The only time Vice President Leni Robredo will respond to nitpicking critics is when there’s a chance for her to promote locally made garments.

On Wednesday, August 26, Robredo decided to respond to a number of online users who had much to say about how she looked on camera when she went live on Facebook two days earlier to discuss her 11 recommendations to help revive the recession-hit economy during the coronavirus pandemic. 

“May mga pumuna ng hitsura natin sa public address no’ng Monday. Nakakalungkot man na ‘yon ‘yong pinansin at hindi ‘yong laman ng sinabi, gusto kong patulan kasi opportunity to advocate for #supportlocal,” Robredo said in her personal Facebook page.

(There were people who commented on how we looked during our public address last Monday. While it is saddening that they focused on how I looked and not what I said, I want to respond to them this time because it’s an opportunity to advocate for #supportlocal.)

The Vice President said her purple blouse with a floral brooch was made by Bayo, a homegrown brand from which she and her 3 daughters would often buy clothes.

Their admiration for Bayo all the more grew after it became one of the Office of the Vice President’s partners in sewing personal protective equipment (PPE) sets for frontliners. 

The PPE sets that Robredo’s office has been donating to medical facilities nationwide were made by Filipinos designers, too.

“Matagal na po kami ng mga anak ko na fans ng Bayo. Wala pa ako sa politika. Pero lalo akong humanga sa kanila nung naka partner namin sila sa pagtahi ng PPEs dahil do’n po namin sila nakilala ng lubos. Napakabait na employers at mapagkalinga sa kanilang mga mananahi,” the Vice President said. 

(My children and I have long been fans of Bayo. Even before I joined politics. But we became even more amazed by them when they became our partner in sewing PPEs because that’s when we got to know them more. Their employees are good people and are caring of their seamstresses.)

Robredo went on to address trolls who seemed to have a lot of problem with the Vice President wearing her glasses and tying her hair in a ponytail. 

“‘Yong pagtali ng buhok at pagsuot ng salamin, mula no’ng nag umpisa ang pandemic, nakatali na ang buhok ko. Mahaba na kasi,” Robredo said with a smiling emoji.

(About me tying my hair and wearing glasses, since the start of the pandemic, my hair has already been tied that way because it’s grown longer.)

Besides, the Vice President said, face masks are easiest to put on when one’s hair is tied back.

“‘Yong salamin, dati naman po akong nagsasalamin. Matagal na. Hindi ko lang tinatanggal ngayon kasi bahagi siya ng proteksiyon laban sa virus,” she said.

(I have been wearing glasses for a long time, too. I don’t remove it because it’s part of my protection against the virus.)

So, trolls, got anything more to say to the VP? – Rappler.com