A deputized barangay traffic enforcer in Alabang, Muntinlupa has launched a pink puto drive to support the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo.

Jamie Martinez told Manila Bulletin that she has been a fan and supporter of Robredo and her late husband Jesse who served as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and mayor of Naga City.

She said the idea of the pink puto came when she learned on the night of Oct. 6 that Robredo was planning to announce her political plan the following day.

“Nag-isip po ako kung ano yung magandang pagpapakita ng suporta sa kanya. Baka sakali tumakbo si Leni kasi may announcement siya ng October 7 (I was thinking of a good way to show my support to her. Leni might run because she would make an announcement on October 7),” she said.

She talked to her neighborhood volunteers, who are also mothers, and asked them if they wanted to hold a feeding program on Oct. 7.

They chipped in money and wanted to make “lugaw” (porridge) since it was the label being attached to Robredo, she said. The only problem was they could not make the porridge in pink. She was told that the colors that Robredo will use were pink and blue.

Martinez remembered her friend who has a child who is sick. The friend makes puto to sustain the treatment of her child. She asked her to make the puto pink using a food color that she had. She ordered pink and blue puto worth P300 and requested to have it delivered by 10:30 a.m. the following day in time for Robredo’s announcement. .

“Kailangan ko yan 10:30 ng umaga kasi mag-uumpisa ako mag-feeding eksaktong alas-11. Yun yung eksaktong oras kung saan magsasalita si VP Leni (I need it by 10:30 in the morning because I will start the feeding program at exactly 11 a.m. That's the time that VP Leni would start making her announcement),” she added.

She set up a table in Purok 7C in Brgy. Alabang where she laid out the puto and lugaw to be given to her neighbors.

On Oct. 7, Robredo announced that she is running for president in the May 9, 2022 elections. Martinez said her announcement made her cry.

“Naiyak po kasi syempre ang tagal na e. Mag-six year ng ganito yung sitwasyon tapos nag-pandemic pa (I cried because it’s been long enough. It’s been almost six years that the situation is still the same and then pandemic hit),” said Martinez.

She said she will continue the pink puto and lugaw initiative if there is still available money for it.