Negrenses were urged by no less than their governor to make their own decision in the upcoming May elections, saying they no longer need to listen to their elders.
“The victory of our candidate is in your hands," Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio “Bong” Lacson said on Friday, March 11, referring to aspiring president Vice President Leni Robredo.
"This election on May 9, we do not need to listen to our elders. Let us make the decision for ourselves,” Lacson said in Hiligaynon as he welcomed Robredo during her visit at the Bishop's Compound in San Carlos City, where she kicked off her campaign activities in the province.
The province is expected to back Robredo anew, after Negrenses gave her a huge win in the 2016 vice presidential elections where she received more than 590,000 votes.
During the morning people's rally in Sagay City, Robredo also urged first-time voters to not waste their votes and not let another six years of suffering happen again.
“Sa first-time voters, kahit hindi first-time voters, pangalagaan po natin yung boto natin dahil 'yan yung kapangyarihan natin (For first-time voters, or even those who are not voting for the first time, take care of your votes because that is our power)," the presidential aspirant said.
"'Pag tayo po nagkamali sa eleksyon, magdudusa na naman tayo ng anim na taon (If we make a mistake, we will have to suffer for another six years again),” she added.
Robredo went to Kabankalan for a people’s rally and visited a community learning hub in Barangay Caradio-an in Himamaylan. The learning hub is a Covid-19 response initiative of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) that helped both parents and students cope with the sudden shift to online classes due to the pandemic. Tutors, gadgets, internet connection, as well as printing school requirements are available for free at the hub.
She was also at the Binalbagan Catholic College for a meet and greet with the different sectors from the province’s fifth district.
Later in the afternoon, the Vice President's daughters, Aika and Tricia, joined her at the Hinigaran Public Plaza followed by a rally at the La Carlota City plaza.
Robredo’s day-long barnstorm of the province will culminate in a grand people’s rally at the Paglaum Sports Stadium in Bacolod City, where supporters hope to match and perhaps even surpass the warm welcome given by 40,000 counterparts in Iloilo in February and 47,000 in Cavite early this month.
READ MORE: Robredo to Negros Occidental supporters: 'You're invested in your future'