Vice President Leni Robredo wooed the youth, students, and first-time voters in her campaign sortie at the Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro by reminding them not to waste their votes by supporting the wrong candidate.

The lone female presidential candidate this May 2022 was welcomed by pink-clad supporters for the campaign rally at the Pinamalayan Park in Oriental Mindoro on Thursday, March 3.

She thanked the province for voting for her in the 2016 vice-presidential race, but reminded them of the tall order of beating her rivals this time around.

In 2016, she got 134,843 votes while her closest contenders, former Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Chiz Escudero, received only 72,092 and 69,509, respectively.

In her message, Robredo emphasized the powerful force of youth, noting the presence of many students during the event.

“‘Yung mga kabataan dito, sino ba 'yung first-time voters? Marami 'yung first-time voters. Di ba pag first time, ayaw mong sayangin (The youth here, who are you are first-time voters? Many are first-time voters. When it’s your first time, you don’t like to waste it)?,” Robredo asked.

“Kaya sa atin po ang hinihingi natin sa mga first-time voters, ang kapangyarihan nasa kamay ninyo. Wag po natin itong sasayangin sa pagboto nang hindi tama (That’s why for me, all I’m asking from the first-time voters, the power is in your hands. Let’s not waste it by voting wrong),” she added.

The presidential aspirant quizzed the crowd on why they think students are heavily involved in this elections as seen in her youth volunteers.

“Para sa future, ayun. Bakit, ano ba 'yung pinapangarap natin na future para sa atin? Bakit tayo nakikipaglaban (It’s for the future. Why, what is our dream for our future? Why do we fight)?,” she said.

Breaking the ice, Robredo took time to read handwritten placards held up by young supporters as she usually does during her campaign sorties.

"Buti pa 'yung (It’s is good for the) cylinder, graduated,” Robredo read one, with the huge crowd busting into laughter and cheers.

Apparently, that’s was an indirect reference by her supporter to Robredo’s closest rival former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Marcos claimed to have an Oxford degree despite the Oxford University itself clarifying that he did not graduate and only earned a special certificate.

“Buti pa ang lugaw may itlog (It’s good porridge has eggs)," she read, to the laughter from the audience.

The Vice President then reacted to the person holding up the sign: “Grabe naman kayo (You’re so mean).”

Robredo has embraced the “lugaw (porridge)” monicker used by her online bashers. Her kakampinks described her as a “woman who has balls” for joining presidential debates and forums unlike Marcos who has been absent.

This was not Robredo’s first visit to Oriental Mindoro, having been there in the past for various Angat Buhay projects, including Community Learning Hubs in Bulalakaw. She also had programs in Pola, Calapan, and Mansalay.

Before the campaign rally, the Vice President passed by St. Augustine Parish in Pinamalayan where priests prayed over her and running mate Sen. Kiko Pangilinan. Also with them were some of the opposition senatorial candidates.

Another people’s rally in Calapan was scheduled today.