Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo’s motorcade from the Quezon City Hall to the Quezon Memorial Circle for her “Pink Sunday” grand rally took an hour as she drew huge crowds to gather along major roads and streets in the country’s most vote-rich city on Sunday, Feb. 13.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, despite being mum about her endorsement of a presidential candidate, welcomed Robredo in the city hall. Quezon City Councilors Mayen Juico, Peachie De Leon, and Marivic Co-Pilar, who were all wearing pink shirts, were also in attendance.
Pink-clad supporters spilled over from the Quezon Memorial Circle where thousands have already arrived to wait for the motorcade of Robredo and her running mate Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan.
The usual seven-minute drive from the city hall to the circle took one hour because supporters tried to stop Robredo’s campaign vehicle as they waved at her and took pictures of her and Pangilinan.
Upon arriving at the Memorial Circle, Robredo’s vehicle slowed down as the huge crowd that gathered there ran along the perimeters of the track to greet her. Some even brought “gifts” and they swam through the throng of people, many of whom have been waiting since 1 a.m.
In her speech, the Vice President acknowledged what she estimated to be more than 20,000 supporters who gathered there to show their support.
“Hindi ko alam kung ‘yung andito sa tent nakita nyo (yung mga) tao sa labas. Mula po yan sa Quezon City Hall napakakapal ng tao hanggat lumipat dito (I don’t know if the people here in the tent can see the people outside. That’s from Quezon City Hall there are so many people until we transferred here),” Robredo said, sharing that she even had to stop their team from posting on social media about the number of supporters they expect to attend.
In a Twitter post after the event, Robredo said she was “overwhelmed” by the outpouring of public support that she witnessed.
“Overwhelmed by your love. Maraming, maraming salamat (Thank you very much), QC!!! Tara na, ipanalo na natin ‘to (Let’s go, let us win this),” she wrote with a pink heart emoticon.
Quezon City has more than 1.4 million registered voters, but Robredo’s Pink Sunday drew more than residents from the city. Supporters from nearby provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas also came to the circle to show their support.
In the 2016 vice presidential race, she lost in the city with only 297,899 votes compared to her rival, former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 412,681.
Marcos is endorsed now by mayoralty bet Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor. Belmonte has not made an announcement yet on who she will endorse for president despite welcoming Robredo to the city hall this morning.
Meanwhile, the Pink Sunday grand rally became a celebrity-studded event as it was hosted by veteran actresses Cherry Pie Picache, Pinky Amador, and Agot Isidro.
Artists such as Noel Cabangon, The Company, Nikki Valdes, Jona Viray, Gab Valenciano, Jeli Mateo, Justine Pena, and Nica del Rosario entertained the crowd as it waited for Robredo and Pangilinan to arrive.
Mateo, Pena, and Del Rosario, who penned and performed the jingle “Kay Leni Tayo,” now the official anthem of the campaign, were the last group to sing as Robredo and Pangilinan arrived to greet the thousands of supporters.
The motorcade went around the circle as the host shouted, “Panalo na sa QC! Leni! Leni! Leni!”
A mass was held before the start of the program.
After Robredo, Pangilinan, and their senatorial bets came up on stage, Bituin Escalante sang the national anthem, “Lupang Hinirang” followed by prayers from various religious groups.
Representatives from various sectors took the stage to express their support for the tandem.
These sectors are Seniors for Leni, Momshies for Leni, LGBTQIA+ for Leni, Bigay Buhay, Youth for Leni QC, First Ko Si Leni, Berdeng Kakampink, ABS-CBN Union of Labor Groups, Artists for Leni, and many others.
Director Joel Lamangan, who made such films as “Mano Po,” “The Flor Contemplacion Story,” and “Burgos,” read a joint statement from the sectors.
“Panahon na upang ang buhay nating maliliit, upang ang buhay nating mahihirap, upang ang buhay nating binabalewala ang magkaroon ng bagong pag-asa. Panahon na upang ang maralita ay magkaroon ng tunay ng boses sa pagpapatakbo ng pamahalaan (It is time for the lives of the smallest, for the lives of the poor, for the lives of the neglected to have a new hope. It is time for the poorest to have a true voice in governance),” he said.
Calling Robredo a “champion,” the director added that she will be incorruptible from the bribe of big businesses and will instead take the side of the poor.
“Dumating na ang ating kampeon na tunay na ipaglalaban ang interes ng milyon-milyong mamboboto (A champion who will fight for the interest of millions of voters has finally arrived),” Lamangan said.