Despite sudden downpour, thousands still showed their support for presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo and her entire slate at the Layag Leni-Kiko people’s rally at the Cesar C. Climaco Freedom Park in Zamboanga City on Thursday night, March 17, 2022 (VP Leni Media Bureau)
PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Vice President Leni Robredo has again rallied her supporters to seize opportunities to turn more people into “kakampinks.”
At the grand rally in Zamboanga City, the presidential candidate reminded supporters that they have less than two months to sway more voters to their side noting that their boat – referring to the region’s colorful “Vinta” – is still big enough for more supporters.
“Fifty-three days to go, fifty-three days, Zamboanga. Malaki pa po ang bangka natin, kasyang-kasya pa ang mga kakilala natin. Tinatawag ko kayo ngayon: Hikayatin pa natin ang mga kakilala natin. Welcome po ang lahat dito. Sabihin natin sa kanila masaya dito. Puno ng pag-asa dito,” she told the crowd in pink – her campaign color – on Thursday night.
“Kaya onward lang tayo sa paglalayag. Araw-araw, kumausap tayo ng mga di pa natin kahanay; kumatok tayo sa mga pinto. Kapag bumili sa palengke, makipagkuwentuhan tungkol sa halalan at sa ating kinabukasan,” she added.
The Vice President also made the same call during their campaign rally in General Santos City, urging supporters to go out of their comfort zones and explain the Leni-Kiko tandem platform to more people.
“Lumabas po tayo sa ating nakasanayan; ngumiti habang ibinabahagi ang katotohanan: dahil iisa lang po ang mga pangarap natin. Isang Pilipinas kung saan lahat kasali, lahat mahalaga; may gobyernong tapat, kaya aangat ang buhay ng lahat,” Robredo said.
In a gathering in Zamboanga del Sur, she repeated her plea.
Among the sea of pink and witty placards during Friday’s mini rally in Pagadian City, Robredo’s eye saw a rather snobbish message on a poster.
“‘Kung ayaw mo kay Leni, eh ‘di don’t?’” Robredo said, reading the placard. “Hindi, kukumbinsihin natin, ‘wag nating sasabihan na eh ‘di don’t.” (If you don’t like Leni, then don’t. No, let’s convince them, let’s not say that.)
Robredo also made a stern reminder after hearing the chant of Pagadian supporters – “Sure na sa ZambaSur” which implies that the Vice President would surely win in Zamboanga del Sur.
She said, however, that nothing in life is certain if people do not work hard for it.
“Lampas 50 days na lang po bago mag-eleksyon, sabi niyo kanina ‘Sure na sa ZambaSur’. Maraming salamat do’n, pero alam natin, na walang sure kung hindi natin pagpapaguran,” she said.
“So ang tanong ko po sa inyong araw, handa ba tayo na ibuhos ‘yong lahat ng ating makakaya para ayain pa ‘yung ibang sumama sa atin? Marami pong hindi natin kasama ngayon. Pero po ako, ang aking experience, ‘pag ang tao binigyan mo ng pagkakataon pumili, parati niya pong pipiliin kung sino ‘yong makakabuti sa kanya,” she appealed.
Robredo in the 2016 vice presidential race won against Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Region 9 by 158,000 votes. But she lost in Zamboanga del Sur by around 32,000 votes to Marcos Jr.
Still, she said she was surprised with the turnout of support on Friday, as official police estimates said more than 3,000 attended the mini-rally in Pagadian City.
“Alam niyo po gulat na gulat ako, dahil alam niyo po no’ng 2016, while nanalo po ako sa halos lahat na lugar dito sa Zamboanga Peninsula, dito po sa ZambaSur, natalo ako,” she said.
“Kaya po no’ng nagpa-plano kami, no’ng nagpa-plot po kami ng mga pupuntahan dito, hindi po ako kampante, iniisip ko po ‘pag pumunta kaya kami sa ZamboSur, sa Pagadian, meron kayang sumalubong sa amin? Kaya po ngayong umaga, ginulat niyo po ako. Kaya maraming, maraming salamat,” she added.
Robredo recently toured Central and Muslim Mindanao in a bid to convince voters in the southern parts of the country, where she is said to be lacking broad support. According to the latest Pulse Asia survey, only five percent of Mindanao residents surveyed picked Robredo for president.
Robredo has embarked on a grassroots-based campaign for her presidential run in the 2022 national elections, with communities and volunteers mainly organizing sorties for the Leni-Kiko team. However, there have been observations about how some of Robredo’s supporters have become unruly, rabidly criticizing those who are not part or are not supportive of their bet.
Robredo has time and time again appealed to her supporters to be calm, gentle, and more compassionate in their campaigning.
RELATED STORIES
Robredo to supporters: ‘Pink’ must also be experienced, help others
Robredo to supporters: Be calm, gentle and do good deeds
Leni Robredo spokesman: Feb survey doesn’t reflect yet ‘snowballing’ of support