Vice President Leni Robredo’s campaign has been volunteer-driven with supporters spending their own money and time campaigning for her, but at its heart are the youth who have been relentless in converting as many voters as possible for her.
This isn’t lost on the Vice President, who noted how the youth had led the way in her campaign, reminding her of her own activism during the 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.
“First time ko nakita (I saw), in a very long while, na ganito ka-grabe ‘yung (this much) volunteerism at karamihan dito talagang ‘yung mga nagvo-volunteer mga kabataan (and many here, the volunteers are the youth),” Robredo told the crowd at the “Angat Buhay Zambo Norte” people’s rally in Dipolog City.
“Kaming mga may edad na, kami na yung nasa (We, the older ones, we are on the) sideline. Pero masayang-masaya ako na ‘yung mga kabataan talagang nagte-take part na sa laban na ito (But I am very, very happy that the youth has taken part in this fight),” she added.
In 1986, it was also the youth who bravely took to the streets to fight the dictatorship.
She wrongfully thought that after the 1986 revolution, everything will be “okay” but despite the years of abuse under the dictatorship, Robredo lamented that the country is back to where it once was.
“Parang balik na naman tayo, lumalaban na naman tayo para sa ating bayan (We’re back, we’re again fighting for our country),” she said.
But like before, the people are once more fighting for the country and this is what gives her courage, Robredo added.
“Alam natin na napakalaki ng nakataya sa eleksyon na ito. Ang pinagdedesisyunan po natin ngayon, ano ang manyayari sa bansa natin sa susunod na anim na taon (We know that much is at stake in this election. What we’re deciding on now is what will happen to our country in the next six years),” the Vice President explained.
If she wins, her plans are built on the promise that she wants her and her government to be accessible to the public.
“Pag Pangulo na ko, ang akin pong pangako, mas maraming lugar na pupuntahan. Mas mahirap, mas bababaran natin ng oras (If I’m president, I promise to visit more places. The poorer, the more we will spend time),” she said.
The aspiring president warned the crowd against public officials who they only see on Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
“Dapat kaming mga lingkod bayan, nakikita niyo ng personal, nahahawakan niyo, nakakausap niyo, at nararamdaman niyo na pareho lamang kami sa inyo (We, the public servants, you should see in person, touch, talk with, and you feel are like you),” Robredo stressed.
On Thursday, May 5, Robredo will wrap up her tour of Mindanao by going to Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, and Agusan del Sur.
She will hold three grand rallies in her home province of Bicol on Friday, May 6, before a miting de avance on Saturday, May 7, in Makati City, where some 500,000 kakampinks are expected to attend.