Actresses Cherry Pie Picache and Nikki Valdez lend their voices to the growing list of celebrities backing Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential bid, as they talked about her bravery and strength despite the personal attacks against her in the past six years.

Picache, in particular, made headlines when she forgave her mother’s killer a few years back. But she said that she looks up to the Vice President for her bravery despite receiving profanity and becoming a victim of fake news since she took office.

“Mayroon nga akong kilala, limang taon siniraan, binastos, winalanghiya, pero araw-araw pinili niya pa rin na gawin ang tama, iyong manindigan, mag-alaga na may pagkalinga at nang buong katapatan (I even know someone who has been ridiculed, shamed, for five years but every day, she still chose to do what is right, to take care with kindness and honesty),” Picache said in a video message posted on Women for Leni’s Facebook page.

“Kaya may (mas) matapang sa akin. Si Leni Robredo iyon. Katapangan iyong piliin ang paninindigan, iyong pagsilbihan ang mga tao kahit sinaktan, iyong ipaglaban ang katotohanan kahit na alam mong mas makapangyarihan sa iyo ang babanggain mo (That’s why there is someone stronger than me. It’s Leni Robredo. It is bravery to choose to stand, to serve the people even though you’re hurt, to fight for the truth despite knowing you’re going against the powerful),” she added.

The award-winning actress believes kindness isn’t easy, but she praised Robredo for serving Filipinos through her various plans and programs.

Valdez, for her part, talked about the power of women in her video message to answer claims that Robredo is not strong enough to lead the country.

“Pero kasi hindi totoo iyan. Iba, iba ang lakas ng kababaihan. Hindi ako naniniwala na kahinaan ang pagiging babae. Kasi alam niyo kung ano ang mas matibay sa kamay na bakal, ginintuang puso at busilak na kalooban (But that is not true. Women’s strength is different. I don’t believe that being a woman is weakness. Because do you know what’s stronger than an iron fist? A golden heart and kind soul),” Valdez said.

The actress added that if a woman, particularly a mother, is to lead, the country can go places.

“Isang babaeng tapat, mahusay at hindi nagpapatinag sa anumang paninira at kasinungalingan (A woman who is honest, excellent, and does not cower despite defamation and lies),” she stressed.

Picache said that if her mother is still alive, she will also choose Robredo as a presidential bet.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has received the highest audit rating by the Commission on Audit (COA) for three straight years.

Despite the OVP’s meager budget, Robredo was also able to deliver needed assistance to Filipinos during disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic.

She launched various initiatives such as Bayanihan E-Konsulta, Vaccine Express, free COVID-19 testing, free rides for frontliners, livelihood programs, and relief operations for those heavily affected by the pandemic.