Not 'contented' with a big rally, Robredo returns to vote-rich Nueva Ecija

Though her rallies have drawn mammoth crowds of her supporters, Vice President Leni Robredo made sure to personally visit smaller towns, hold multi-sectoral consultation assemblies, and discuss with ordinary Filipinos their grievances and the solutions she offers.

She came back to Nueva Ecija on Monday, April 25, not only for the “Anehan Na Naman!” Nueva Ecija Miting de Avance, but also to visit the towns of Santo Domingo, San Isidro, Cabiao, and Muñoz and the cities of Gapan and Cabanatuan.

“Bakit po ganito yun ginagawa natin? Hindi tayo nakukuntento na isang malaking rally lang (Why are we doing this? We are not contented with just one big rally),” Robredo told the crowd at the Gapan City Plaza.

“Dahil gusto po namin sa inyong ipakita na pag tayo pa ang nabigyan ng pagkakataong manilbihan ulit sa inyo, ito ang klaseng pamahalaan ang makikita nyo, na gobyerno ang lumalapit sa tao, na hindi sya mahihirapan na pansinin siya ng gobyerno kasi kami mismo ang pupunta dito para makinig sa nyo lahat (Because we want to show you that if we’re given a chance to serve again, this is the kind of government you will see, a government that goes near the people, that it will not be difficult for the government to notice them because we will be the ones to go here to listen to you all),” she added.

The Vice President was in Cabanatuan City during the “Anehan People’s Rally” held at the Old Provincial Capitol Oval last March 22.

READ: ‘Babawi kami’: Novo Ecijanos to make it up to Robredo, this time for presidency

Robredo noted that even before the election season, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) had made sure to be there for Nueva Ecija through various projects, such as water pumps, community learning hubs, medical assistance, medical supplies, and training programs for seamstresses.

The aspiring president has done this with the OVP’s meager budget, but wondered what she could do with more resources.

“Ano pa kaya kung mas malaking pondo at mandato ang ibigay sa atin (What more if we’re given a bigger budget and fund)?,” Robredo asked.

The Vice President was endorsed by priests from the Diocese of San Jose and Cabanatuan, as well as a group of women mushroom farmers.

“Kami ang kaparian ng Nueva Ecija sama-samang nanalangin, tumitindig para sa gobyernong tapat, angat buhay lahat (We are the priests from Nueva Ecija, together praying, standing up for an honest government, a better life for all),” one of the priests said.

The Vice President told the crowd that she and running mate Sen. Kiko Pangilinan were college students at the University of the Philippines in 1986 during the peaceful people power revolt, which was initiated by the youth.

While a revolution is not always needed, Robredo noted that the May 9 election is a chance to bring change.

“Ngayon po ang magsisimula ng pagbabago, kabataan din. Huwag natin sayangin ang pagkakataon bumoto ng tama (Now change will begin with the youth. Let us not waste this chance to vote right),” she said, adding that she’s “excited” to see how today’s youth will fight for the country.