QUEZON CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Vice President Leni Robredo said she wanted to use her new radio program to call on citizens to share their own inspiring stories with others.

She plans to use the airwaves to feature stories of ordinary Filipinos who have risen against the odds, inspiring and motivating others to do the same. “With ‘Istorya ng Pag-asa,’ we want to highlight inspiring stories that touch our hearts instead of fighting and faultfinding … These are stories that will bring hope,” Robredo said.

So during her last radio show, Robredo opened up the phone 📱  lines so listeners can share their stories.

The first caller was a man who was elected mayor of a city for the first of seven times in 1988, then cleaned up its streets almost overnight.  He patrolled his city from the back of a Harley-Davidson, and then from inside a taxi after drivers started getting robbed.  He was also a guy who left his own home to help his neighbors when the city flooded in 1994.

The caller was a hesitant candidate for higher political office in 2016, but his inspiring story and political will to rid the country of drugs and corruption made him the overwhelming choice of the Filipino electorate.

When Robredo asked for the caller’s name, the voice on the other end of the line said with an obvious humble tone, “Digong po, ma’m.”

The second caller was an elected official who represents a congressional district in Quezon City. The man wanted to be anonymous but shared his inspiring story of going beyond his call of duty.  Rather than stay put serving his constituents in Quezon City, the Congressman has been criss-crossing the country, looking after the needs of the poor and downtrodden in remote places of laylayan.