Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday, November 9, said her team is preparing to launch the “Robredo’s People Council” to better organize her volunteers and supporters from all over the country.
“May binubuo tayong Robredo’s People Council sa bawat sektor at probinsya para malinaw at organisado ang ating pagkilos (We are forming a Robredo’s People Council for every sector and province for our clear and organized movement),” she said in a video posted on Facebook.
Right now, there are hundreds of groups for Robredo on Facebook from different areas in and outside country. The aim of the people’s council is to organize them better and prevent the duplication of campaign programs and awareness-building efforts.
It is designed after the Naga City People’s Council (NCPC), which her husband, the late former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, institutionalized when he was mayor. The council is comprised of representatives from different sectors with the goal of widening areas for people’s participation in governance.
The Vice President also assured her “kakampink” supporters that she recognizes their efforts in campaigning for her.
Every Tuesday, Robredo releases a video to remind her supporters not only to wear pink for #KakampinkWednesdays, but also to do something good for other people.
READ: Robredo rallies ‘kakampinks’ anew: ‘I depend on you to help one another’
But this week, she took the time to showcase the many slogans, posters, hashtags, and artwork her volunteers have been producing for what she calls a “People’s Campaign.”
“Hindi ko man kayo maisa-isa lahat, gusto kong sabihin na nakikita ko ang mga gawa ninyo. Kayong lahat—na kusang loob na nagvo-volunteer—ang nagpapalakas sa ating People’s Campaign (I may not mention you all, but I want you to know that I see all your efforts. All of you—who volunteer—are giving strength to our People’s Campaign),” she said.
Robredo mentioned that even before she announced her candidacy, she already saw a lot of artworks and posters designed by volunteers.
The aspiring president showed some of them in the video.
Robredo was particularly enamored by the “Laban Leni (Fight Leni)” artwork, reminding the people that her fight is their fight, too.
She described the poster showing her flipping her hair as “iconic” while the finger heart design for one of her tote bags has become a “symbol” for the “kakampinks.”
“Pero gusto ko ‘yung symbolism na kinakabit sa kaniya dito. Parang tayong lahat, husay at tibay ang ipinaglalaban (But I want the symbolism attached to this. It’s like all of us are fighting for competency and strength),” she said, referring to the hair flip poster.
There was also a poster of a jeepney with the words “Pit Señor!,” which refers to the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City for the Sto. Niño. Robredo’s hometown of Naga has its own Sinulog sa Naga event.
READ: Robredo supporters get creative with ‘Kakampink challenge' responses
The Vice President, however, was particularly fond of the collage of artworks with her image, adding that she wants to choose one to be her profile picture.
But if there is one artwork that showcases the combined strength and courage of her volunteers, Robredo said it would have to be the “Leni Can Do It” poster that featured a caricature of her with the biceps showing.
“Pero ito kasi, tingin ko (But this one I think is) very symbolic din ito. Kasi kapag babae ka, parang na-eequate ka lagi sa kahinaan, diba? Pero nakita naman natin (Because when you’re a woman, that is always equated to being weak, right? But we saw) over the last almost six years: Talagang (It’s really) the last man standing is a woman,” she stressed.
In the end, Robredo reminded her supporters that her campaign color is more than just a color.
“Ang pink ay uri ng pamumuhay. Maging maingat sa pananalita. Magsabi lagi ng totoo. Ipagtanggol ang katotohanan. Huwag magsalita ng masakit sa kapwa. At palaging piliing magmahal. Dahil ang komunikasyon, ginagamit para tayo’y magkaintindihan (Pink is a way of life. Be careful with your words. Speak the truth. Fight for the truth. Don’t speak if it will hurt others. And always be loving. Because communication should be used for better understanding),” she said.