NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur—Vice President Leni Robredo spent the eve of the kickoff of the 2022 presidential campaign reuniting with her old classmates at her alma mater, Universidad de Sta. Isabel (USI), where various sectors expressed support for her candidacy.
Robredo had a touching reunion moment with her batchmates from Class 1982 who she has known at age of five in her hometown of Naga City.
Naga City has always been her sanctuary amid the political challenges she has faced since she assumed the vice presidency in 2016
In her message, she recalled the years she spent in USI with her mother, Sally. Like her, Robredo attended USI and later taught in the school. Her three daughters also graduated from USI.
The Vice President also paid tribute to her batchmates during the event.
“Over the course of more than 50 years, magkakasama na kami. At kaya ko ito sinasabi dahil kahit anong pagpupuri 'yung natatanggap ko, pag nanggagaling doon sa mga kasama ko mula ako ay bata pa (And the reason why I am saying this is because no matter what recognition I receive, if it came from people I’ve been with since I was a child), it makes all the appreciation more priceless dahil alam mo na ito 'yung mga tao na nakita na (because you know these are the people who saw) the best and the worst in you pero pinagtatanggol ka pa din. Kaya maraming salamat (but they’re still defending you. That’s why thank you very much), Batch '82,” Robredo said.
“Alam ko po na hindi ako 'yung pinakamahusay, maraming mas mahusay sa akin, hindi din ako 'yung pinakamabait, maraming mas mabait sa akin, pero pag ako napapalaban ay sila 'yung unang nagtatanggol sa akin. Kaya maraming, maraming salamat sa inyo (I know that I am not the best, there are people better than me, I’m not the kindest, many are kinder than me, but when I get into trouble, they are the ones who first defend me. That’s why, thank you very much to you all),” she added.
Robredo, the only female presidential candidate, is seeking to bring back good governance to the country. She believes that an honest government is key to making the Filipinos’ lives better.
“It is always a very humbling experience– humbling feeling, na ina-appreciate ako ng mga taong nakakakilala ng lubos sa akin (I am being appreciated by people who know me well) and I can only hope that in the years to come, I will always make you proud,” Robredo said.
Earlier in the day, Robredo met with the Camarines Sur Doctors for Leni, followed by a meet and greet with the participants of All Media Convergence. The event was highlighted by the launch of the BicoLeni Movement that supports the presidential bid of Robredo.
She also attended the Mercado family’s turnover of the Leon Mercado school grounds to the Naga City local government and via Zoom, joined the Panalangin Interfaith virtual prayer concert.
At homecoming, the mural “One USI for Leni”, with the theme “Unveiling Humane and Patriotic Characteristics of an Upright and Just Leader”, was unveiled in a show of support to Robredo’s presidential bid.