BOGO CITY, Cebu—Forty year old Gertrudes Cuna is voting for Leni Robredo for the presidency in the upcoming elections because as a mother like her, the vice president knows the importance of education and understands the struggle of the poor.
“Nararamdaman nya bilang (ka)isa kaming mga ina, nararamdaman nya anong problema bilang magulang (As a mother, she can relate to our problem),” she told Manila Bulletin Thursday. “Gaya ng maliit na sweldo, halaga ng edukasyon, mahal ang bilihin at pataas nang pataas na gasolina (Like our problem in terms of small wage, education, high price of basic necessities and continuous oil price hike).”
Cuna, a mother of five who works on the farm, among other jobs, and supports two college students, was one of those who attended Robredo’s campaign rally in this city—the second stop of the vice president’s four-leg campaign in the province.
She travelled an hour southwards from the town of Daanbantayan and chipped in with her neighbors to avail of a transport service bound for this city.
She said even just their presence in Robredo's mini rally could boost her candidacy.
For her, Robredo could get the country out of poverty by leading a government that is not corrupt—which she proved “based on what she is showing the people.”
Robredo barnstormed on Thursday Cebu—her second time since the campaign season kicked off to ensure she would still lead the province in the upcoming elections.
She said she also wanted that her campaign rally would give many accessibility—a kind of government she also promised to the residents.
For Cuna, the endorsement of reelectionist Gov. Gwen Garcia to the candidacy of Robredo’s rival, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is nothing. She would still vote for Robredo, who she also picked during the 2016 vice presidential race.
“Para saming mga Cebuano, di sya nagrereflect samin. Aming ginagalang si Gov. Gwen na sya dadalhin... pero meron kaming karapatan na ‘di sumunod sa kanya (For us Cebuanos, her endorsement does not reflect ours. We respect her decision, but we have a right not to follow her),” she said.