22 Facts About Jesse Robredo

In recognition of his achievements as Naga mayor, Jesse Robredo was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 2000, the first Filipino mayor so honored.

Jesse Robredo was appointed to the Cabinet of President Aquino in July 2010.

Jesse Robredo died on August 18,2012, when the light aircraft he was traveling in crashed off the shore of Masbate Island, after suffering an engine failure.

Jesse Manalastas Robredo was born on May 27,1958, in Naga to Jose Chan Robredo Sr.

Jesse Robredo finished elementary at the Naga Parochial School and entered high school at the Ateneo de Naga University in 1970.

Jesse Robredo obtained his undergraduate degrees in Industrial Management Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at De La Salle University.

In 1985, Jesse Robredo finished his Masters in Business Administration at the University of the Philippines, Diliman as a scholar and was named the Graduate School and Faculty Organization awardee for scholarly excellence.

Jesse Robredo was later accepted as an Edward Mason Fellow and graduated with a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University's John F Kennedy School of Government in 1999.

In 1986, Jesse Robredo returned to Naga, where he became program director of the Bicol River Basin Development Program, an agency tasked to undertake integrated area development planning in the three provinces of the Bicol region.

In 1988, Jesse Robredo was elected mayor of Naga at age 29.

In 1995, Jesse Robredo was elected president of the League of Cities of the Philippines and chaired the Metro Naga Development Council.

In 1999, Asiaweek Magazine credited Jesse Robredo with transforming Naga into one of the "Most Improved" cities in Asia.

Jesse Robredo re-elected as city mayor in 2001 and again served for three consecutive terms until June 30,2010.

Jesse Robredo served for a total of 19 years as mayor of Naga before being appointed as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government on July 9,2010.

Two politicians from Bicol, Luis Agregado Ortega and Luis Villafuerte, expressed opposition to Jesse Robredo's confirmation by the Commission on Appointments of which Villafuerte himself was a member.

Jesse Robredo died on August 18,2012, when the Piper PA-34 Seneca light aircraft he was traveling in crashed off the coast of Masbate Island.

Jesse Robredo was flying to Naga to assist in his daughter's swimming competition.

Jesse Robredo's funeral was held at the Archbishop's Palace in Naga before it was transferred to Malacanang Palace for an official wake on August 24,2012.

Jesse Robredo's remains were later brought back to his hometown of Naga and cremated at Naga Imperial Crematory and Columbary.

Jesse Robredo's ashes are entombed at the Eternal Gardens Memorial Park in Naga.

In 2017, the Museo ni Jesse Robredo opened in commemoration of his fifth death anniversary.

Jesse Robredo married pro bono lawyer and future congresswoman and vice president Leni Gerona on June 27,1987.