NORTH ATTACK. Presidential hopeful Vice President Leni Robredo and running mate, Senator Francis Pangilinan (1st and 2nd from left), attend the “Cordillera People's Rally” in Baguio City on Monday (May 2, 2022). Robredo thanked her supporters for bravely campaigning in northern Luzon provinces that are known bailiwicks of rival, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Photo courtesy of VP Leni Robredo Facebook)
MANILA – Presidential bet Vice President Leni Robredo has lauded her supporters and volunteers for bravely campaigning in the so-called "Solid North" which is a bailiwick of Ilocano rival Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
She acknowledged it must have been hard to penetrate provinces known to be pro-Marcos and surrounded by family members and friends of the perennial survey frontrunner.
“Very surreal para sa akin na in Abra, may nagkakampanya para sa akin (It is very surreal for me that in Abra, there are people campaigning for me),” Robredo said at a rally at Oval Era Mall in Bangued on Monday.
“Alam po namin na hindi madali para sa inyo. Alam po namin na maraming sagabal, alam namin na siguro may mga pagpigil, baka nga may harassment pa kayong nararamdaman. Nagpapasalamat ako sa inyo kasi tumataya kayo (We know that it is not easy for you. We know that there may be a lot of hindrances, you may also feel harassed at time, but I thank you for betting on me),” she added.
Robredo reminded that political differences should not mean division and dissension, especially among family members.
After the May 9 elections, she said family and friends, and most importantly, Filipinos, should stay together.
“Kahit iba 'yung paniniwala, mahal pa din natin sila diba? Dapat ‘yung ibang paniniwala hindi magiging dahilan na magkawatak-watak tayo (Even if we have different opinons and beliefs, we still love them, right? The difference in belief should not be a reason for division),” Robredo said.
Robredo told another gathering in Tabuk City, Kalinga crowd that voting for her means voting for the nation and asked them for “one last push”.
“'Pag sinasabi kong ipanalo na natin ito, hindi ko gustong sabihin, ipanalo niyo ako, pero ang gusto kong sabihin, ipanalo na natin ang ating bansa (When I say, let’s win this, I do not mean you make me win. What I mean is let us make the country win),” she said.
She paid a courtesy call on Mayor Darwin Estrañero at Tabuk City Hall, visited the Abra Electric Cooperative, met with "Abra for Leni-Kiko" volunteers, and proceeded to Baguio City.
On Tuesday, Robredo and her team have a full schedule in Iloilo province that will include house-to-house campaign, stationary caravan from the Iloilo International Airport, and a “Grand Pasasalamat” from late afternoon to evening. (PNA)
