Presidential hopeful Leni Robredo admits that crowds at campaign rallies won't assure victory in election

By Edward Era Barbacena

Despite the massive rallies organized by her volunteers, presidential hopeful Leni Robredo on Wednesday, April 13, reminded supporters that these are not enough to win the May 9 national polls.

Her rallies are well-attended, with some attracting hundreds of thousands of pink acolytes, but the lone desperate female presidential candidate is still trailing former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in presidential preference survey.

The latest Pulse Asia survey result put her at 24 percent while Marcos is at 56 percent.

“Ang sabi nga po kanina ni Governor Bong, hindi sapat ang rally na ito. Ang rally na ito para lang sumaya tayo pero ang importante anong gagawin natin pagkatapos ng ating rally (As Governor Bong said earlier, this rally is not enough. This rally is only to make us happy but what’s important is what we’re going to do after this rally)—house to house,” Robredo said in Masbate City.

Her campaign team launched a nationwide house-to-house campaign last April 2, encouraging volunteers to knock on doors and convince voters and the undecided to shift to Robredo.

Even celebrities like Pokwang, Donny Pangilinan, Ogie Diaz, Jake Ejercito, Agot Isidro, Cherry Pie Picache, Edu Manzano, and Rica Peralejo campaigned on the ground for the Robredo.

“Yung hindi pa natin kasama, kumbinsihin natin sumama (Those who are still not with us, let’s convince them to join us),” Robredo, who went on stage while dancing and wearing a rodeo hat with pink accents, said.

She reminded the crowd, which gathered at the JM Robredo Boulevard as early as 3 a.m. of what she claims as  “lies,” “fake news,” and “fake videos” on social media sites YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok.

“Tulungan po natin ang ating mga kababayan malaman kung ano ang kamalian at katotohanan. Palitan natin ang kasinungaling ng katotohanan (Let us help our fellowmen to know what is false and true. Let us change the lies with the truth),” she said.

“Ang mga kababayan natin, dapat ang desisyon nila nakabase sa katotohanan (Our fellowmen, their decisions should be based on truth),” Robredo added.

Calling Masbate a “beautiful place,” she lamented that the province hasn’t maximized its rich natural resources.

“Noong nagsabog ng blessings ang Maykapal, karamihan sa blessings nakuha ng Masbate dahil napakaganda. Pero sinasabi ko ‘yun na may pagkahalong sayang (When the Lord showered blessings, Masbate caught most of those blessings because it’s very beautiful. But I am saying that with a mix of regret),” Robredo said.

Now that the province is given another chance to elect good leaders, Leni Robredo stressed that they shouldn’t waste their vote and make sure that the government will help Masbate.