Tinambac Councilor Jonas Soltes remembers lessons from Jesse Robredo as he carves his own path

Tinambac Councilor Jonas Soltes used to be a writer for Jesse Robredo, and while not a Nagueno, he has come to admire Naga’s former beloved mayor.

In a Facebook post, Soltes shared that he had not initially been Robredo’s fan when he started working for him.

But he became a convert when he saw that Robredo was the real thing and not just a product of public relations.

Robredo knew how to make things work and to make the best better, he said.

The councilor said he sometimes feels guilty that he may be unintentionally using his links with Robredo to make himself look better in public.

So while he looks up to Robredo, he tries to make sure that he is carving his own path.

He hopes to continue Robredo’s legacy while standing on his own feet, he added.

He has his own style!

“When I began working for Jesse Robredo at a young age, I was not his fan really. I came from Tinambac, not from Naga City, so I just wanted to land a job. Then I became a convert when I saw for myself that the man was not just a product of PR but really had a knack for making things work, for making the best better, so to speak.

Sometimes I feel guilty that I may be unintentionally using my days with him as one of his writers as some sort of a personal badge—something to make mysef look better in the eyes of other people.

So, although I look up to him, I try to blaze my own trail as a public official with the hope of carrying his legacy while standing on my own feet,” Soltes posted.