Volunteer supporters of Leni-Kiko in Ilocos Sur join a music festival on March 26 to boost their campaign for the tandem in the province. | PHOTO: Charlie Gaston
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—The camp of Vice President and presidential candidate Leni Robredo and her running mate, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, is hoping that the “strong, brave group” of volunteers will help them gain votes in Ilocos.
From a series of activities in nearby Ilocos Sur province, Dr. Gaile Robredo-Vitas and Neneth Pangilinan, relatives of the tandem, visited Tuesday, March 29, a volunteer center in Ilocos Norte to thank the volunteers for their efforts.
“Sobrang importante ng volunteers talaga. Kayo ang makinarya namin e, alam nyo naman wala kaming budget. But what you do, your house-to-house, your pakikipag-usap at salamuha sa iba, pagpapakilala kay Leni-Kiko, yun ang sobrang kailangan natin ngayon,” said Robredo-Vitas.
(The volunteers are very important. You are our machinery, you know that we don’t have a budget. But what you do, your house-to-house, talking and immersing with others, introducing Leni-Kiko, those are what we need today.)
Neneth said the efforts of the Ilocano “kakampinks” (pink allies), are “inspiring the country because we know how hard it is” to campaign for Leni-Kiko right on the Marcos turf.
Their visit to the province came two days after Ilocano kakampinks, or supporters of the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem, went out bravely last Sunday for the first time in substantial numbers, right in the heart of the bailiwick of presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
At least 800 kakampinks marched from the foot of the Gilbert Bridge in Laoag City, passing by the Laoag city public market and the Carmelite Monastery, where they held a post-march mini-rally.
On the same day, bikers from Ilocos Sur supporting the tandem also pedaled their way to Ilocos Norte during the “Pidal iti Amianan” activity to join the march.
Robredo-Vitas said the members of their families try “to visit volunteer centers [across the country] to express our gratitude” to the supporters.
Robredo-Vitas said the tandem’s camp appreciates the efforts of the volunteers, vowing that the Robredo-Pangilinan would push for advocacies and projects benefiting the country if they win.
The “Nagkakaisang Mamamayan ng Amianan” or NAMNAMA coalition in Ilocos Sur said it was backing the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem for “putting the principles of truth, integrity, and good governance at the forefront.”