Award-winning actor Jaime Fabregas endorsed the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo and asked their fellow Bicolanos to recruit more supporters and ensure her win in the 2022 polls.
He said this will ensure that the next country’s president will be from the Bicol Region. If she wins, Robredo would be the first Bicolano president.
The actor believed that Bicol has the “best and most qualified candidate” among the presidential candidates this year.
“Iparamdam natin sa buong Pilipinas ang galing, lakas at pusong Bicolano. Ipakilala natin sa kapwa Pilipino ang tapat na pinuno. At ipakita natin sa buong mundo ang kakayanan at katatagan ng ating lahi (Let us make the whole Philippines feel the competency, the strength and the heart of Bicolano. Let us introduce to fellow Filipinos an honest leader. And let us make the whole world see that capacity and the resiliency of our race),” Fabregas said.
As their Lolo General, referring to the nickname of his character in the long-running TV series “Ang Probinsyano,” the actor asked his fellow Bicolanos to convince at least five voters to Robredo’s side.
Fabregas expressed disappointment over the fact that no president from Bicol Region has been elected despite having the fifth-largest voting population and the fourth-largest ethnic group in the country.
“Hindi ba kataka-taka na sa buong kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, wala pang naging Presidente mula sa Bicol (Isn’t it strange that in the whole history of the Philippines, no one from Bicol became president)?” Fabregas said.
READ: Robredo vows to prioritize highways, railroad for fellow Bicolanos
Central Luzon produced five presidents—namely Ramon Magsaysay from Zambales; Diosdado Macapagal and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from Pampanga; and Cory and Noynoy Aquino from Tarlac.
Ilocos Region, which has fewer voters compared to the Bicol Region, produced three presidents—Elpidio Quirino, Ferdinand Marcos, and Fidel Ramos.
Two presidents, meanwhile, hailed from Luzon—Manuel Quezon from Tayabas and Joseph Estrada from the National Capital Region.
Visayas has two presidents in Manuel Roxas and Carlos Garcia while Mindanao has one in Rodrigo Duterte.
For her part, Robredo urged fellow Bicolanos not to let this chance to elect a president from the Bicolandia in 2022.
“Huwag na po nating palampasin ang pagkakataon na ito. Ang tagumpay natin sa Mayo ay tagumpay ng bawat Bicolano at Pilipino. Inaasahan ko po kayo (Let us not let this opportunity pass us by. Our victory in May is a victory of every Bicolano and Filipino. I am counting on you),” she said.
Robredo was born and raised in Naga City, Camarines Sur in the Bicol Region. Before she served as vice president, she was representative there and stayed there for most of her adult life.
She already earlier said she hoped Bicol would once more rally behind her as it did in 2016 when she won against her rival, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
This time, the presidential aspirant is the lone candidate with Bicol roots. She also included in her lineup two more senatorial hopefuls who trace their family’s roots to Bicol—Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, whose father is from Ligao, Albay.