"Awan ti Solid North!" (There is no Solid North!) was the rallying cry of supporters of presidential candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo in Cagayan and Isabela which drew thousands of people aimed at shattering the myth of "Solid North."
Robredo's visit to the two northern provinces was capped by a grand rally in Echague, Isabela where the crowd was estimated at 10,000.
Kakampinks in Cagayan and Isabela said they may not be the biggest grand rally crowd but the bravest to wade against the political current in their provinces which are part of the so-called Solid North and known bailiwicks of Robredo's opponent, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
In all of her stops in Tuguegarao City and Alcala in Cagayan, and in Santiago City and Echague in Isabela, Robredo admitted she was nervous that no one would welcome her and her slate in their first Sold North barnstorm.
In the 2016 vice presidential race, Robredo lost by a landslide to Marcos in Cagayan with only 53,800 votes compared to her rival's 374,000 votes. The gap was even bigger in Isabela with Marcos getting 504,000 votes, and Robredo only getting 86,000.
However, Robredo said that political differences is not a hindrance for her to serve the public, adding that they had always been the first to respond in every disaster that struck the region.
The Vice President has secured the support of Alcala, Cagayan which she helped during the onslaught of Typhoon “Ulysses” in 2020. Supporters in all of the towns she visited there also promised to deliver for Robredo in May 2022 elections.
Robredo also repeatedly harped on her track record of always showing up for them not only during calamities but also during the pandemic. She likewise told the crowd to closely look at the background of candidates wooing them.
"Kapag panahon po ng eleksyon maraming kandidato ang mangangako sa atin. Lahat sila sasabihin: 'Mahal ko kayo'. Pero ang tanong, noong hindi pa sila kandidato, noong wala pa ang eleksyon, pinakita ba nila sa atin na mahal nila tayo? (There are so many promises during elections.They will all say they love us but did they show that before the campaign started?)" Robredo said during the Isabela People's Rally.
"Napakadali lang magsabi na 'mahal ko kayo' pero papaano ba ito pinakita nung walang eleksyon? Dahil madalas kung wala namang eleksyon hindi naman nagpapakita (It is very easy to say that they love us but how was it shown before the elections? Because often, they do not show up when there is no election).”
"Kapag may nanliligaw sa inyo, huwag agad magpapabudol. Ang una pong hanapin ay resibo (If someone is courting you, don't be too gullible. Look first for a receipt)," she added.
The Vice President also underscored the importance of having a campaign platform to show that candidates have plans to uplift the lives of Filipinos.
Robredo's platform centered on good governance with her campaign slogan, "Gobyernong Tapat, Angat Buhay Lahat (Honest Government, a Better Life for All).”
Meanwhile, Robredo leaned on her supporters in Northern Luzon, especially the youth, to help "make the impossible possible" in the upcoming polls.
"Kung ganito po lagi kayong mga kabataan na handa laging ipaglaban ang kinabukasan, ang pagbabago po malapit na nating makamtan. Kaya po 58 days na lang... ipanalo na nain ito (If the youth are always ready to fight for their future, we will soon see the change that we want. Only 58 days left, let's win this!)," she added.