MANILA, Philippines — While embracing the color pink as her political color, Vice President Leni Robredo vowed to serve the people regardless of their political colors if she is elected president in the May elections.
Robredo during Tuesday night’s People’s Rally in Antipolo City noted that while a lot of people were wearing pink at the venue, there were others out there who were wearing other colors — and they, too, would benefit from her brand of service, which transcends all political colors.
“Tignan niyo ‘yong mga suot ninyo, maraming naka-pink, paminsan iba-ibang shade ng pink dahil kanya-kanyang pagawa, pero tignan niyo, marami rin ‘yong hindi pink ‘di ba?” she asked.
(Look at your clothes, a lot of you are wearing pink, sometimes different shades of it because you yourselves made your outfits. But also look at others, a lot of people here are not wearing pink right?)
“Ang pangako ko po sa inyo, ‘pag ako naging pangulo, walang kulay-kulay na titignan, magiging pangulo po ako ng lahat,” she added.
(This is my promise to you: If I get elected as president, we wouldn’t look at colors, I will be a president for all.)
Robredo again called on her supporters to be more accommodating for people who are not yet backing her candidacy, saying that they should refrain from engaging people in fights and instead impart the message that their campaign is a happy and hopeful one.
“Ang tunay na kapangyarihan, nasa bawat isa sa inyo, wala po sa aming mga lingkod bayan. Kaya ko po ‘yan sa inyo sinasabi, dahil halos isang buwan na lang, eleksyon na. Sana po hindi natin sasayangin ang pagkakataon na iboto natin ‘yung mga tunay na lingkod bayan na magdadala ng ating mga pangarap para maging makokotahanan ito,” she said.
(The true power is in each one of you, not with us public servants. That’s why I am telling you this, because it’s just around a month before the election day itself. I hope that we would not waste the chance for people to vote for the true public servants who would help us realize our dreams and aspirations.)
“Marami pong kasinungalingan sa paligid. Ang hinihingi ko po sa inyo, palitan po natin ng katotohanan ang kasinungalingan. Huwag po tayong mang-aaway. Ang mensahe po natin sa lahat: Masaya dito sa amin. Welcome kayo dito sa amin,” she added.
(A lot of lies lie around us. What I am asking from you is this: let us replace the lies with the truth. Let us not bicker or quarrel with others. Our message to all Filipinos: we are happy on this side, you are welcome here.)
Ever since Robredo announced her intention to run for president, supporters have used the color pink for her campaign motif, flooding social media with posts using the said shade.
The Vice President eventually adopted the color, which gave birth to her supporters calling themselves “Kakampink” — a portmanteau of the words kakampi (ally) and pink.
READ: Social media tickled pink by Robredo’s decision
However, there are also fears that the use of the pink color and the term “kakampink” itself tends to be exclusive, alienating people who are not yet on board with Robredo’s platform.
At one point, some of Robredo’s supporters called for a boycott of an Iloilo restaurant who served another presidential candidate in former senator Bongbong Marcos.
Robredo asked her supporters not to do such things, saying that divisiveness contradicts their call for inclusivity.
READ: Don’t do that: Robredo to supporters calling to boycott restos supportive of Marcos
Currently, Robredo remains a far second to Marcos if surveys are to be believed. According to Pulse Asia’s poll from March 17 to 21 which was released on Wednesday, Marcos would be the runaway winner with 56 percent of the votes.
However, Robredo’s scores have started to climb, registering a nine percent increase which made her voter share jump from 15 percent in February to 24 percent in March.