By Raymund F. Antonio
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo turned 53 yesterday and celebrated her birth anniversary quietly at the Quezon City Reception House in New Manila, Quezon City where she holds office.
Robredo, a widowed mother, celebrated her birth anniversary just like last year – without fanfare or a lavish party.
She was busy last week with several speaking engagements in various universities and business conferences in Metro Manila.
Robredo also went to the Supreme Court for the filing of an urgent motion for reconsideration on the initial recount of votes in the electoral protest she is facing.
The Vice President spent her day working and attending to paperwork at QCRH yesterday, her office said.
“No public events for VP Leni. She will be attending to paperwork and other concerns,” the Office of the Vice President said in an advisory it sent to media a day before her birth anniversary.
Robredo’s daughters – Aika, Tricia, and Jillian – greeted their mother on her birth anniversary on social media.
In an Instagram post, Jillian shared a photo of the Vice President on the eve of her birth anniversary holding a big balloon with the greeting “Happy birthday Mama” and a bouquet of flowers.
Robredo’s second daughter Tricia, a medical school student, tweeted: “Still an hour to go but hbd to my mama @lenirobredo. I’d tell you to stay strong but you’re already the strongest woman I know. We love you.”
Also on Twitter, Aika said, “Happy happy birthday to the coolest tiger mom that I know! Please stop cleaning our unit when it’s close to your birthday so you don’t ruin our surprise for you. Love you and see you in less than one month.”
Aika, the eldest among the Robredo sisters, is in Boston, Massachusetts for her graduate studies at Harvard University.
The Vice President also received greetings and well-wishes on her birth anniversary from senators belonging to the Liberal Party, which she chairs, close friends, staff members, and supporters.