SIMPLY JESSE BOOK: The Story of Jesse Robredo

SIMPLY JESSE BOOK: The Story of Jesse Robredo 

I have fond memories of the late Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo. Not only was he a fellow Bicolano and mayor of Naga City for 19 years, he is also the son of my Papa's former boss and was my Facebook (FB) Friend. Moreover, his wife, Atty. Leni Robredo, was my brother's classmate in law school. 

Standing, left to right: AIKA and TRICIA ROBREDO, 
Seated, left to right Atty. LENI, JILLIAN and JESSEE ROBREDO

Jesse Robredo's leadership qualities such as assertiveness, adaptability, intelligence, and conscientiousness are the ideals which all would-be leaders must aspire for. Jesse Robredo is an epitome of the matino at mahusay na lider (sensible and capable leader). Above all, he was a true blue family man.

Everyone agrees that the very essence of Jesse Robredo’s management style and political philosophy is his favorite catchphrases “walang malaki o maliit sa akin, lahat pare-pareho.” (No one is big or small, everyone is equal to me.) Also, Jess truly believed that each task, no matter how big or small, is worthy of his best efforts. And he expected the same from his subordinates. 

This is probably the reason why Jesse did not think it was beneath him to sweep the streets, shovel dirt and clear debris after a typhoon, or to come to a Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) meeting in shorts and slippers. Jesse Robredo never got tired of exhorting his own people in Naga City and the DILG to take pride in their work and give it all they’ve got, regardless of how menial the task or how low their rank.

Jesse Robredo’s “walang maliit o malaki” philosophy goes against the traditional split-level democracy. Imagine, I was not yet of voting age when I met the good mayor. Who am I to deserve his time? But he was so accessible to everyone. Jesse Robredo was a person who is “madaling lapitan at madaling hanapin" (approachable and accessible).


I still vividly recall the time when I was still a student, I often saw Jesse Robredo, then mayor of Naga City, “in action” --- wearing a T-shirt, shorts and slippers and going around Naga City to lead the clean up drive especially after a typhoon or to talk to his constituents to hear their concerns.

In Naga City, he was fondly called "Mayor" or "Pogi" He was really a simple guy. He was simply Jesse. To his youngest daughter Jillian, he was simply Papa.

So, as told by Jillian, the book "Simply Jesse" encapsulates the story of Jesse Robredo, a simple guy.

The book storyteller JILLIAN ROBREDO

What are you waiting for? Buy a copy Now! Net proceeds of Simply Jesse will be donated to the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation, established by his family and close friends to continue Jesse’s legacy of public service and good governance.

Simply Jesse is available in newsstands, bookstores, and supermarkets nationwide for only P 125. For more details, visit http://www.summitmedia.com.ph/book or visit the Summit Books Facebook page.

ANTON DIAZ: Launches Southern Eats

                                           

ANTON DIAZ: Launches Southern Eats

                                

Anton unveiled to the cheering crowd Southern Eats, a restaurant guide-book to 50 restaurants you can find in the South of Metro Manila (From Makati until further South, Tagaytay). All of which are personally recommended by Anton Diaz of OurAwesomePlanet.com. 

 

Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet dot com had a book launched last Friday, October 26, 2012 at the Mercato Centrale's Open Tent in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. 

 

This is a very nice Christmas gift to friends and relatives. Available for only Php 150.00 only. 

RJ LEDESMA: Book Signing

RJ LEDESMA: Book Signing

SIGNING WITH POGI! Good News to all RJ Ledesma's fans! Pogi will have a book Signing on September 14, 2012.

Yes, I admit I am a fan of RJ Ledesma! He is so talented!  Plus he exudes this charisma that radiates as if telling everyone around him to be happy.

He always makes it a point to smile and make other people smile as well.

Aside from hosting television shows, weddings ( I personally saw him in action at my cousin's wedding, I tell you, RJ is a fantastic host! ) and events, organizing the Mercato Centrale group of food markets, editing a men’s magazine and writing a weekly newspaper column, (and yes, he was ‘Joey’ in the Royal Tru-Orange that came out in the eighties), RJ is also the author behind four best-selling humor books Lies My Yaya Should Have Told Me (2008), I Do Or I Die (2009), Is It Hot In Here Or Is It Me? (2010) and It Only Hurts When I Pee (2011) from Anvil Publishing. His third book, Is It Hot In Here Or Is It Me, was a National Book Award Finalist in the 30th National Book Awards. His books are a collection of his “Pogi from a Parallel Universe” columns in the Philippine Star.
                        

Join RJ Ledesma as he signs all four of his books on Friday (September 14) from 5:00pm-6:00pm at the National Book Store booth of the 33rd Manila International Book Fair in SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/AnvilPublishing.

Jenni Epperson Book Signing At The Block, SM North Edsa

Jenni Epperson Book Signing At The Block, SM North Edsa

I felt elated and really excited when I got invited to the book signing of Jenni Epperson for her book, ”Fashion + Food: Entertaining At Home In Style“ at The Block, SM North Edsa. To all of you fashionistas and shoppingeras out there, fashion and lifestyle guru Jenni Epperson certainly needs no introduction!

Okay for the benefit of those who never heard about Jenni Epperson. Let me introduce my fellow blogger, Jenni Epperson to you.   

Jenni Epperson has been blogging for the past 7 years, she says she started out blogging to confront her fear of technology. She’s a traditional writer in newspapers and magazine. A fashion and lifestyle columnist at the Philippine Daily Inquirer. She is the winner of the prestigious 2011 Asia Pacific Blog Awards for Best Lifestyle Blog in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

Jenni Epperson is a simple lass from San Pedro Laguna. She never knew she’d be destined to work with celebrities. She said she didn’t know anyone and didn’t know celebrity or fashion editors. But her work and her passion led her to these people. And by being a fashion stylist also led her in creating this book so that she can share her knowledge with everyone.

Jenni Epperson is first and foremost a mom and a wife. She has two kids. She has an extensive knowledge, awareness and contacts around fashion and lifestyle industry which has earned her a tv spot on the Lifestyle Network,  a “Stylist of the Year” Award as well as a vast number of other achievements under her belt. She also has an impressive client list that include some big names in politics and show business, she name dropped KC Concepcion as one of her clients.

I so love <3 Jenni Epperson's shoes during the book signing. Yes! It is a Jeffrey Campbell shoes , one of the hippest, trendiest and edgiest shoe brands available at SM Department store. She said it cost her Php 6,000 OMG! Ang mahal! Hays! Hanggang nganga na lang ako :-)

 

What is Jenni Epperson secret?  She has been working in the fashion industry for more than 10 years and still feel passionate about everything she does. By staying hungry about her passion and her inner purpose to help others, it fuels her to continue her vision.

  

Look at Jenni Epperson's Eight (8) inches heels on the poster! She said she bought it on sale when we asked her what's the brand of her shoes. She gets so excited with the fact that she looks so tall in this poster.

Jenni said that her book Fashion + Food: Entertaining At Home In Style is geared towards transforming every woman into the quintessential urban hostess, no matter what the occasion, big or small.
                         
She quips that this book will guide you through the following topics to help you become the hostess with the mostest:

• How to set up a party for any occasion
• What to wear when hosting a party
• How to turn your home into the perfect event venue!
• Mouthwatering recipes and beautiful table setting ideas
• Inspiring and motivating quotes for each celebration

During the book signing she told us about her plato-platohan.  Oh yes, some of them were featured in her book!

So, how does she “top last year’s projects”?  Her answer is simple: move forward. My goal is to better myself as a human being and work on projects I believe in. I learned in life that when you do things that you love, everything else (money, recognition, peace of mind) follows.

Excerpts from Jenni:

Sometimes when things don’t go our way or when we are faced with challenges in our lives, it is important to remember that there is always a reason for them not to happen. We might not realize what it is immediately but later on, just like what Steve Jobs said:

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well worn path and that will make all the difference.”

Have faith. Believe in yourself. Be true. Be selfless.

Here’s to connecting the dots, staying hungry, and staying foolish. 

Shopingero/shopingera, have you found what you love doing? If not, what steps are you taking to find it?

Jenni Epperson's 3 Mantra's in life:

1. Living life fully with balance.
2. Try to make your dream a reality. 
3. Make every moment count.

She said that these are the stuff that grounds her. She said we don't have to wait for the time na madami na tayong pera before tayo mag-enjoy sa buhay.

                 
“Enjoying life is about living a life in style. Making your dream a reality every single day is making every moment count. This has been my secret to a youthful look. My book is about living in the Now, on how to live your life fully".

“I created this book to empower you guys to change your life by simply changing some habits and lifestyle."

On Balancing Life and Fashion. She quips: “At the end of the day, I’m still a mom and a wife. Family is still my top priority, it is very important to me. So Sunday is like a sacred day for us, it is reserved for my family.”

When asked how she determined her passion she said: 

 " In this life, you’ve got to try a lot of things to know what you really want. Inspiration comes from everyday life. Writing a book had always been part of my bucket list."

When asked why we should buy her book she said:

" I do hope you get a copy of my book, it’s really helpful and I’m very proud of this. I worked on this for fifteen months. Inside my book are some of my plate collections, some amazing recipes like Pork Medallion in Peppercorn sauce, it’s really very easy to do but it looks so impressive. My book will help you to learn about minimum effort, maximum impact. You don’t need to become a top chef to make your family dinner happy by creating something special for them.”

"It is like shelling out a thousand peso for a Php 50,000 Value.  It is a fabulous book. Hitik na hitik sa information and a very helpful book that can you make feel good."

Jenni said she wrote the book not for the money or grandeur but because she wanted to share to everyone that we all have to live our life fully.

So what are you waiting for? Buy Jenni Epperson's book now and live life to the fullest <3 .