Supporters mob Vice President Leni Robredo as she arrives Tuesday at the Tandag sports complex. Photos by Erwin M. Macariñas
BUTUAN CITY––Local performing artists will take the stage during the grand rally Wednesday afternoon of Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan at the Guingona Park in this city.
Organizers expect thousands of supporters from the city and nearby areas of Agusan del Norte, buoyed by the snowballing support from local politicians.
Earlier, outgoing Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun, who is running for Vice Mayor of Butuan City under reelectionist Mayor Ronnie Lagnada, announced his all-out support for Robredo’s presidential bid.
Fortun and Robredo were neophyte national legislators during the 16th Congress. She represented Camarines Sur’s third legislative district.
Voice of the Philippines Season 2 winner Jason Dy, Butuan City’s top performer and a mainstay in the national music scene, will perform together with other Butuanon artists such as 2019 Idol Philippines 3rd place winner and 2017 Michael Bolton’s Bolt of Talent champion Lance Busa, and Idol Philippines contestant Miguel Odron.
Other local artists who will perform are Idol Philippines finalist Matty Juniosa, Voice Teen contestant Dani Dixon, Voice Kids contestant Hannah Hakami, Yasmin Arbis, and DJ Paolo.
The grand rally will also see the performance of alternative band Rivermaya, whose hit song Liwanag sa Dilim, has become an anthem for supporters of Robredo and Pangilinan, whom they said would bring light to the darkness in the country.
Rivermaya performed the song on stage at the Naga City rally to kick off the national campaign.
Another group to grace the stage is the rising indie band LaLuna who has expressed their support to Robredo and Pangilinan’s campaign.
Robredo and Pangilinan will cap their barnstorming of the Caraga region from March 8 that took them to warm welcomes in Bislig, Tandag, and Surigao cities.
Before the evening rally Tuesday in Surigao City, Robredo graced the Provincial Women’s Summit in observance of International Women’s Day.
On Wednesday morning, Robredo went to Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur and then Cabadbaran City in Agusan del Norte after which she was expected to have a private audience with Butuan City Bishop Cosme Almedilla.