PWD pedals for Leni. Photo by Ernie Esconde
BALANGA CITY — A big group calling themselves as “volunteers for Leni” held Sunday a long motorcade in Bataan in a show of force for presidential candidate Leni Robredo.
The caravan came from various sections of the province like Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, and Balanga City in the south and Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Orani, Samal, and Abucay in the north and met at the four-lane road in this city.
Cars, vans, jeepneys, tricycles, and other vehicles with pink ribbons, balloons and once in a while honking horns passed through the national road or MacArthur Highway from Dinalupihan to Balanga City and from Mariveles to the city.
A short program was held at an open vehicle-turned improvised stage where supporters of the vice president in pink shirts and carrying small pink flags cheered “Leni! Leni! Leni!”
Alen Josef Santiago, 27-year-old lead co-convener from Balanga City, said Robredo is the right choice having shown good, remarkable, and strong leadership despite limitation on her budget and being not a part of the President’s cabinet.
“Nagpakita siya (Robredo) ng kakayahan, nakipag-partner sa iba’t ibang private individuals at inabot ang pinakamalayong lugar upang tumulong,” he said.
Santiago said Robredo helped fire victims from Abucay, Bataan through relief goods and distributed personal protective equipment in government hospitals and rehabilitation centers in Bataan and other parts of the country.
“Excited na kaming lahat na magbigay ng buhos na suporta at mainit na pagmamahal para sa vice president,” the “Bataan for Leni” convener said.
Santiago said joining the pink motorcade were 16 sectoral organizations of the marginalized and professionals like workers, fisherfolk, farmers, transport sector, lawyers, doctors, and others from 11 towns and one city in the province.
Groups under the alternative politics like those belonging to the Nuclear-Free Bataan Movement, Coal-Free Bataan Movement, and youth, workers, fishermen, farmers and homeowners organizations also joined the caravan.
Santiago said more than 500 vehicles attended the motorcade. “Lahat kami ay volunteer na kusang-loob na sumama, walang bayad, walang inutusan.”
Elpidio Alfuente, 64, a person with disability due to stroke, pedaled from his hometown Pilar to the four-lane road in his customized bike.
“Ang nakikita kong magpapabuti sa Pilipinas ay walang iba kundi si Leni. Walang ibang pupuwedeng maging President kundi siya dahil sa the way she lives, ang kanyang lifestyle. Hindi na niya kailangang yumaman ng mayamang-mayaman,” he said.
“Ang takbo ng kanyang utak, ang organization skills, magaling mag-organize si Leni gaya nito volunteerism lang lahat ng ito,” Alfuente added.
