BOHOL, Philippines – While Vice President Leni Robredo was not able to secure the endorsement of any local chief executive during her visit to Bohol on Friday, April 1, tens of thousands still turned up at the People’s Grand Rally at the old city airport in Tagbilaran City for the presidential candidate and her running mate Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.

According to estimates of event organizers, over 80,000 people attended the Friday night rally.

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It was Robredo’s last stop of her campaign tour in Bohol province after visiting the towns of Jagna and Talibon earlier on Friday.

Robredo won in Bohol during the 2016 vice presidential race with over 276,000 votes, while the current survey frontrunner, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was at a distant third place with over 80,000 votes.

During the 2016 elections, a majority of the local chief executives were members of the then-ruling Liberal Party. This time, however, Robredo is campaigning in a province as an opposition candidate with no local chief executive endorsements.

No local government officials appeared at the grand rally either but the mood remained festive, sustained by the enthusiasm and energy of the audience.

Robredo remained hopeful that her volunteer-driven campaign would be the key to victory in Bohol this time around.

“Ako po happy naman ako na ipinaglalaban ‘nyo ako. Pero para makapagkumbinse tayo, huwag tayong makipag-away. ‘Yun po ‘yung sinasabi natin: radikal na pagmamahal,” Robredo said.

(I’m happy that you’re fighting for me. But in order for us to convince others, let’s not fight. That’s why we say: radical love.)

Robredo was with Pangilinan and several members of her senatorial slate including Chel Diokno and Senator Dick Gordon, while other bets spoke to Boholanos via representatives.

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Pangilinan thanked the Boholanons for choosing him the last three times he ran for the Senate. He served as senator for two consecutive terms from 2001 to 2013, and then again since 2016.

He reiterated that even without any endorsements in Bohol, it will be the people who would decide who the next president and vice president will be.

“Sa pamamagitan ng ating boto, tayo ang pinakamakangyarihan sa araw ng halalan, dahil tayo magpapasya sino ang uupo sa pinakamataas na posisyon sa ating gobyerno. Tayo ang makapangyarihan, hindi ang mga pulitiko ang makapangyarihan,” Pangilinan said.

(Through our vote, we are the most powerful people on election day, because we are the ones who would decide who would assume the highest office in government. We are the ones who are powerful, not the politicians.)

During the Jagna rally, the tandem encouraged supporters to join house-to-house campaign efforts as the tandem strives to boost their numbers in the pre-election surveys.

Pulse Asia’s most recent survey taken from February 18 to 23 showed Robredo at far second place with a voter’s preference of 15% to Marcos’ 60%.

Bohol projects, promises

During her rally speech, Robredo highlighted her office’s consistent projects in the province through her Angat Buhay program and quick response during disasters.

“Mula pa noong 2016, may mga programa na po tayong ibinaba dito sa ilalim ng ating Angat Buhay program (Since 2016, we’ve already implemented projects here under our Angat Buhay program),” Robredo said.

Robredo also mentioned turning over personal protective equipment during the pandemic, providing medical supplies to at least 77 hospitals in Bohol, and setting up learning hubs for students who do not have gadgets or internet access.

She also reminded Boholanos that after Typhoon Odette struck the province on December 16, 2021, her team was already with them the following day to help in relief efforts.

“Kayo ‘yung pinakauna kong lalawigan na binisita para makita ang pinsala at alamin kung papaano kami makakatulong (You were the first province I visited to see the damage and know how we could help),” Robredo said.

Aside from citing her office’s existing projects for Bohol, Robredo promised to fix the province’s perennial struggle with power supply, and also boost the island’s tourism industry which was affected by the pandemic.

When Typhoon Odette devastated Bohol, it also took down power lines in a province that already deals with regular rotating power outages.

“Naalala ko ang tagal ‘nyong nawalan ng kuryente. Ang pangako ko po sa mga Boholano: Personal kong tututukan ito para masiguro ang supply ninyo, bukod na sapat ito, dapat lagi ninyong maaasahan,” she said.

(I remember you had no electricity for a long time. My promise to Boholanos: I’ll personally be on top of ensuring your power supply, aside from making sure your supply is enough, and it should always be reliable.)

Robredo also said that she would prioritize boosting the tourism industry, which has been severely impacted by the pandemic and Odette, adding that communities who depend on this industry have suffered the most.

“Ngayon pong nagbubukas na ulit ang turismo, ang pangako ko po sa mga Boholano: Palalakasin at pauunlarin natin ang buong industriya at lahat ng kabahagi nito – mga empleyado, mga negosyo, pati mga komunidad mismo. Napakaraming mahuhusay na nagtatrabaho sa industriya. Ibibigay po natin ang suporta para sa higit pang pag-angat ninyo. Sisiguraduhin po natin na ang turismo, hindi lang safe, kundi sustainable,” the vice president said.

(Now that tourism has reopened, I promise Boholanos: We will boost and develop the whole industry and every part of it – the employees, businesses, even communities. There are so many skilled and competent people in the industry. Let’s give them the support they need so that they will be more uplifted. We will ensure that tourism is not only safe, but also sustainable.)

The rally also featured several celebrities and artists who have become staples at Robredo campaign sorties including Gab Valenciano, Ogie Diaz, Elijah Canlas, Ben & Ben, Spongecola, among others.

On Saturday, April 2, volunteers of the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem will hold a grand house-to-house campaign, a step up in their efforts to convert the unconvinced. The Robredo People’s Council said they expected some 10,000 volunteers to join the effort.

Several celebrities are joining the house-to-house campaign in different parts of the country including Agot Isidro, Angel Locsin, and Donny Pangilinan. – Rappler.com