Aspiring president Vice President Leni Robredo was overwhelmed with the support she's getting from the Ilocos Region despite the area being the bailiwick of her rival for the presidency.

In an online rally for Robredo and running mate Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Thursday, Jan. 27, the presidential aspirant expressed that she was overwhelmed with the support and energy from the region, saying it is very different from her 2016 experience when she was running for Vice President.

"Nakikita ko yung lahat ng mga initiatives na ginagawa ninyo and gusto ko sa inyong sabihin na sobrang overwhelmed ako (I can see all your initiatives and I want to tell to you that I am very overwhelmed). Sobrang overwhelmed ako kasi alam ko na sobrang hirap (I am so overwhelmed because I know how difficult) for all of you to be fighting this fight alongside us dahil sa sitwasyon (because of the situation). Pero marami pa rin sa inyo na nag-decide na kahit mahirap, makipaglaban pa rin para sa bayan (But many of you still decided to fight for our nation despite the difficulties)," Robredo said.

“Kahit pumunta ako sa Region 1 noong 2016, hindi ko naramdaman yung ganitong klaseng energy (Even though I went to Region 1 in 2016, I did not feel this kind of energy). And I'm sure you will all agree with me. Yung energy ngayon kakaiba (The energy now is very different),” Robredo added.

The aspiring president, who hails from Bicol, recalled that back in 2016, people told her it would be a waste of time to visit the Ilocos Region, but she still insisted on making the trip. However, she said, she has no regrets about making the trip back then.

“Expected naman yung results ng eleksyon. Talagang napakaliit na percentage yung nakuha ko sa Region 1. Pero wala akong pagsisisi na pumunta ako, kasi actually, yung botong nakuha ko, yun yung botong nilamang ko noong eleksyon (The results in the elections is actually expected. I only got a small percentage from Region 1. But I don't have any regrets because the votes I got from the region actually helped me lead the elections),” she said.

In 2016, Robredo won the Vice Presidential race against Ferdinand Marcos Jr. by over 200,000 votes.

Robredo is again facing Marcos in the upcoming May 9 elections but she is confident the efforts of her supporters are enough to lead her to victory.

“The road ahead might be very difficult pero (but) I am very hopeful, I am very inspired with what I see. Pag sinabi kong (When I say) what I see, yung mga ginagawa ninyo (the things you're doing),” Robredo said, referring to the volunteer-driven efforts of her supporters, which she dubs “people’s campaign.”

She said the energy she is receiving from supporters should be used to fight for what we want for the country.

“Gamitin natin yung energy na ito para maipaglaban natin yung mga gusto nating ipaglaban. Yung klase ng gobyerno na paniniwala natin (Let's use this energy to fight for what we want. The kind of government that we believe in) is best for our people,” she said.