It's currently trending on Twitter
After tying pink ribbons on the streets the past days and declaring a blush dress code on Oct. 7, 2021, Thursday, supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo took to Twitter to express their sentiments after she delivered a speech confirming her presidential bid for 2022. All these emotions from her supporters can be summed up in one phrase currently trending on Twitterverse: “Naiiyak ako.”
Dressed in blue with a pink ribbon on her chest, the 56-year-old VP moved everyone by her announcement.
“Nanay ako, hindi lang ng tatlong anak ko, kundi ng buong bansa (I am a mother not only to my three children but also to the whole country),” she said. The VP then continued to reminisce on the cases of domestic violence she handled when she was a lawyer. And much like the women she helped, she stressed that she’s aware of the suffering of her beloved nation.
“Ang nagmamahal kailangang ipaglaban ang minamahal (A lover fights for the one he or she loves),” she went on, drawing applause from the crowd. “Buong-buo ang loob ko ngayon. Kailangan nating palayain and sarili mula sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon. Lalaban ako. Lalaban tayo (My resolve is firm. We need to free ourselves from the current situation. I will fight. We will fight).”
“Gisingin ang natutulog pang lakas, tumindig kayo, tinitiyak ko mayroon din titindig sa tabi niyo (Gather your strength, stand up, and I’m sure someone else will also stand beside you),” she continued. “Ihayag ang katotohanan na sa kabila ng mga limitasyon, sa kabila ng panggigipit, sa maliit na tanggapan pa lang natin dito sa Office of the Vice President, napakarami na nating nagawa para makatulong... Anim na taon na ang nakaraan nang tinanggap ko ang hamon tumakbo sa pagka-bise presidente. Ngayon, sasabak tayo sa mas malaking laban (Share the truth that, even with the limitations and the challenges imposed on the small Office of the Vice President, we have done so much to help others... Six years have passed since I accepted the challenge to run for vice president. Now, we are about to face an even bigger fight).”
Here are some of the “Naiiyak ako” responses to Vice President Leni’s speech we saw on Twitter:
"NAIIYAK AKO" is trending because we are all tired, angry, and frustrated. Leni's announcement to run for president provided the much-needed release from these negative emotions that have been pent up. This is only the first step to relieve us of our hopelessness. #LabanLeni2022
— Val Amiel (@valvestil) October 7, 2021
Naiiyak ako. Finally, we don't have to settle for a lesser evil. #LetLeniLead
— rebecca #LetLeniLead (@naserezt) October 7, 2021
The way the term "naiiyak ako" is trending as vp leni announce that she's running for president just shows how we've been currently deprived of a worthy and good leader and now there is hope #LetLeniLead #LabanLeni2022
— ραυℓα (@hopinglikeplath) October 7, 2021
"Naiiyak ako" phrase and the way it's trending now just show how hungry people are for that change in our current situation. Maybe God bless this woman. Truly, the last man standing is a woman. pic.twitter.com/Yvu5Ekt4dz
— Tata Liceralde (@LiceraldeTata) October 7, 2021
Vice President Leni joins the other 47 presidential aspirants for the May 2022 election. Among her competition are Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, Manila City Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, and former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.