Mara Cepeda Profile picture
Philippines Correspondent for @straits_times | AJF ‘21 fellow | @UNRAF ‘23 fellow | 📥 cmara@sph.com.sg | Views are my own.

Mar 11, 2022, 95 tweets

Presidential candidate VP Leni Robredo begins her tour of Negros Occidental in San Carlos City, where her supporters warmly welcome her at 7:30 am: “And this early, people are already so fired up 🔥 What energy!!! Proceeding to Sagay now,” she says. #PHVote @rapplerdotcom

In San Carlos City, Robredo is joined by Negros Occidental Governor Bong Lacson, who is endorsing her for president.

READ: rappler.com/nation/electio… #PHVote

Robredo won big here in Negros Occidental in the 2016 VP race, beating the dictator’s son Ferdinand Marcos Jr by a landslide. But the political landscape has since changed. Vice Gov Jeffrey Ferrer and 28/31 mayors are backing Marcos. #PHVote

Robredo’s political allies here are Gov Lacson, and 3 mayors: Thirdy Maranon III (Sagay),?Salvador Escalante Jr (Cadiz), Gina Montilla-Lizares (Sipalay). She’s also allied with ex-gov Lito Coscolluela.

But true strength of her campaign here is on ordinary folk. #PHVote

Look at the crowd already waiting for Robredo and her running mate Sen Kiko Pangilinan here in Sagay. It rained this morning, ground is muddy, but Kakampinks are still pouring in here. #PHVote

LOOK: Former Comelec commissioner @rowena_guanzon is here at the Leni-Kiko mini rally in Sagay. She’s wearing pink. Her sister, retired RTC judge Frances Guanzon, tells us the entire Guanzon family are Kakampinks. #PHVote

Several of the Leni-Kiko senatorial bets are already here in Sagay, including reelectionist senators Risa Hontiveros and Richard Gordon. #PHVote

LOOK: These ice cream vendors are giving free ice cream to Kakampinks in Sagay. #PHVote

Crowd goes wild as the Leni-Kiko tandem takes the stage in Sagay. Robredo supporters in front reach out to her and cheer as she touched their hands. #PHVote

Robredo’s allies Sagay Mayor Thirdy Maranon III hype up the crowd for her. Also here are Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr, ex-Negros Occ governor Lito Coscolluela. Iloilo Gov Arthur Defensor Jr also traveled all the way here in Sagay to join the rally. #PHVote

Pangilinan takes the stage: Di namin akalain na may ganitong pagbuhos ng suporta! #PHVote

Pangilinan: Ako po nagpapasalamat sa ating mga kababayan sa Negros Occ dahil 3 beses nyo po ako hinalalal… Sa 3 termino, ni minsan, hindi tayo pumayag na masangkot sa kahit anong katiwalian #PHVote

Pangilinan takes an apparent swipe at the Marcos-Duterte tandem: Dapat yung malinis yung hangarin, hindi yung hindi humaharap sa debate… Di ba dapat pag nanliligaw, dapat humaharap? #PHVote

Negros Occidental 2nd District Rep Rafael Cueva calls Robredo a “wonderman” for being able to respond to whatever crises it may be. #PHVote

Robredo takes the stage, thanks Sagay supporters for showing up: Umuulan, mapaaraw, ang taas-taas pa rin ng energy! #PHVote

Robredo acknowledges former Comelec commissioner @rowena_guanzon onstage, describes her as “aking iniidolong matapang na babae.” Guanzon had voted to disqualify Marcos for failing to pay his taxes, but Comelec 1st division moved to junk DQ case vs the dictator’s son. #PHVote

Robredo after reading out placards here in Sagay: Kaya ko binabasa kasi kakaiba yung eleksyon na to. Napansin nyo ba?.. Kasi talagang pinagpapaguran ng supporters hindi lang yung placards pero pati yung pangangampanya #PHVote

Robredo: Bakit ganyan kayo kainvested?… Alam nyo ang pinapakipaglaban natin ay ang ating kinabukasan! #PHVote

Robredo now talking about her “resibo” projects in Negros Occ since she became VP: Ako po nung 2016 tinulungan nyo ko nang malaki. Kaya maraming-maraming salamat. Pagkaupo ko, dito, gumawa no po ako ng proyekto… Ang pagmamahal na ito pinapakita natin sa gawa, hindi sa salita

Robredo: Pag sinabi naming magiging matapat ang gobyerno, meron na kaming resibo… Kami ni Sen Kiko, ni minsan hindi kami nadawit sa katiwalian. #PHVote

Robredo: Pag wala pong korapsyon, talagang aangat ang buhay ng lahat dahil mapapangalagaan natin ang pera ng bayan #PHVote

Robredo invites Sagay crowd to join grand rally in Bacolod tonight: Kaya pa ba yung energy in the next 59 days?… Ngayon andito kayo, sana mamaya makasama pa rin namin kayo sa Bacolod #PHVote

Robredo rallies the crowd: Papatunayan natin sa lahat na ang kapangyarihan, nasa kamay ng ordinaryong Negrense!.. Pag bumalik tayo sa susunod, baka victory party na #PHVote

After Sagay, Robredo is heading to Kabankalan, then Himamaylan, Binalbagan, Hinigaran, La Carlota. Her last stop will be the grand rally in Bacolod City. #PHVote

LOOK: Aerial shot of the Kakampinks who attended Robredo’s mini rally in Sagay this morning. 📷 Ronnie Baldonado #PHVote

WATCH: Larwin Bascar, VP of their farmers’ association in Bgy Celestino Villacin in Cadiz, says many of their farmer-members are backing Robredo since they’ve received assistance like farm machinery, fertilizers from Angat Buhay. They hope to receive more help if she wins.

Neighbors Suzette Tonogbanua, a nurse, and Anna Marie Aboyo, a housewife, came to Robredo’s rally with this poster taking a swipe at Marcos Jr, whose wife Liza Araneta-Marcos said he was inspired to run for pres after watching Ant-Man movie. #PHVote

Tonogbanua and Aboyo are both hoping PH would stop importing sugar to prevent high costs. Robredo has said that under her presidency, importation would be a last resort, to focus more on helping Filipino farmers #PHVote

In brief speech during the Leni-Kiko rally in Sagay, Guanzon took a swipe at Marcos: “Boboto ba kayo sa magnanakaw? Boboto ba kayo sa pangit? Boboto ba kayo sa singungaling?”

She doesn’t explicitly endorse the two, but says “Mabuhay si Leni at si Kiko!” #PHVote

LOOK: At 4:42 pm, the Paglaum Sports Complex is already filled with pink-clad supporters of Robredo. It’s slightly drizzling now, but the crowd is staying put. #PHVote

Raising pink parols in the air, Doctors for Leni perform a song number for the thousands of Negrense Kakampinks here. They raise placards containing Robredo’s pandemic response programs, from free COVID-19 vaccines to free dorms for frontliners #PHVote

Young cheerleaders wow the Negrense Kakampinks with their stunts. They perform their routine using a remix of songs composed for the Robredo campaign and key lines from Robredo’s speeches. #PHVote

“Kay Leni Tayo” singers Nica del Rosario, Jelo Mateo, and Justine Peña perform their hit song for the Kakampinks, who whip their pink flags and pink stars in the air as they sing along. #PHVote

Signal is bad here inside the packed Paglaum Sports Complex, but my prod specialist and I will do our very best to give you guys updates. Main program about to start. #PHVote

Rappler is livestreaming the Leni-Kiko tandem’s grand rally in Bacolod. You can watch it here: #PHVote

Masskara Festival vibes for the opening number at the Leni-Kiko grand rally. Streetdancers even attached pink balloons, pink foil on their colorful costumes. #PHVote

Like in past grand rallies, celebrities Ogie Diaz and Mama Loi are hosting the rally in Bacolod. It’s drizzling once again, but crowd is staying. They’re even more energetic now that the main program has started. #PHVote

Crowd chants “Hindi kami bayad! Hindi kami bayad!” as they look up at the drones taking shots of them. #PHVote

Members of The Company now singing their hits for the Negrense supporters of Robredo. #PHVote

As The Company speaks in between songs, crowd at the back of the stadium calls out “Medic!” for one Robredo supporter in need. The Company members help call out for the medics, who are now en route to administer first aid to the person concerned. #PHVote

The show goes on. The Company now singing their new song entitled “Love Revolution,” which they are premiering here at the Leni-Kiko rally in Bacolod. #PHVote

LOOK: Award-winning actors Ronnie Lazaro and Joel Torre, actress Nikki Valdez join Ogie Diaz in hosting this part of the Leni-Kiko rally #PHVote

Video messages of San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza and singer Jose Mari Chan expressing support for Robredo now being played here at the Bacolod rally. #PHVote

New link for Rappler’s livestream on the Leni-Kiko rally in Bacolod: . #PHVote

Robredo supporters here once again calls for a medic as another person faints due to the thickness of the crowd gathered tonight. Medics immediately respond. #PHVote

At least 4 calls for medics from the crowd here at Paglaum Sports Complex. Many of the Kakampinks here started coming in as early as 2 pm. #PHVote

LOOK: PH’ Queen of R&B Kyla performs for the first time at a Leni-Kiko grand rally. “Para kay Ma’am Leni, sing with me!” #PHVote

Kyla: “Ako po ay boluntaryo na pumunta rito para sumuporta” #PHVote

Singer Kuh Ledesma once again performing for Kakampinks. She hypes up the crowd to chant “Leni!” and “Kiko!” #PHVote

Ledesma now singing her rendition of the song “Till I Met You” #PHVote

LOOK: Kakampink celebrities Edu Manzano, Agot Isidro now hosting with Ogie Diaz. #PHVote

Organizers of the Leni-Kiko grand rally here in Bacolod say some 70,000 Kakampinks are currently here tonight. #PHVote

Senatorial candidates of the Leni-Kiko tandem are now addressing the crowd. First up is former Ifugao congressman Teddy Baguilat Jr, and detained reelectionist senator Leila de Lima’s chief of staff Fhilip Sawali. #PHVote

Human rights lawyer and senatorial candidate Chel Diokno a big hit for the young people in the crowd here. #PHVote

As reelectionist senator Richard Gordon takes the stage, crowd chants, “Ipasok si Dick!” He replies with a laugh, “Nakapasok na.” He asks young people in crowd to move to bring about reforms they seek. #PHVote

LOOK: Aerial shot of the 70,000 Negrense Kakampinks joining tonight’s grand rally at the Paglaum Sports Complex in Bacolod. You don’t see if from this angle, but bleachers are filled to the brim with supporters too. 📷 Jimmy Dasal/Team Kiko Pangilinan #PHVote

Reelectionist senator Risa Hontiveros, one of the favorites of the Kakampink crowds, takes the stage and discusses her pro-health, women’s health, anti-corruption platform #PHVote

Book author and lawyer turned senatorial bet Alex Lacson takes the stage: This is one of the biggest crowds I’ve seen this elections! #PHVote

Labor leader turned Senate bet Sonny Matula now discussing his pro-workers’ rights platform #PHVote

Ex-senator Sonny Trillanes is represented tonight by his Magdalo ally Gary Alejano. #PHVote

Negros Occidental Kakampinks not only host the biggest rally for Robredo yet, but they pull out all the stops for what may as well be her grandest entrance during the campaign so far. Robredo emerges from a pink star on stage, through a sea of Masskara dancers to greet the crowd

Pangilinan’s wife Sharon Cuneta is the darling of the crowd. She tells Kakampinks: Do we want to bring decency back to the presidency?… Panahon na Pilipinas! Kay Leni Robredo at Kiko Pangilinan, tataas uli ang tingin sa atin ng buong mundo! #PHVote

Cuneta: Women are strong. We are your mothers. We are your sisters. We are your daughters. We are matiisin. We give birth… If we women are strong, our president Leni Robredo is the strongest I know #PHVote

The crowd was growing restless after waiting for hours, but they were reinvigorated when they finally saw Robredo and Pamgilinan take the stage. The cheers of 70,000 Kakampinks here in Bacolod are deafening. #PHVote

Cuneta serenades the crowd with her classic hit “Kahit Maputi na Ang Buhok Ko.” A wave of pink stars sways to the Megastar’s song. #PHVote

Cuneta also defends Robredo and her supporters from red-tagging, says sarcastically: Eh di pati Abu Sayyaf friends na natin. Wala ng terrorists. #PHVote

Pangilinan to Negrenses: Kakaiba ang inyong pagtanggap sa amin. Maraming salamat!… Pagkain ang dami pong binibigay, nakakataba po ng puso! Pero sa dami ng pagkain, tataba rin ang tiyan! Gobyernong tapat, tataba lahat #PHVote

Pangilinan: Kayo ang nagbibigay ng inspirasyon na tuloy tuloy ipanalo na to! #PHVote

Pangilinan says if he wins, he would prioritize addressing issue high prices of goods, protection of farmers and fisherfolk. This is his longtime advocacy even as legislator, food security chief #PHVote

Gov Bong Lacson takes the stage, calls the local politicians in Negros who have openly supported Robredo. “I am for Leni!” The crowd loves him. #PHVote

Robredo finally speaks, thanks Negrenses for their overwhelming support in her biggest rally yet: Negros Occidentaaaal, grabe kayo! Di pa ba kayo pagod? Umulan na, uminit na, ang taas pa rin ng energy nyo! #PHVote

Robredo apologizes to her Kakampinks in Bago City, who was waiting for her along the streets but her convoy passed somewhere else. Robredo has been spending the past minutes thanking her allies and volunteers here by name: Talaga pong ibang klaseng magmahal ang Negros Occ

Robredo cites friendly competition among her supporters across provinces: Hindi lang sa hindi kayo bayad, abonado pa kayo. Hindi lang po yun: Nagko-contest pa para makita ang ambag ng bawat isa sa People’s Campaign #PHVote

Robredo: Hindi kayo nagpapapigil, umaraw man o umulan. Kaya maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyo. Nakakawala po ng pagod at talaga nakaka-inspire ang inyong energy at creativity. #PHVote

Robredo recognizes Negrenses being the first to do stationary caravans for her since she declared her bid for the highest post in the land. Robredo is greatly involved in her campaign, and notes all efforts of her supporters. #PHVote

Robredo: Eksaktong eksakto nga na sa Paglaum Sports Stadium nagsasama ngayon. Dahil ang kampanya nating ito ay kampanya ng pag-asa. #PHVote

Robredo: Dadami pa ang masisinigan ng pag-asang ito. Ang mapag-iiwanan, susunduin po natin sila. Ang nakayuko, isasabay natin sila sa paghakbang. Yan ang ibig sabihin na laylayan ang bagong sentro ng pamahalaan #PHVote

Robredo tells Negrense sugar workers she would prioritize their welfare, push for the modernization of their industry to help them earn more #PHVote

Robredo now speaking in the local language as she discusses her plans specific to the people of Negros, including building Negros-Guimaras-Iloilo bridge: “Napakalaki po ng potential ng pinag-isang Negros.” Crowd cheers. #PHVote

Robredo: Kapag wala tayong agenda kundi maabot ang potential ninyo, napakalayo ng mararating natin #PHVote

Robredo pushes for renewable sources of energy to address power issues here in Negros #PHVote

Robredo says she’s support provincial govt’s push to bring renewable energy to every Negrense’s home #PHVote

Supporting*

Robredo on resibo: Kung ang mga pangako nakabatay sa mga nagawa nya nung di pa siya nanliligaw ng boto, siguradong di masasayang ang botong ibibigay sa kanya ng mga tao #PHVote

Robredo: Napakalaki po ng panalong ibinigay nyo sa akin. At alam ko, magagawa natin itong muli ngayong 2022 dahil po anumang pilit ng iba na pag-away-awayin ang Negrense, pati na ang ibang Pilipino… binibigkis pa rin tayo ng ating mga karanasan #PHVote

Robredo: Napakalaki po ng panalong ibinigay nyo sa akin. At alam ko, magagawa natin itong muli ngayong 2022 dahil po anumang pilit ng iba na pag-away-awayin ang Negrense, pati na ang ibang Pilipino… binibigkis pa rin tayo ng ating mga karanasan

Robredo hits Marcos Jr’s Uniteam: Wag po natin kalilimutan ang ating kasaysayan… Dito nagbubukal ang totoong unity. Ito ang totoong pagkakaisa, pagkakaisang magbabaklas sa bulok at lumang sistema

Robredo: Palalim nang palilim ang pagtataya sa ating laban. Galingan pa natin ang pakikipaglaban para sa tama at totoo. Lakihan pa po natin ang ating mga puso

Robredo: Puwede pala ang ganitong klaseng gobyerno: tapat, taongbayan ang bida, tunay na nagkakaisa.

With “Liwanag sa Dilim” being played by Rivermaya, Robredo and her daughters Aika, Tricia (Jillian in the US) enjoy the moment as Negrense Kakampinks light up their stars of hope. Paglaum, hope, pag-asa – this is the rallying cry of Robredo’s People’s Campaign. #PHVote

WATCH: Robredo’s ala-Maskarra Festival entrance onstage. She emerges from a pink star installation onstage and is accommpanied by dancers as she walked to the front of the stage, to the delight of the crowd. #PHVote

WATCH: Kyla sings “Hanggang Ngayon” for the Kakampink crowd in Bacolod #PHVote

WATCH: Kuh Ledesma serenades the crowd with “Till I Met You.” #PHVote

WATCH: Robredo supporters sing along as Megastar Sharon Cunets sings her hit song “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko.” #PHVote

WATCH: Robredo and her daughters Aika and Tricia dance to “Liwanag sa Dilim” while facing the Kakampinks. Robredo waves her own pink star, just like her supporters. #PHVote

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