Admitting that some of her supporters aren’t happy with her doing a karate or a hadouken pose on social media, presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo said on Wednesday, Feb. 2, that this is a “small price to pay” to give back to supporters.
Robredo explained during the “Bakit Ikaw? The Presidential Job Interview” on DZRH that she was asked by TikTok supporters to do the hadouken pose which put her in hot water before while a supporter from Japan brought home a traditional Happi costume.
“Alam ko na (I know) when I did it may mga hindi matutuwa pero sa akin (there are people who won’t be pleased but for me, it’s a) small price to pay dun sa (to the) joy na maibibigay ko dun sa magri-request na grabe iyong sinasakripisyo para lang makatulong sa amin (that I can give to the one who requested who is sacrificing so much just to help us),” Robredo said, referring to the hadouken pose she did for a TikTok video in December.
Over the weekend, Robredo was photographed wearing a pink Happi costume with the words “Team Leni-Kiko Japan” at the back.
The Happi costume is worn by Japanese during festivals. It has wide sleeves and comes with a belt tied to the wearer’s waist.
The Vice President said the costume was given by supporters from Japan since one of their members went home to the country.
READ: Robredo supporters get creative with ‘Kakampink challenge' responses
She also did a “karate pose,” which became a brunt of jokes on social media that even her own supporters became critical of the photograph.
“Meaning to say, totoo na marami kaming (it is true that a lot of) supporters na (are) displeased about it pero sa akin kasi pagpapakita iyon ng (for me, it shows) appreciation sa mga kababayan natin parang nagustuhan ko iyong binigay nila at pinapahalagahan ko (to our fellowmen that I liked what they gave and that I’m valuing it),” Robredo stressed.
Her campaign is “so different from others,” she insisted, because she relies on her supporters and volunteers who are using their own money to promote her presidential bid.
“Iyong mga (The) supporters have been doing so much para ipakita yung suporta. Ang iba gumagastos, ang iba talaga nag-e-exert ng maraming (to show their support. Some are spending, some are really exerting so much) effort,” the presidential aspirant shared.
READ: Robredo confident volunteers’ groundwork will be 'game changer' in 2022 polls
A look into Robredo’s social media groups will show kakampinks—a mix of the words “kakampi (ally)” and pink—donating to the Vice President’s campaign.
They also print their own tarpaulins, flyers, posters, and other campaign materials that they distribute to supporters.