MANILA, Philippines – Hours after she took her oath as the 14th vice president of the Philippines, Leni Robredo admitted there were already “barriers and difficulties” in her path.

Robredo made the statement during a thanksgiving concert at the Quezon Memorial Circle on Thursday, July 30, where she expressed her deep gratitude to her supporters who helped her win.

“Ang gabi pong ito ay gabi ng pasasalamat. Pero ito po ay gabi rin ng paghingi ko po muli ng inyong tulong. Hindi pa po tapos ang ating laban. Nagsisimula pa lang po tayo. Marami pong hadlang, maraming kahirapan, pero sanay naman tayo,” said Robredo.

(This is a night for thanksgiving. But tonight is also a chance for me to ask your help. Our struggle is not yet over. We are only beginning. There are many barriers, many difficulties but I’m already used to it.)

The Vice President did not elaborate on what the “barriers and difficulties” were.

Robredo won in the 2016 elections with a margin of more than 200,000 votes over her closest rival, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Marcos, however, is contesting that win and claims the Robredo camp has alleged instances of cheating.

Robredo started her campaign with dismal awareness ratings and even lower preference ratings. From a low of 1% voter preference rating, Robredo climbed her way up until she either topped or tied front-runners in the pre-election surveys.

“Iyong iba po sa inyo, may suot na T-shirt (Some of you are wearing a shirt that says), from 1% to Vice President,” said Robredo, referring to a shirt design that came out a little after election day.  

She added: “Napakalalim at napakalawak noong 1% to Vice President dahil iyon po ang ating paglalakbay. Hindi ko po iyon paglalakbay, pero paglalakbay po nating lahat. Siguro po kung hindi ninyo ako pinakilala, kung hindi ninyo po ako dinipensahan, kung hindi ninyo po ako pinaglaban, iyong 1% sana napako na sa 1%.”

(The phrase ‘From 1% to Vice President’ runs deep because it tells the story of our journey. It’s not just my journey but our journey. If you did not take the time out to introduce me, if you did not defend me, if you did not fight for me, then 1% would have stayed at 1%.)

Her role in the current administration had also been uncertain. Under the Constitution, the vice president has no specific role but the president has the prerogative to appoint the official to a Cabinet post.

It’s unlikely that President Rodrigo Duterte would give Robredo a Cabinet appointment anytime soon. Duterte had earlier said he was not going to appoint her to his Cabinet because he does not know her personally and it would hurt defeated vice presidential candidate Marcos, his friend.

The inauguration itself, held at the Quezon City Reception House, was unusual. The president and vice president usually hold a joint inauguration but Duterte opted to hold his separately.

Neither was Robredo invited to Duterte’s inauguration, held at Malacañang. Marcos and his sister, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, were seen at the Duterte inauguration.

The two highest officials of the lang have yet to meet since they won the elections, which some have called the most divisive in recent history.

In the thanksgiving event, Robredo reiterated her appreciation for the sacrifices of her supporters during the campaign.

“Iyong inyo pong pagtulong ay isang klaseng pagtulong na hindi natin malalagyan ng presyo dahil ang inyong tulong ay tulong na maraming sakripisyo. Sakripisyo sa oras, sakripisyo sa pagod, sakripisyo sa pera kasi marami sa inyo gumagastos ng sariling pera. Paminsan sakripisyo din sa panlalait. Marami po sa inyo ang nagtiis na dumipensa sa akin at hindi ko po ito makakalimutan dahil ginawa ninyo ito noong panahon na wala pa po tayong kalaban-laban,” said Robredo.

(Your help is invaluable because that it entailed so many sacrifices. You sacrificed your time, your effort, your money because a lot of you used your own funds. Sometimes, you had to sacrifice yourself to criticism. A lot of you endured criticism and defended me. I will never forget that  because you did this at a time when it seemed like I had no chance in the elections.)

She also called on supporters to be “humble” even when confronted by her detractors.

“Huwag na po tayong makikipag-away. Kasi wala naman pong makukuha kapag tayo ay nakipag-away (Let’s stop the bickering. Because we achieve nothing when we bicker),” she added.

Duterte and Robredo are expected to be seen together for the first time in public on Friday, July 1, during the change of command ceremony for the new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief. – Rappler.com