THE kilometers-long lines of cars, bikes, and tricycles all sporting pink miniature flags and ribbons during simultaneous caravans in various parts of the country last Saturday caught Vice President Leni Robredo by surprise.
In her weekly radio program on RMN-dzXL, the opposition leader said she has just realized her own camp is lagging in preparations for her own campaign after seeing how organized the volunteers were.
“Sobrang nagulat kami kahapon. Kasi akala ko hindi ganoon kalaki. Kasi before… ang dami nang mga lugar na hiwa-hiwalay, gumagawa na rin ng kanilang mga caravan at successful di so iniisip ko … baka kaunti na lang iyong mag-participate kahapon (We were surprised.
We did not expect anything of that magnitude. We were expecting a good turnout after we saw the earlier caravans. I was thinking maybe fewer people would show up yesterday),” Robredo said.
The Vice President admitted she felt bolstered by what she saw as pictures of the events in other parts of the country are being compiled by her staff. She noted the participants were “from north to south”and even had confetti, as shown by pictures and videos sent to her.
Robredo said she was awed by the number who participated in Northern Luzon provinces of Cagayan, Pangasinan, and Isabela as well as Baguio City while in the southern part of the country similar caravans were held in Davao City, General Santos City, Cagayan de Oro City, Butuan City and Zamboanga City.
She noted that fishermen and local ferryboat owners in Cebu held their own pink parade at sea while vacationers and residents of Boracay Island resort had their own celebration on the beach.
The Vice President expressed gratitude to people on the roadside who cheered passing caravans, and bikers who pedaled or motored their way around the provincial roads.
“What is amazing about it is that these are separate groups who organized independently.
The people talked among themselves to synchronize the event but they each had their own gimmicks,” she said in Filipino.
She also admitted she is only now realizing how far ahead her supporters are in their campaign preparations.
She said it is no longer a traditional campaign but one that has evolved into a people’s movement that is so “heartwarming” because people are digging from their own pockets.”
Robredo also thanked local government leaders who have stepped forward to openly declare their support for her and running mate Sen. Francis Pangilinan.
Robredo acknowledged that because of the political climate, many local executives who are quietly backing her are concerned about political reprisals.
Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reiterated she is not running for president in next year’s elections. She issued the statement amid speculations arising from her meeting with presidential aspirant former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Cebu City on Saturday during a birthday event.
She would not say what she and Marcos discussed but said her party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, can help him in his campaign in the Davao region.
In Manila, supporters of Mayor and presidential aspirant Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso held a motorcade from Manila to Caloocan yesterday, the mayor’s 47th birthday.
Around 1,000 motorcycle riders and 100 cars participated in the motorcade dubbed the “Blue Wave Caravan.”
Moreno shares the same birth date with his running mate Doc Willie Ong.
Ong turned 58 years old Sunday.
The event started in Moriones, Tondo going to Smokey Mountain, Manila City Hall, then to Quiapo Church, before proceeding to Quezon Boulevard to Commonwealth Avenue and then to Caloocan City before returning to Moriones.
Some of the participants tied blue balloons on their vehicles as well as Moreno-Ong stickers.
The election watchdog Kontra Daya asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to take action against premature campaigning activities, like motorcades and caravans.
“Comelec should step up and not be confined to legal technicalities on premature campaigning,” said convenor Danilo Arao.
“The color-coded motorcades and public gatherings at this time are meant to project support for certain candidates,” said Arao. — With Ashzel Hachero and Gerard Naval
