Congw. Rida Robes to future politicians: 'Just do good'

"Just do good!"

These are the words of wisdom of Congresswoman Rida P. Robes (lone district of Bulacan) to men and women who want to join politics.

"Sa politics if you don't have the heart, 'wag mo ng pasukin kasi sa akin as a wife and as a wife of public servant also, siguro nakita ko na lang 'yung leveraging sa lahat ng bagay. Just do good. If you want to be in public service, just do good. Laging huli ang sarili sa public service kung magagawa mo ang kabutihan from your heart and from your soul. Maraming nagsasabi hindi nagagawa yun because of fame and power," said Robes during an interview in Greenhills in San Juan Metro Manila recently.

Being a public servant, Robes said that she always makes it a point to attend committee hearings in Congress.

"I really try my very best to attend the Congress hearings kasi iba na po talaga doon. Pag wala po kami duon, napapagalitan po kami talaga kasi obligation naman talaga naming um-attend dahil sinusuwelduhan kami ng gobyerno. Not because obligation namin yun pero sinumpaan namin yun eh;"

"So paano ako magiging good administrator kung wala ako ruon maghapon sa commttee hearings? Pagdating naman ng alas kuwatro, nasa Plenary kami, meron kaming approval of the bills. I make it a point na wala po akong meeting sa gabi kasi nga po hinahabol ko yung mga anak ko. Growing kids po sila. I have six and 12. Napakagwapo po ng anak ko mataba nga lang," said Robes.

Busy as she is, Robes said that she makes it a point to have lunch with her husband former Congressman Arhur B. Robes now mayor of San Jose Del Monte also in Bulacan.

"I always have lunch with my husband. Sa umaga po 6:30 ako nagigising. Yung anak ko po alas-sais pa lang umaalis na ng  bahay. Yung bunso ko naman po ay 7:30 a.m.  Hindi kami sabay-sabay;

"Hindi na rin kami nagbe-breakfast kasi nagre reduce kaming mag-asawa. Kaya yung lunch namin, we make it a point na magkasama kami. Yung dinner po namin, minsan 10 p.m. nasa Congress pa kami, so hindi na talaga ako nakakasabay sa asawa ko," she said.

Many may not know it but Robes was supposed to join show business when she was younger.

"Nuong pipirma na po ako ng kontrata kasi buhay pa po nun si Jun Encarnacion, that time sabi n'ya mag Mutya ng Pilipinas ka. Sabi ko baka ako ma-kick out sa school. Sabi nya hindi trial lang. Audition lang. So ako naman nagpa picture lang. Nakapasok po ako bilang official candidate nung 1998 kaya nga lang po nung time na 'yun kinausap ako ng madre. Ano ba gusto mo pag-a-aral o ano? Kinausap ako ng parents ko," she said.

Asked if she wanted her children to join politics when they grow up, Robes said: ''Nasa kanila po yunkung gusto nilang maging politicans. I won't demand anything from them.''

Robes said that she keeps herself relax and fit by going to a skin clinic. "Since 1996 I'm a Belo baby. I don't deny it. It's my way of relaxing naman po kasi sobrang stress din naman po talaga. Single pa ako nasa construction business na po ako. I deal with a lot of things from marketing to finance to operations."

* Transformation

Rep. Robes learned to embrace the passion of serving the people from her husband Mayor Robes.

For 9 years, Rep. Robes was involved in designing programs for her husband until she found herself creating her own advocacy dubbed “Alagang Ate Rida." It became her flagship program when she decided to run for Congress in the 2016 election.

“Alagang Ate Rida” generated impact and support to residents of San Jose as it delivers innovative concept in public service.

It covers four major services - health, education, opportunity (employment, livelihood and business) and family care program.

“Alagang Ate Rida” is a non-traditional program that aims to reduce poverty in the city. A complete solution to the recurring problem in health, education and work opportunity, it focuses on the solution rather than temporary relief to a habitual problem that a traditional public servant are giving.

"The main objective of the program is to develop the character of every San Joseňo to fight poverty now or never.  In the end, we will create a new generation of San Joseňos who are not dependent on
what the government can do for them but on their own abilities to succeed in life," said Rep. Robes.

“We will not give them fish, but we will train them how to fish," she said.

Now that Rep. Robes has gained the approval of every San Joseňo to continue her legacy to the city, they can now assume of a bright future in San Jose Del Monte.

In her 10 months in office, Rep. Robes has already authored 54 House bills and co-authored 63 House bills. She is the Vice Chairperson of Civil Service and Professional Regulation and People Participation Committees.  She is also a member of 7 committees, which are Basic Education and Culture, Foreign Affairs, Games and Amusements, Gov’t. Enterprises and Privatization, Land Use, Poverty Alleviation and Transportation.

Aside from the “Alagang Ate Rida” program, she also conceptualized the City Festival called “Tanglawan Festival” in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. Its main goal is to highlight San Jose Del Monte as rising city via its tourism program. - ROBERT REQUINTINA