‘There is hope’: Over 100k Caviteños express support for Leni-Kiko candidacy

By Archie R. Bergosa

More than 100,000 supporters showed up to Vice President
Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko Pangilinan’s second campaign sortie to Cavite on
Tuesday, May 1. 

People from Dasmariñas City, Cavite come to the “Banyuhay” grand rally of Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan on Sunday, May 1. (Photo from Leni Robredo’s campaign)

Youth, senior citizens, the LGBTQIA community, first-time
voters, and other various citizens gathered at the New City Football Field,
Dasmariñas, and were spotted wearing pink ribbons and witty placards.

Ellaine Garcia, a 22-year-old BS Accounting student from
Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Manila (PUP) residing in Naic,
Cavite, traveled for two hours to see the LeniKiko tandem.

“Sobrang worth it sumuporta ng candidate na walang
bahid ng korapsyon or anything na malaking kabawasan sa kaniya,” Garcia said.
She added she can’t afford to vote for someone who has not experienced on the
difficulties that she is facing as a student. “May pag-asa ang Pilipinas sa
Leni-Kiko tandem,” Garcia said.

63-year-old Estelita “Neth” Dales from
Dasmariñas, who is a long-time supporter of Robredo, brought her entire family
to show their support to the lone female presidentiable, saying she’s already
old and that she wants new changes for the society this time around. Dales
added that she already experienced Robredo’s public service when she was still
in Bicol: “No’ng nagagawi pa si VP sa Bicol, isa ako sa mga inofferan niya ng
libreng konsultasyon [ng kaso].” 

Another student, but a first-time voter Merriam Belison
from Trece Martires also flocked at the Leni-Kiko rally in Dasmariñas. “As
a first time voter, pinagisipan ko talaga yung pipiliin ko… Pinili ko sila kasi
nakahain na lahat ng resibo ng isang tapat na gobyerno, na kahit papano pala ay
may leaders na malinis at matino,” said Belison in an interview.

LGBT
people of volunteer group Pwersa ng Pamayanan para sa Voluntarismo at Reporma
(PPVR) – Cavite Chapter also appeared on the rally premises to support the
Bicolana candidate.

A member of the group said they are supporting Robredo
because of her inclusive platform for the LGBT community. Their group also
distributed burgers and water bottles to other Kakampinks near them.

The whole crowd was full of enthusiasm for the whole
program, especially when Tropang Angat senatoriables appeared in the afternoon to give
their speech of solidarity for Leni-Kiko. Risa Hontiveros, Teddy Baguilat, Chel
Diokno, Sonny Matula, and Alex Lacson were physically present to give their
messages to the huge crowd of Caviteños.

Senator Dick Gordon who is running for reelection relayed
a message through a pre-recorded video. Meanwhile, Magdalo Representative
Manuel Cabochan and Lawyer Dino de Leon served as stage representatives for
senatorial candidates Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes and Senator Leila De
Lima who is currently detained.

Showbiz personalities and artists also showed up and
performed during the event, including Sam Concepcion and Tippy Dos Santos, Syd Hartha, Johnoy
Danao, and Bukas Palad Music Ministry. Angel Locsin and Sharon Cuneta also took
the stage to express inspirational messages campaigning Leni-Kiko.

A proud Caviteño, Christian Bautista performed a couple
of songs and imparted a message to the crowd. He said that he also supported
Robredo last 2016, and will still campaign for her in the coming elections.

“Ang isinisigaw ko dati, ‘Leni for VP!’. Ngayon, ang
sigaw ko ‘Leni for President!’,” said Asia’s Romantic Balladeer while on
stage.

At sunset, Vice Presidential candidate Senator Kiko
Pangilinan, finally faced the Cavite crowd and conveyed his program for the farmers.
He elaborated his ‘Hello Pagkain, Goodbye Gutom’ advocacy and criticized the Duterte
administration for its failure in pandemic response.

“Taumbayan na ang naninindigan kasama ang mga lider
na tapat at totoo. Ang imposible, gawin nating posible,” Pangilinan
emphasized in the last part of his speech.

Dasmariñas
City Mayor Jenny Austria-Barzaga, and Cavite congressmen Alex Advincula (3rd
District) and Pidi Barzaga (4th District) also rendered their support for
Tropang Angat party.

After promotions from local officials, Robredo came out
on the stage and started her speech by thanking the crowd and all of her
volunteers. She also acknowledged Sherwin, the motorcycle rider who helped her
arrive at the venue of her first campaign rally in General Trias, Cavite last
March 4.

The incumbent Vice President also stated her failure to
win the votes of the province in the last 2016 elections, losing to dictator’s
son Bongbong Marcos by more than 150,000.

However, the crowd exclaimed with chants of “Babawi
kami!”.

She then proudly presented her programs during the
pandemic and the services she helped Caviteños in the past, especially during
COVID-19 pandemic, such as Bayanihan E-Konsulta.

In the final portion of her speech, Robredo urged her
supporters to continue their campaign for her, as there is only less than a
week before the end of the campaign period.

“Nakikiusap ulit ako, na sa susunod na anim na araw,
lahat ng kasinulingan ay mapalitan natin ng katotohanan,” Robredo said.
She also added that if a vote is leaning on lies and fake news, the general
public will only experience suffering.

The program ended with Robredo thanking everyone in the
venue, and OPM band Rivermaya performing their songs as Kakampinks slowly left
the venue.

The first campaign rally of the Leni-Kiko tandem in
Cavite on March 4 only garnered 40,000 supporters, a 60,000-difference from the second
sortie.