Alluding to the “Len-Len” series by the camp of her rival, former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday, Feb. 13, promised supporters that they are willing to work “more than 18 hours” every day to meet more of them.
Despite the long battle ahead, the Vice President told thousands of supporters in the Quezon Memorial Circle that their “love” gives them the strength to wake up every day and work.
“Para po sa inyo talaga sinisipigan namin. Alam po natin na marami tayong kailangang trabahuhin, pero ‘yung binibigay nyong pagmamahal, iyon yung nagbibigay sa amin ng lakas, araw-araw, gigising ng maaga more than 18 hours kami magtatrabaho (For you, we are being more diligent. We know that we need to work harder but the love that you are giving us, that gives us strength, every day, we will wake up early, we will work for more than 18 hours),” she said as the crowd cheered.
“Alam ko mas marami dito na mas mahaba pa sa 18 hours ang trinatrabaho, pero ginagawa natin yan para mas marami pang kababayan natin ang makausap natin (I know that a lot here are working more than 18 hours, but we are still doing it so we can meet more of our fellowmen),” Robredo added.
The presidential candidate was alluding to a skit released by Senator Imee Marcos who made fun of a certain “Len-Len” for working 18 hours a day.
This was seemingly in reference to Robredo who told veteran journalist Jessica Soho during an earlier interview that she works about 18 hours a day and sleeps for only six hours.
But the Vice President’s supporters were quick to leap to her defense and made #AkoSiLenLen Twitter’s top trending topic on Friday, Feb. 11.
READ: Robredo's supporters in Olongapo know 'Len-Len' will fight for them
Robredo said her camp has no resources, machinery, and political capital, but she and her running mate Senator Kiko Pangilinan believed that they have to continue the fight because only a “clean and honest” government can help the people.
“Masasagot lang po ang mga pangangailangan pag katuwang ng gobyerno ang ordinaryong mamamayan. 'Yan po 'yung klaseng pamahalaan na pinapangako namin sa inyo. Sisiguraduhin namin na magiging malinis, matapat, mahusay kami para walang naiiwan sa laylayan. (The needs will be addressed if the government has ordinary citizens with it. That’s the kind of government that we are promising you. We will make sure that we will be clean, honest, and competent so no one will be left behind),” she added.
Unlike before when she run as a virtual unknown in the 2016 vice presidential elections, Robredo said she has the “resibo (receipts)” now to prove what she can do despite the meager budget and no mandate.
“Yung mga nakakakilala po sa'kin, alam na ako 'yung tipong lider na hindi lang nagbabasa ng report ng aking mga staff, pero ako mismo 'yung bumababa. Ako mismo 'yung nakikiusap. Ako mismo 'yung nakikinig dahil 'yun lang 'yung paraan para maramdaman natin 'yun kahirapan na pinagdadaanan nila (Those who know me know that I am not the kind of leader who just listens to the report of the staff, but I go to the ground. I am the one who make requests. I listen because that’s the only way to feel the difficulty that they are going through),” she shared.
The lady official asked the crowd to support not only her but Pangilinan and their senatorial ticket as well.
Lawyers Sonny Matula, Chel Diokno, and Alex Lacson, reelectionist Senators Richard Gordon and Risa Hontiveros, former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, and reelectionist Senator Leila de Lima’s representative were with Robredo and Pangilinan on stage.