Leni Robredo’s advice to the youth: Little spaces can make a difference

During the talkback session in the advance screening of the documentary film  “And So It Begins,” former Vice President Leni Robredo gave future generations some advice on “changing the world.”

While young people were eager to make a difference and change the world, Robredo acknowledged that the road to change could be unclear and overwhelming, which may lead to a sense of helplessness and hopelessness.

However, she noted that even "little spaces" can help make a difference.

“So, that's the only thing I always told my young staff before... Let's just look for the spaces available for us. And the spaces available for us, no matter how small, let us fill up those spaces,” she said.

“It’s like what they say, if we are doing everything we can, are we able to fill up all the spaces that are available to us? Because if that's the mindset, it's like one problem at a time. Until we have all the capacities we have, maybe we can fill it up and we can repair everything that's broken.”

Robredo pointed to the non-government organization she started after the 2022 national election, the Angat Buhay Foundation, as an example.

“I don't want to say that what we're doing is different, that I'm better off than them. No. But, if we synergize what we're doing, it will become a big space for us to occupy,” she said.

Looking back on the campaign period, the former Vice President highlighted that it was more than just a campaign that was formed. It was more like a movement.

“Kasi we started something really special. And that something really special was the movement that we started. The kind of movement that we started was something else. Hindi siya kampanya lang. Hindi siya basta-basta,”  she said.

“Napakita natin noong elections, ang daming  wala sa atin. Wala tayo ng lahat, ang baba natin sa surveys. Pero ang  lakas ng loob natin  Ang lakas ng loob natin kasi maraming tayong  magkakasama. Because we're filling out the space that we can fill in and we're able to create something really beautiful,” she added.

With the title of the film itself, “And So It Begins,” Robredo reminded everyone that the result of the 2022 national election was not the end of the fight.

“And sana with that realization, yung passion  na pinakita nila during the campaign, yung energy, yung vigor, sana  magtuloy-tuloy. Sana yung pinakamaramdaman nila, na simula pa lang yun,  para hindi nawawala yung pag-asa, hindi lang para magpatuloy sila sa  pagkikibaka. Pero na maramdaman nila kung gaano kahalaga yung  contribution nila sa movement na yun,” she added.

The documentary film directed by Ramona Diaz features the 2022  national elections and Robredo’s presidential campaign. It will be available in theaters starting August 21, 2024.

During the talkback session, Robredo shared the stage with Diaz, Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa, and art critic Marian Roces. — DVM, GMA Integrated News