“You Can Give In. You Cannot Give Up.” Leni Robredo’s Refrain After The May Presidential Elections – The Real Work Has Just Begun!

Ma'am Leni has a unique hand gesture in this Facebook sharing of Ann Gatmaytan of Radikal by Joseph Vicente Dimla that quotes, “True leaders have a servant’s heart” (08 Sept 2022). Maria Leonor “Leni” Gerona-Robredo, ex-Vice President of the Philippines and founder & inspiration of Angat Buhay Foundation, has a servant’s heart. Another way of putting that is this: Ma'am Leni is a Servant Leader.

“Service is the heart of our business, and people are its soul” – Morley Gold Standard (morleynet.com). I sensed that as her personal business, and yes, I voted for Leni Robredo as my President in the 09 May 2022 PH elections (see my essay, “Ma'am Leni, Angat Buhay, Remembering Adam & Eve: Here Is How The Females Can Show The Males How To Take Very Good Care Of Their Garden Of Eden!” 17 Aug 2022, Beauty & Brains Farming, blogspot.com).

Launched in Oct 2016; as of 21 Dec 2021, “Angat Buhay” has partnered with 372 organizations, mobilizing P520 million worth of resources for 321,001 families and 305,223 individuals in 223 communities in the Philippines (Angat Buhay, Office of VP Leni Robredo, staging.ovp.gov.ph). Public service is not stopping even if Ma'am Leni did not become PH President.

“Angat Buhay” I translate as “Lifting Lives” – mainly anti-poverty – those who are running the Foundation, whether mostly girls or not, are therefore servants of the people.

Above, Ma'am Leni has a unique hand gesture – as I see it, Angat Buhay has a unique mission: “Angat Buhay Lahat” (“Lifting All Lives,” my translation). But especially the poor as well as the downtrodden.

Mara Cepeda says, “Robredo Launches ‘Angat Buhay,’ Hopes Supporters’ Campaign Energy Sustains It” (01 July 2022, Rappler,.rappler.com); now as a private citizen. Ma'am Leni says:

Nasa sa atin po ang lahat para sabihin na hindi tayo failure nung eleksiyon. Naging matagumpay tayo. Because of the campaign, we were able to start the spirit of volunteerism all over the country, (“It is up to us to say we did not fail in the election. We were triumphant.” – my translation)

Yung challenge talaga sa atin: Papaano natin maha-harness ’yung energies nating lahat into things that are productive? And we feel like ang Angat Buhay will be the perfect platform for it. (The real challenge to us: How can we harness the energies of all of us… - my translation)

In the lower image, the wall paintings say: “Puedeng Mapagod. Bawal Sumuko.” (“You Can Give In. You Cannot Give Up.” – my translation). The real work has just begun!

Servants cannot give up. “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.” – Max De Pree

How does the leader lead? “The most powerful leadership tool you have is your own personal example.” – Coach John Wooden

The Slogan of The Morley Gold Standardis: “Moving People To Move Mountains.” Angat Buhay is campaigning to move people to move people up their hills or mountains!@517