Backed by her new-found allies, aspiring president Vice President Leni Robredo went back to Davao del Norte on Thursday, April 7, to woo voters two weeks after receiving an unexpected endorsement from one of her former critics there.
"Napakahalaga ng suportang binibigay ninyo sa akin. Hindi ko man lang naisip na magkakaroon ako ng pagkakataon na makausap ang mga Davaoeño na ganito karami yung ating kaharap (The support you're giving me is very important. I never thought I'd be given a chance to talk to such huge crowd of Davaoeños)," Robredo said before the huge crowd at the grand rally in Tagum City.
Dubbed "Reporma: Angat Buhay Lahat Grand People's Rally of Davao Region," the rally held at the New City Hall in Apokon Tagum City became a second, bigger venue where the VP received a reiterated endorsement from Partido Reporma President Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez and other local officials.
Exactly two weeks ago, Alvarez, a former House Speaker and staunch defender of President Duterte, shifted allegiance from presidential candidate Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson to Robredo.
Alvarez announced his endorsement for Robredo during a press conference at the Davao del Norte Provincial Capitol on March 24, where he and other local officials raised the hands of the vice president as a sign of support.
READ MORE: Robredo's presidency bid backed by ex-Speaker Alvarez, Partido Reporma
At the Davao grand rally, the same gesture happened with Alvarez, Tagum City Mayor Allan Lopez Rellon, and Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, who were all at the press conference two weeks ago, raising Robredo's hands but this time, in front of a huge crowd of pink-clad supporters at the city hall grounds.
Alvarez also rallied Davaoeños to support Robredo as he led the crowd in chanting her name.
As Robredo expressed gratitude for the support given to her by the local officials, she stressed that their identical goal of good governance outweighs their differences in political alliances.
"Yun po yung dahilan kung bakit nagkaisa kami... Kahit po iba yung mga pinanggalingan naming partido, pareho yung pangarap namin para sa ating lugar, pareho yung paniniwala na good governance, malinis, matapat na pamamahala ang magbibigay ng pagbabagong inaasam (It was the reason why we united...Despite coming from different parties, we have identical aspirations for our place, we have identical beliefs that good governance, clean, and honest leadership will provide the change we are aspiring)," the Vice President said.
'A President of all colors'
The opposition leader also vowed before that if elected, she will be a "president of all colors."
Her leadership, she said, will not be about favoring certain political colors or alliances, or certain provinces. She stressed that her administration will prioritize those who are in need regardless of political leanings.
The aspiring president backed her statement with the constant presence of her office—Office of the Vice President—in the Davao Region in times of calamities in the past years.
"Dito po sa Davao Region, alam ninyo, talong talo ako dito noong eleksyon. Kaya ko po siya sinasabi, dahil kahit talong talo kami sa eleksyon, sa oras na kailangan kami, lagi kaming nandito (You know, we lost hugely here in Davao Region in the last elections. The reason why I'm saying this is because despite losing here, in the times you needed us, we were here)," Robredo said.
"Yung lahat ng sakuna na dumaan, nandito kami. Lahat ng bagyong dumaan, meron po kaming relief operations. Yung mga lindol na dumali sa inyo, nandito kami. Nung pandemya, nandito kami (In all the calamities that came, we were here. In all the typhoons, we had relief operations. During the earthquakes that hit you, we were here. During the pandemic, we were here)," she added.
The Vice President emphasized that this signifies that her presidency, if she succeeds, will serve for all.
"Ano po yung gustong sabihin nito? Na pagkatapos ng eleksyon, dapat di na natin tinitignan ang kulay. 'Pag tayo naging pangulo na, pangulo tayo ng lahat ng kulay. Dahil kung tinitingnan pa natin ang politika, kawawa ang taumbayan (What does this want to signify? That after elections, we should not be looking at the colors. If we become the president, we will be a president of all colors. Because if we let politics reign, our people will only suffer)," Robredo said.
"'Pag ako binigyan n'yo ng pagkakataon, yung pagmamahal ko sa pinanggalingan kong probinsya, pareho rin ng pagmamahal ko sa inyo (If you give me a chance, my love for my home province will be the same for you)," she added.
During her speech, Robredo also promised various interventions that will be provided for farmers and fishermen. She also committed a quality education that will be instrumental for fresh graduates to find "quality jobs."
She vowed a kind of government that will be manned by good public servants, who are experts in their fields.
She said she will make sure that poverty will not be a hindrance in having a quality education and medical assistance that Filipinos' deserve.
"Sisiguraduhin natin na yung pinakanangangailangan, siya ang ating tututukan (We will make sure that those who are in most need of help, will be prioritized)," she said.