Rendyl Angel Bonquin

Name of the Interviewee:

AL AR – JOHN T. TIMENIA

Chosen Presidential Candidate: (in essay form)

I believe and support the presidential candidacy of the lone woman candidate, Vice President Maria
Leonor “Leni” Gerona Robredo. Her advocacy on transparency, accountability, and people
empowerment ultimately persuades me to believe and support her presidential candidacy.

Perceived Qualities (Personal / Professional) of the chosen Presidential Candidate: (in essay form)

Personal Qualities
Born and raised in the province, in Naga City, Camarines Sur specifically, she has been involved in rural
development works and understood the struggle of the marginalized Filipinos, whom she calls “Nasa
Laylayan”. In most time of her life, it has been her advocacy to uplift or ‘angat’ the Filipinos who are
‘Nasa Laylayan’. Thus, it has been her battle cry in her vice-presidential bid in 2016, where she emerged
as the true winner.

She has Angat Buhay Program, under the Office of the Vice President. Food security and nutrition,
women's empowerment, public education, healthcare, rural development, and housing are six
important advocacy topics that inspired this project. Through the generosity of partner organizations
and people, the majority of whom are from the private sector, it has reached out to underprivileged
areas around the country.

Professional Qualities
A graduate of economics in University of the Philippines and a lawyer eventually, she has proved that
she is professionally ready in the field of public service. In her one-term as the Representative of the 3 rd
District of Camarines Sur, she has filed bills that turned into law that promotes her advocacies on
transparency, accountability, and people empowerment. The laws she passed include: Sangguniang
Kabataan Reform Act of 2015, Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act, among others.

The Office of the Vice President has also gone to great measures to professionalize its ranks and foster
an excellence culture under VP Leni's direction. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO
9001:2015) has certified the office's quality management system, which it initially received in 2017. It
received recertification in 2020, despite the COVID-19 issue, by retaining its reduced processes.
Furthermore, the Commission on Audit has granted the OVP an unqualified opinion for its financial
reports in 2018, 2019, and 2020, which is considered the highest rating from state auditors.

As she and her Vice-Presidential administration stepped up, establishing one program after another in
response to the myriad needs caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, VP Leni continued to show grace and
resolve. Despite limited resources, the Vice President's Office developed several initiatives, with the help
of a number of partners and donors, to fill in the gaps in terms of supporting frontline workers and
communities in need during this period.

Specific Platforms / Programs / Plans / Advocacy / Projects of your chosen Presidential

Candidate:
Specific Advocacy – Since entering politics, VP Leni’s main advocacies include Transparency,
Accountability, and People Empowerment. These has been guiding and overarching principles in all the
programs her Office implemented and will be implementing.

Specific Platforms – Since filing of Cadidacy, VP Leni released two documents that serve as her plans and
advocacies should she win the presidency, namely: Kalayaan sa COVID Plan and Hanapbuhay Para sa
Lahat. Kalayaan sa COVID Plan underscores VP Leni’s action plan that focuses on addressing public
health, hunger, and job losses. Her plan will specifically address hunger, unemployment, and the threat
of a looming education crisis. Hanapbuhay para sa Lahat unveiled her five-point agenda to revive
industries and fight for workers' rights, once elected as the country's next president. This includes
restoring trust in government, reviving industries, ending discrimination in the workplace, supporting
micro, small, and medium enterprises and business, and saving workers.