Even as partymates and friends encouraged her to seek the presidency, Vice President Leni Robredo didn’t initially want to heed the call because of her experience in the past five years, but her volunteers’ and local officials’ support changed her mind.
“Pero alam niyo po, mali kami. Dahil, nung nagdesisyon po kami mag-file, October 7 'yun, gulat na gulat po kami na pagsabi naming humakbang tayo para humakbang din 'yung katabi natin, iyon na ‘yun talaga 'yung nangyari (You know, we were wrong because when we decided to file, that was October 7, we were very surprised because after we said let’s take a step so those beside us can take a step, too, that’s exactly what happened),” she told an audience in San Fernando, Pampanga on Wednesday, Dec. 15.
“Kaya ako po, excited kami ni Senator Kiko na makasama kayo sa laban na ‘to (Me and Senator Kiko are excited to be with you in this fight),” the Vice President said.
Robredo and Pangilinan were in the province, believed to be the bailiwick of former president and speaker Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, to attend the launch of their volunteers’ headquarters and meet with the Benedictine Sisters and alumni of St. Scholastica’s Academy.
The presidential aspirant shared that former Pampanga governor Ed Panlilio and San Fernando City Mayor Edwin Santiago encouraged her to run for president, but she was not inclined to because of the political climate of the past five-and-a-half years.
As the leader of the opposition, Robredo has not been welcomed by local officials out of fear that it would look like they are supporting her.
In fact, the Vice President shared that she and Pangilinan were already prepared to not be welcomed by local officials in the cities and provinces that they visit.
Such was their surprise to find not only local officials but supporters who were ready to do the groundwork for them.
READ: Robredo ‘overwhelmed’ by supporters for considering her 2022 run ‘fight of their lives’
“Alam natin ang sitwasyon. Ang lahat ng malalakas nagsama-sama na. Parati po kaming tinatanong, hindi ba kayo nawawalan ng pag-asa (We know the situation. The strong have come together. We are always being asked are you not losing hope)?,” Robredo said.
The crowd shouted an emphatic “hindi po (no).”
But even with her political opponents—former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio—coming together, Robredo stressed that they can never lose hope after seeing all the work that their supporters are putting in for them.
“Alam niyo po ang lagi naming sagot, papaano kami mawawalan ng pag-asa na bawat punta namin sa lugar, nakikita namin kayo na nagpapakita ng lakas, nagpapakita ng (You know our answer is always, how can we lose hope when every time we go to a place, we can see you showing strength, showing) commitment, nagpapakita ng (showing) passion,” she said, addressing her supporters.
Robredo shared that their volunteers do most out of the work for them—including giving away tarpaulins and t-shirts. They also provide and donate headquarters for their team.
She praised their supporters for taking care of everything when they come to visit their provinces.