A mammoth crowd of more than 90,000 turned Emerald Ave. in the heart of Pasig City pink on Sunday, March 20, for the “Pasig Laban Para Sa Tropa“ rally for presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo, who called the event a “crusade” for better governance.
This is the biggest crowd of kakampinks that Robredo’s sorties drew since the start of the official campaign period on Feb. 8.
Pasig has officially dethroned Bacolod, Negros Occidental which previously held the most number of sortie attendees at 70,000 (although this was later changed to 86,000) for what kakampinks dubbed as “Olympinks,” a friendly competition among cities and provinces where Robredo’s sorties were being held.
“Napakasigasig namang magmahal ang Pasig. Malayo pa kami, ramdam na ramdam ko nang halos yumayanig ang sahig dahil sa inyong energy (Pasig loves so passionately. Even when we were still far, we can already feel the almost trembling ground because of your energy),” Robredo told the crowd a little past 7 p.m.
Many of her supporters started to gather here before lunchtime and they packed the closed street as early as 2 p.m. Pre-program activities started at 3 p.m. with hosts Melai Cantiveros, Julia Barretto, and Robi Domingo.
“Malinaw na malinaw din po: Ang People's Campaign natin, naging krusada na talaga ito. Dito lang po sa Pasig, talagang full force kayo (It is very clear that our people’s campaign became a crusade. Just here in Pasig, you are in full force),” she said.
She also noted the efforts the volunteers made in Emerald Ave., in particular the 50-feet tarpaulins of her and running mate Sen. Kiko Pangilinan sent from Bacolod after it was used during the people’s rally there.
The tarpaulins hang from Emerald Building, covering a total of three stories.
Robredo said her heart is full from seeing her supporters, and that she draws strength from them.
“Ito po ba 'yung sinasabi nilang hakot lang? Kayo ba 'yung tinatawag nilang bayaran (Is this what they’re calling paid? Are you the ones who they’re calling paid)?,” she asked.
The crowd estimate of 90,000 people at the Leni-Kiko rally was provided by the Pasig Multi-Agency Coordinating Council-Tactical Operations Center (MACC-TOC). This event was also livestreamed on Robredo’s Facebook page with over 176,000 views while she was delivering her speech. It then reached 3.5 million views as of posting time.
Pangilinan was not with Robredo on Sunday as he attended the first vice-presidential debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
To show her support, Robredo asked the crowd to chant “Kiko!” The crowd happily agreed.
But it wasn’t the senator who was the most popular Pangilinan in Sunday’s crowd as his nephew and godson, heartthrob actor Donny Pangilinan, wooed the crowd with “Ikaw Lang Ang Aking Mahal.”
Earlier, the crowd chanted “Ilabas si Donny (Bring Donny Out)” to his father, Anthony Pangilinan, who delivered a message as brother Kiko was not present.
But the younger Pangilinan wasn’t only the source of the festive mood as singer-composer Nica del Rosario sang the campaign theme “Kay Leni Tayo” with Justine Pena and Jeli Mateo while Noel Cabangon sang “Huwag Kang Mangamba” and “Lupang Hinirang.”
Koro ng Pasig also sang “Di Nyo Ba Naririnig?,” the tagalized version of the Les Miserables song, “Do You Hear the People Sing?” about the French Revolution while Jolina Magdangal gave her rendition of “Anak ng Pasig” with local band Rivermaya.
The band also performed “Liwanag sa Dilim” after Robredo came up on stage and got serenaded by Ebe Dancel’s “Bawat Daan.”
Robredo’s supporters use a line from the song that goes “Nag-iisang tiyak sa isang libong duda” when referring to how sure are they of the Vice President.
Despite the massive outpouring of support in Pasig, Robredo said the battle is not yet won.
“Fifty days, Pasig at (and) NCR (National Capital Region). Kaya pa ba nating doblehin pa ang pagsisikap? Kaya ba nating lakihan pa ang ating mga puso (Can we double our efforts? Can we open our hearts)?,” she asked.
“Nagsimula tayo sa halos wala; nandito na tayo ngayon. May fifty days pa. Ibuhos na natin ang lahat (We started from almost nothing, we’re here now. There are still 50 days. Let’s give everything),” the Vice President added.