Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday, November 3, met with her supporters in Tarlac City during a meet-and-greet event, claiming that the snowballing of support for her candidacy is turning the campaign into a “people’s movement.”
“Hindi na ito conventional na kampanya pero (This is not a conventional campaign anymore, but) this is becoming a people’s movement already,” she told her supporters, who have been organizing motorcades and feeding programs for the past weeks.
Also with Robredo were her running mate, Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan, and one of the senatorial aspirants under her ticket, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno.
The event at the KAISA Convention Hall in Tarlac City was spearheaded by Mayor Cristy Angeles and volunteers of both Robredo and Pangilinan, who said they were there to personally thank them.
“Since October 7 nung nag-announce ako, hindi na po huminto ‘yung mga kagaya nyo, na ang pakiramdam ko (when I announced, you haven’t stopped. I feel), and correct me of I’m wrong, ang pakiramdam ko ganito kayo hindi lang dahil sinusuportahan nyo ako. Siguro bahagi lang ‘yan pero mas malalalim na dahilan ramdam nyo ‘yung (I feel that you are like this not only because you support me. That is only a part of that, but the deeper reason is you can feel that the) 2022 elections is the fight of your lives,” Robredo told the crowd who chanted her name.
Because she failed to unify the opposition despite holding countless of meetings with the other anti-administration candidates, Robredo said she felt it was her “duty” to run to give an alternative to people.
Robredo said she never expected the outpouring of support because she had low numbers in surveys and because her competitors have been preparing for this for a long time.
READ: Robredo supporters get creative with ‘Kakampink challenge' responses
Although the official campaign season does not start until February 2022, Robredo said she’s surprised that a lot of local officials are welcoming her team in their provinces.
She shared that for the past five years, she was used to local officials not wanting to be seen or photographed with her for fear of association.
“So, the mere fact that all of you are here ang laking bagay po para akin (it’s a big thing for me),” Robredo said.
“Iba ito sa 2016 (This is different from 2016) in the sense na yung mga supporters ngayon (the supporters right now are) deeply committed saka sobra (and super) passionate,” she added.
READ: Robredo ‘overwhelmed’ by supporters for considering her 2022 run ‘fight of their lives’
Prior to the event, the presidential aspirant met with Bishop Enrique Macaraeg for a courtesy call.
Robredo took time to meet with her supporters after visiting the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) Vaccine Express initiative in Capas, Tarlac for the inoculation of the second dose COVID-19 vaccine for some 700 members of the Aeta community there.
The Vaccine Express in Capas was made possible after the request from Aeta Ako, Pilipino Ako Foundation, which sought OVP’s assistance to inoculate Aetas, “in order to protect them from the virus whenever they visit the town proper for their livelihood,” her office said.
Tarlac is the bailiwick of the Aquino family, whose influence extends over Robredo and Pangilinan for being chairperson and president, respectively, of the Liberal Party.