Vice President Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo paid homage to the Virgin of Antipolo, the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, during a brief visit to the city for the launch and roll-out of her Swab Cab, a free mobile antigen testing for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In Rizal News Online, Robredo was seen praying in front of the brown-skinned image of the Virgin Mary, popularly known as the ‘Birhen Ng Antipolo” (The Virgin of Antipolo), inside the National Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City.
Robredo was wearing a blue shirt in the photos posted online by Jun Figeroa and Awyn Caluma Pelayo.
Shrine rector, Fr. Reynante Tolentino, told the Manila Bulletin that he was happy to learn that the Vice President, a Marian devotee, prayed for our country inside the Antipolo Cathedral.
“Natutuwa ako dahil pinakita niya ang malaki nyang debosyon sa mahal na Birhen at pananampalataya sa Panginoon ( I am happy that she has shown her strong devotion to the Virgin and her faith in the Lord),” Fr. Nante said.
The vice president was the second presidential aspirant who visited the Marian shrine and prayed in front of the original image of the Virgin Mary this election season. She was accompanied by Antipolo-based fashion designer Michael Leyva to the shrine.
On December 16, 2021, Manila Mayor and presidential candidate, Francisco ‘Isko Moreno” Domagoso, also visited the cathedral and prayed to the Virgin of Antipolo.
Robredo was the third presidential candidate to visit Antipolo City after Domagoso and former senator and presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.
Former Antipolo City Mayor Dr. Casimiro ‘Junjun’ Ynares III was among the local leaders who welcomed Robredo at the launch of the "Swab Cab" at the Ynares Center on Monday, Jan. 17.