For former vice president Leni Robredo, Quezon province always held a special place in her heart. It was, after all, one of the only few provinces that gave her a winning margin in both the 2016 vice presidential polls and the 2022 presidential elections.
 

Former vice president Leni Robredo woos voters during a campaign rally in Quezon on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Bam Aquino Media Bureau)

She was again back there now, wooing voters and persuading volunteers to once more do what they’ve done for her back in what was known as the People’s Campaign of 2022, when volunteers did not only vote for her but joined the campaign trail to encourage others to do the same.
 

During the Kiko-Bam campaign rally at the Quezon Convention Center on Thursday, March 20, the former official and now Naga City mayoralty candidate asked supporters to continue the fight they’ve started in 2022.
 

“Alam ko kayo nagsakripisyo kayo para sa akin noong 2022 elections, ‘di ba? (I know you sacrificed for me in the 2022 elections, right?),” she told the crowd who chanted her name as soon as she walked on stage.
 

She remembered how volunteers and supporters braved the rain and mud of what was dubbed the “Quezonduan” rally.
 

“Pero nagsakripisyo kayo kasi mahirap ‘yung laban na ‘yun pero sinamahan niyo ako. Nakikiusap ako sa inyo ngayong gabi. Hindi natapos ‘yung laban natin para sa bayan noong 2022 dahil ang laban na ‘yun patuloy. At ngayong 2025, hinihingi muli sa atin na makipaglaban pa din (But you sacrificed even though that fight was difficult, you were there for me. I am asking you tonight, that fight for our country did not end in 2022 because that fight will continue and this 2025, we are being asked to fight once more),” Robredo said. 
 

“Ang aking pakiusap, sana kung ano 'yung sinakripisyo niyo para sa laban natin noong 2022, ganoon pa din sana, 'yung handa natin ibigay for Kiko and Bam. Kaya ba natin 'yon? Kaya! (A favor I ask from you, I hope the sacrifices you did for our fight in 2022, you can do again for Kiko and Bam. Can we do that? We can!),” she asked.
 

But more than simply voting for Pangilinan and Aquino, the former vice president reminded supporters of the importance of going out of their echo chambers and persuading others to do the same.
 

She asked that they engage with and convince their families, friends, classmates, and acquaintances on how important the coming midterm elections is.
 

As one of the placards seemed to persuade her to seek the presidency again in 2028, the former official answered that the work for 2028 must continue this 2025.
 

“Walang 2028 kung hindi natin matatawid ang 2025. Mangyayari lang ang 2028 kung pinagpaguran natin ang 2025 (There’s no 2028 if we don’t win in 2025. 2028 will only happen if we work hard for 2025),” she responded after reading the placard, which was reminiscent of her 2022 rallies.
 

A win for Pangilinan and Aquino, according to Robredo, is “one step further” to the fight for the country.
 

“Pag tulung-tulungan natin na maipasok ulit sila sa Senado kasi alam natin kung gaano katino at kahusay itong dalawang ito (Let us work together for them to win in the Senate because we know how decent and good these two are),” she added.
 

‘Hawak kamay’
 

Aquino likewise asked people to begin working for true unity despite the differences that divide the nation in recent weeks.

Senatorial candidate Bam Aquino holds a Philippine flag as he speaks at the Quezon campaign rally. (Bam Aquino Media Bureau)

He urged the youth, who came to the rally to thank him for his free college law, to come up on stage, join hands, and remember the dreams that bind them.
 

“Sa panahon po ngayon na napaka, napakahati-hati na naman ng bayan, kailangan po
 

hawak-kamay tayo (In this time now that we are divided as a nation, we need to join hands),” the former senator said.
 

The principal author of the free college law that enabled thousands of Filipinos to seek higher education for free, Aquino asked the youth to serve as a bridge for non-supporters despite their differences. 
 

“Ipaalala po natin, mas marami tayong pagkakaparehas, mas marami tayong pwedeng gawin para sa ating bayan at iisa ang watawat natin, tayong lahat ay Pilipino, at tayong lahat po maganda ang pangarap para sa ating bansa (Let us remind them that we have more similarities, we have more to do for our country and we have one flag, we are all Filipinos, and we all have the same beautiful dreams for our country),” he added.
 

‘Red flags’
 

Senator Risa Hontiveros, the lone opposition who won in the 2022 polls under Robredo’s senatorial slate, also left a video message for the Kiko-Bam supporters in Quezon province.

Senator Risa Hontiveros delivers a video message for supporters of senatorial candidates Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino (Screengrab from Kiko-Bam Volunteers 2025)

Calling their tandem as the “true unity,” the senator warned them about voting for “red flags.”
 

“Ayaw naman natin na maghalal ng mga red flags, ‘di ba (We wouldn’t want to vote for red flags, right)?,” she asked.
 

“Tama na ang panloloko nila. Dito tayo sa totoong unity. Ayaw na natin ng puro salita. Dapat mas marami ang gawa. Lider na may integridad, lider na tapat (Reject their duplicity. This is true unity here. We don’t want flowery words. We need more action. Leaders with integrity, honest leaders),” she said.
 

Pangilinan was unable to join the rally in Quezon province because of an earlier scheduled campaign in Mindanao. He was represented by his brother, John.