A Mardi Gras-themed people’s rally is staged Tuesday, April 19, at the Magsaysay Drive in Olongapo in support of the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo. | PHOTO: Joanna Rose Aglibot
OLONGAPO CITY—Supporters of presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, on Tuesday, April 19, staged a Mardi Gras-themed people’s rally at the Magsaysay Drive in this city.
Volunteers from various community groups banded together to create pink “maskaras,” put up tarpaulins, and showcase performances for the event. They also prepared food and drinks to be shared among the rally-goers.
Shad Rojo, the event’s program committee chair, said they wanted to treat the local community to a festival after almost two years of lockdowns and travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“And because the ‘Pink Movement’ is a really fun campaign, we chose to base the theme of the event on Olongapo City’s famous Mardi Gras because we also wanted to showcase the energy that is very Olongapo and Zambales,” said Rojo in a statement.
Rojo said the only difference with the “OlongaPink Mardi Gras” is that everything is done in a “Bayanihan fashion.”
A Mardi Gras-themed people’s rally is staged Tuesday, April 19, at the Magsaysay Drive in Olongapo in support of the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo. | PHOTO: Joanna Rose Aglibot
“Mardi Gras is something we, the people of Olongapo and Zambales, look forward to, just like how we look forward to VP Leni and Senator Kiko winning this coming election,” Rojo added.
Aside from Robredo and Pangilinan, several aspiring senators on their slate were expected to attend the rally.
Celebrities and personalities like Pokwang, Cherrie Pie Picache, Edu Manzano, Bayang Barrios, Cooky Chua, Elmo Magalona, John Muller, Renz Saavedra, Christian Antonil, Jake Ejercito, Adrian Lindayag, Jackie Aquino, Pinky Marquez, and Lolito Go, among others, are also set to host and perform during the rally.