LENI ARRIVES. Vice President Leni Robredo arrives at Barangay San Isidro here for the inauguration of their provincial headquarters. All photos by Joann Manabat
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – “Kaya po kami nagpapasalamat sa inyo na kahit mahirap ‘yung laban na ‘to, pero kayo lumalaban katabi namin at ‘yung pinaka mabuti po dito, nararamdaman namin na hindi lang kayo lumalaban para ipanalo kami bilang kandidato niyo, pero lumalaban kayo para sa bayan.”
Thus, said Vice President Leni Robredo before a roaring crowd of supporters Wednesday at the inauguration of the Leni Robredo-Kiko Pangilinan provincial campaign headquarters in Barangay San Isidro here.
Seeing the strong determination from their Kapampangan supporters, Robredo urged them to join her in her aspirations and bring hope with conviction for a better country.
“Araw-araw dumadami tayo, dumadami tayo hindi dahil sa ‘kin, pero dumadami tayo kasi nare-realize natin na pare-pareho naman ‘yung gusto nating mangyari dito sa bansa natin,” Robredo said.
“Kaya babalik po kami, babalik po kami lalo na pag campaign period na. Sasamahan niyo kami sa pagkumbinsi sa ating mga kababayan, sasamahan niyo kaming magpaliwanag sa ating mga kababayan, pero mula ngayon, sama-sama tayo sa pagmamahal at pag-aaruga sa ating mga kababayan,” she furthered.
Irwin Nucum, one of the event organizers, felt the success of the event as the turnout was a surprise among supporters and volunteers.
“We were supposed to end at 6 p.m. but the turnout was great. We extended for another hour. We were surprised, the crowd even stayed until the end,” said Nucum in Kapampangan.
Sharing the stage with Robredo and Pangilinan were Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago, former Mayor Oscar Rodriguez who is seeking a comeback, former Pampanga governor Among Ed Panlilio, and former Candaba mayor Engr. Danilo Baylon with his wife Aniway who are running for Pampanga governor and Candaba mayor respectively.
Robredo disclosed that it was Panlilio and Santiago that tried to convince her to run at the time she didn’t have any plans for the 2022 national elections.
“Alam niyo, ito ‘yung kakaiba sa kampanyang ‘to. Hindi ko pa ito naikukuwento kahit kanino, pero ‘yung wala pa po akong balak mag-file, pinuntahan po ako ni Among Ed, magkahiwalay sila, pinuntahan ako ni Mayor EdSa,” shared the Vice President.
“Pareho po ‘yung sagot ko sa kanila. Malapit na po itong mag-file, September yata. Ang sagot ko po sa kanila, “Wala akong balak magkandidato,” she said.
It was also a surprise for her, she said, to see large turnouts at her sorties to the provinces.
“Ready na kami ni Senator Kiko na inaakala namin bibisita kami sa mga lugar, kakaunti ‘yung sasalubong sa amin, walang local official na mangangahas na tulungan kami, dahil yun ‘yung aming karanasan in the last five and a half years. Pero alam niyo, mali kami,” she said to the thunderous applause of her audience.
