Fresh off the successful PasigLaban People’s Rally last night, the tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan on Monday, March 21, attended a prayer rally in Sto. Tomas, Batangas for an “enlightened election” based on truth and conscience.

Priests and nuns give their blessing to Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate Sen. Kiko Pangilinan at the Dasalan sa Batangan, a communal prayer assembly in Batangas. (Photo by Team Leni Robredo)

Aptly called “Dasalan sa Batangan: Kaliwanagan sa Halalan,” the communal prayer assembly was offered for clean and honests election where truth will prevail.

Robredo and Pangilinan were both in attendance at the National Shrine of Padre Pio in Sto. Tomas, Batangas as they attended a mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Joselin Gonda.

They were joined by senatorial candidates Chel Diokno and Sonny Matula and welcomed by pink-clad supporters. The tandem was invited by the Archdiocesan Council of the Laity of the Philippines (Laiko).

In her message, Robredo thanked the religious community “for providing us the strength” to fight for what is right.

“Kaya sana po patuloy natin itong ipaglaban. 'Yung eleksyon ang ating dasal. Dapat 'yung dasal natin hindi lang tayo manalo, pero 'yung dasal natin ngayong eleksyon na ito, 'yung ating mga kababayan ay mag-desisyon (That’s why hopefully, let’s continue to fight for it. The election is our prayer. Our prayer must not only for us to win, but our prayer for this election is for our fellowmen to decide) according to their conscience, na ‘yung ating mga kababayan magdesisyon na binigyan silang pagkakataon sa impormasyon na tama (that our fellowmen decide after being given the right information),” she said.

VP Leni Robredo Robredo gives a short message asking her supporters to convince others to join their campaign during her visit to the National Shrine of Padre Pio. (Screenshot from Robredo People’s Council FB page)

“Ang eleksyon na ito hindi magiging basehan ‘yung kasinungalingan. Pero pagtulong-tulungan po natin ‘yun. Kailangan responsibilidad natin na maging bahagi tayo ng paghanap ng solusyon (This election will not be based on lies. Let’s help each other for that. We need to be responsible to be a part of searching for solutions),” the Vice President added.

Among others, the prayer assembly hopes for a “fair and clean” election for all candidates and parties and for an election of the right leaders who do not have a whiff of corruption but have integrity, excellence, kindness, and clean intentions for the country because this will bring progress to the next generation.

Robredo highlighted the importance of the prayer rally, quoting what the priest said about the hope that the election brings to the country and how God won’t forsake the faithful.

However, she reminded her supporters to practice “radical love” by extending their understanding of others who do not share their beliefs. Robredo asked them to love and understand these people.

“Wala pong mangyayari pag i-insist natin na tayo ang laging tama. Walang mangyayari kung hindi natin kasundo, aawayin natin sila (Nothing will happen if we will insist that we are always right. Nothing will happen if we will fight those we disagree with),” she stressed.

After the prayer assembly, Robredo was gifted images of St. Joseph, St. Padre Pio, and Our Lady of Caysaysay by the Archdiocesan Council of the Laity.

(Team Leni Robredo)

Earlier, singer Jamie Rivera sang the inspiration song “Heal Our Land.”

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