(Photo by Gabriel Lalu/INQUIRER.net)
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Remember how in 2021, there was a joke that all supporters needed to do to show support for the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo was attach the words “for Leni” to their group’s name?
Fast forward to February 2022, and it appears that the joke has been brought to life. At the Grand Rally in Cebu City’s Southwestern University (SWU) hosted by Robredo’s supporters on Thursday, a crowd composed mostly of young people hoisted placards bearing the names of groups like “Alters for Leni” and “Daks for Leni.”
During the rally, Robredo read the placards as she thanked the crowd for its support.
“Scholars for Leni, Clout-chasers for Leni, Alter for Leni — ito pa, Solid North kay Leni Tayo, Palahubog for Leni […] Kung Pink Imong Bugan, Pink sa Imong Butaran,” Robredo read the placards much to the delight of the crowd.
“Ah eto, eto: ‘Di Baleng Walang Afam, Basta May Leni-Kiko sa Malacañang’. Ayan ito, even the introverts are here […] Daks for Leni-Kiko, maraming salamat!” she added.
“Daks” is a play on the Visayan word dako (huge) and is often used to humorously refer to a man with a big penis, while “palahubog” refers to those who drink too much. Meanwhile, “afam” (a foreigner assigned to Manila) is slang for a foreigner.
Turning serious, the Vice President stressed that young people were able to come up with the creative placards as they are passionate about the elections. This she said, is proof that the youth are invested in their future.
“Hindi niyo ba napansin? Dahil sa inyong passion, ‘yong creativity ng lahat lumalabas. Kaya alam niyo po — last na talaga ‘to, kasi alam kong pagod na kayo — pero alam niyo po […] grabe po ‘yong saya na binibigay ninyo sa aming lahat,” Robredo told the crowd.
(Haven’t you observed it? Because of your passion, everybody’s creativity seeps out. That’s why you know — this is my last statement because I know you are tired already — you are giving us great joy.)
“Ang creativity sobrang grabe, nagpapakita lang na lahat tayo invested ngayon. ‘Wag po nating sasayangin ‘yong puso, dahil ang puso ang magpapanalo sa atin sa eleksyon na ito. Maraming salamat po sa inyo, mabuhay po kayong lahat,” she added.
(There is so much creativity which only shows that we are all invested in these upcoming elections. Let us not waste this heart and passion that we have, because it is through heart that we win this election. Thank you very much.)
Netizens meanwhile praised Robredo’s campaign for being inclusive.
https://twitter.com/THEHATER3000/status/1496839546331631617
Sobrang inclusive 🎉🎉🎉 https://t.co/THQNluSBgh
— 🇵🇭 مُحَمَّد 🇦🇪 (@asschercutt) February 24, 2022
A Pulse Asia survey says Robredo will only get 16 percent of votes if the elections were held from January 19 to 24, far from the 60 percent voter choice for former senator Bongbong Marcos.
READ: Marcos Jr. and Duterte still leading in Pulse Asia poll