TANAUAN, Batangas — Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo hasn’t forgotten how Batangas province helped her win the 2016 vice-presidential race as she went back here on Thursday, Feb. 10, for the third day of the campaign trail.

Her first stop was Padre Garcia where she met with Batangas District 4’s Leni-Kiko volunteers. District 4 is comprised of Rosario, Padre Garcia, Ibaan, San Jose, San Juan, and Taysan.

Addressing the volunteers, who she credits for her unconventional campaign seeing as they’re the ones spending for her, Robredo asked them not to lose hope.

“Huwag tayong mapagod, h'wag tayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Nanalo tayo noong 2016 at malaking dahilan roon ang Batangas. Hindi imposibleng magawa natin ulit ‘yun (Let us not get tired, let us not lose hope. We won in 2016 and a big part of that was Batangas. It is not impossible for us to do it again),” she said.

In 2016, Robredo won with 513,587 votes while her rival, former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. got 260,895, which is roughly the number of votes she had over him to win the vice presidency.

She shared that she feels humbled that her supporters are spending their money for her, but also urged them not to become complacent.

“Kanina po ikinukuwento ni Vice Mayor na napakataas ng botong nakuha ko dito sa Batangas. Malaki po ‘yung pasasalamat ko pero hindi po ako ganoon nagsimula (Earlier, Vice Mayor was telling me that I received a lot of votes from Batangas. I am very thankful, but I didn’t start like that),” Robredo said.

She started at one percent in preferential surveys in 2015 before climbing up to 30 percent by Election Day.

This time, she asked the crowd to support not only her but also her running mate, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, and their senatorial bets.

On Thursday’s sortie, she was accompanied by senatorial candidates and lawyers Sonny Matula and Chel Diokno, and reelectionist Senator Dick Gordon.

In Balayan, the second stop in her visit, Robredo and Pangilinan met with volunteers from Batangas 1st District, which includes Balayan, Calaca, Calatagan, Lemery, Lian, Nasugbu, Taal, and Tuy.

Volunteers waved pink flags as the Vice President addressed them. Afterward, they had a photo opportunity with Robredo, Pangilinan, and Gordon.

Robredo and her team proceeded to the CM Recto Events Center in Lipa City where Batangueños, who waved pink flags and wore pink facemasks, chanted “Leni! Leni!” as she took the stage.

The crowd, led by Catholic sisters, prayed over Robredo and Pangilinan before they proceeded to the Lipa City Hall, where they were welcomed by Batangas Vice Gov. Mark Leviste.

Lawyer Romy Macalintal, a native of Batangas and Robredo’s legal counsel, was also there.

Robredo, Pangilinan, and Gordon, all currently elected officials, also took the time to pass by the Fernando Air Base while they were in Lipa to meet its officers and men.

Her last stop in the visit to Batangas was at the Faith Colleges in Tanauan where she was introduced as the country’s “next president,” much to the crowd’s delight.

“I’m excited makipaglaban (to fight) alongside you,” she said, adding, “Babalik pa ako sa Batangas. Hindi pa ito huli. Sana pagbalik ko, kasama ko pa rin kayo (I will return to Batangas. This is not the last. I hope when I come back, you are still with me).”