While this may not be a direct rebuttal to his brother’s scathing open letter disowning their mother, Loren Legarda, Leandro Leviste’s own piece certainly couldn’t come at a better time.
Earlier, Leandro’s brother Lorenzo wrote an open letter published by Rappler criticizing Loren’s decision to run as senator ‘in a slate led by a Marcos and a Duterte’ which he said is tantamount to ‘endorsing fascists’.
Leandro’s own article which came on PhilStar chose to do away with the recent politics, or the Marcoses, or the martial law, and instead focused on Loren’s achievement, both as a mother and as an exemplary lawmaker.
It actually is a tribute to his mother for the upcoming Mother’s Day.
“I am writing this because my mom deserves all the recognition in the world for being an exemplary public servant and a role model for the youth,” Leandro wrote.
He then went on to narrate his mom’s humble beginnings before becoming an award-winning journalist, and later a legislator.
“It can be overwhelming to think of how she achieved so much by such a young age, but it should serve as an example for what young people can do, in hopes that our country can have more people as committed as her to raising the bar for excellence in public service,” he said.
Leandro also enumerated some of his mother’s landmark bills authored while serving in the Upper Chamber, as well as her other significant achievements such as being a concensus builder among political parties and as a hostage negotiator with the Abu Sayyaf.
All these, he said, Loren has done while being a single mom who has always put family first before politics.
He also shared how the former senator prioritized him when he was confined in an ICU due to a lung problem, and how she dutifully cared for her aging parents.
“These are just among the countless examples of how she puts others before herself,” Leandro wrote.
“The older I get, and the more I see of the realities of life, the more I have come to appreciate all that my mom has done and continues to do for her family and her country. I have never been more proud of my mom than I am now,” he ended his article.
Leandro Leviste is Loren’s other son with former Batangas Governor Antonio Leviste. He is also the founder of Solar Philippines.