FILE PHOTO: Senator Kiko Pangilinan (left) and Vice President Leni Robredo. INQUIRER
LEGAZPI CITY — Volunteers supporting the candidacies of Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan are set to launch “One Pink Crusade” – a march and caravan activity in Bicol – on Saturday, April 9.
The movement aims to bolster support from the 3.9 million registered voters in the Bicol region for the tandem of Robredo and Pangilinan, who are running for president and vice president, respectively, in this year’s polls.
Ronald “Bong” Rodriguez, Solid Leni Bicol (SLB) coordinator, in a phone interview Thursday said they consider this event as a “last mile” campaign to ensure that Bicol “delivers a very strong voice getting at least 90 percent of the Bicol votes on May 9 election.”
Rodriguez said the efforts of thousands of volunteers and supporters have seen success following the latest Pulse Asia Survey last March which showed that in Bicol, Robredo’s standing gained 23 points. This meant that from 65 percent, Robredo’s approval rating has jumped to 88 percent.
While the increase was significantly noted in Region 4A (28 percent), 4B (20 percent), and in other regions, it has to increase to 11 percentage points more, Rodriguez said, quoting statistics from the Pulse Asia survey result.
The volunteers from across the country would also engage and intensify their campaign by means of a “house-to-house” drive in order to reach out to rural communities where people in the D and E socio-economic classes live.
“The One Pink Crusade is designed to re-energize the enthusiasm and interest to gain more support from the Bicolanos as a ‘show of force’ mechanism that would prevent any attempts of other groups to weaken our hold, especially this is the bailiwick of VP Leni,” he said.
The One Pink Crusade would kick off on Saturday afternoon. It is expected that 50,000 “Pink Crusaders” from the 15 towns and three cities in the three districts of Albay province would converge at Sawangan Park on Legazpi City Boulevard and hold an ecumenical prayer rally, concert, and endorsements.
Lawyer Tai Kee Calleja, SLB Albay coordinator, in a press conference at the El Palacio (formerly Albay Bishop’s Palace), said supporters from the 1st district, covering the towns of Tiwi, Malinao, Tabaco City, Malilipot, Bacacay, and Sto. Domingo would hold a motorcade with the image of Albay patroness Nuestra Señora de Salvacion (Our Lady of Salvation) from Tiwi to Barangay Bitano here. In Bitano village, they would hold a 2 km procession going to Sawangan Park.
The delegates from the 3rd district, composed of the towns of Polangui, Libon, Oas, Pio Duran, Guinobatan, Jovellar, and Ligao City, would conduct a motorcade while the crusaders from the 2nd district, covering the towns of Camalig, Daraga, Manito, Rapu-Rapu and Legazpi City, would meet at the Saint Gregory the Great Cathedral here and walk the 3 km stretch to the Sawangan Park.
Calleja said a prayer rally would start immediately upon the arrival of the delegates which would be followed by the reading of the manifesto of support for the Leni-Kiko tandem by the 10,000 strong members of the Albay Council of the Laity from the 49 parishes of the province.
Dr. Tricia Robredo, eldest daughter of the Vice President, would grace the event and mingle with the crowd while the Prettier than Pink Band and other local bands would hold a concert.
Some 20 pink sailboats would do a regatta at the Legazpi Boulevard sponsored by the Legazpi City Yacht Club, according to Dan Doctolero, the yacht club’s president.
Rodriguez said the event in Albay would be the start of a series of One Pink Crusade that would also take place in other Bicol provinces of Masbate (April 12), Catanduanes (April 13), Camarines Norte (April 17), Sorsogon City (May 1) and Naga City (May 6).
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