presidential campaign a "blessing" because it stoked the spirit of volunteerism among her pink-clad supporters.
For Robredo, being a former NGO worker will help ease her back to private life while leading Angat Buhay, which she said would focus on education and health.
Robredo will launch her volunteer-powered NGO on July 1 with a two-day event in Quezon City featuring campaign memorabilia and art, which could also be used as a fund-raising activity for Angat Buhay.
Robredo also said she would help in the fight against disinformation, asking Filipinos to unite for the sake of democracy.
"Kung wala tayong gagawin, gigising tayo na isang umaga, nare-realize natin na wala na. Wala na ‘yung mga freedoms na pinaglaban natin for a very long time."
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