BACOLOD City – Negrenses welcomed presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo as their new “Star of Hope” with a jampacked grand people’s rally here and crowds that gathered at her various stops in Negros Occidental throughout Friday, March 11.
Tens of thousands of Negrenses gathered at the Paglaum Sports Complex here to support their next President. They waved pink parols symbolizing the hope they believe a Robredo presidency will bring to the country.
Negros Occidental’s “Stars of Hope” began as a livelihood project that employed thousands of workers across the province after their sugar industry plummeted during martial law in the 1980s.
Tens of thousands of farmers lost their livelihood, resulting in hunger and malnutrition for hundreds of thousands of the province’s children.
The whole of Friday, Robredo barnstormed across the province. She was met by thousands of joyful, pink-clad supporters everywhere she went.
Robredo started her long day with a rally at the Bishop’s Compound in San Carlos City where she was endorsed by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Speaking in Hiligaynon, Lacson told supporters that Robredo is intelligent, sincere, helpful, and trustworthy. He said with a sincere government, everyone’s lives are uplifted.
Robredo then proceeded to rallies in Sagay City and Kabankalan, where she was warmly greeted with trademark Negros Occidental hospitality.
In Barangay Caradio-an in Himamaylan, Robredo spent time with beneficiaries of the eight of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) Community Learning Hubs in Himamaylan.
The hubs are part of Robredo’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response operations in the province, which also include the teacher training program of Bayanihan e-Skwela, personal protective equipment (PPEs) and medical supplies to 36 medical institutions, offices, and local government units (LGUs) and the vaccine express which vaccinated over 2,000 people.
Meanwhile, the Angat Buhay programs of the OVP in Negros Occidential include a feeding program in Hinobaan and livelihood subsidies for groups in Hinobaan, Murcia, and Sipalay; the construction of classroom buildings, solar kits, and solar-powered electric fans to help public education, as well as subsidies for groups involved in rural development and women empowerment.
“Ang pagmamahal pinapakita natin hindi sa salita kundi sa gawa. At tayo pong mga botante ‘yun dapat ‘yung hihingiin natin sa bawat manliligaw sa atin,” Robredo told supporters in Sagay, after which she explained how the Office of the Vice President received the highest Commission on Audit rating for three years in a row.
“Kahit po maliit ‘yung budget namin marami kaming natutulong dahil inaasikaso po namin ‘yung pera ng bayan na walang mahuhulog sa korapsyon,” she said.
“Pag sinabi po naming ‘Magiging matapat ang gobyerno,’ meron na kaming resibo. Dahil kami po ni Senator Kiko [Pangilinan] sa mahabang panahon ng panunungkulan kahit po isang beses hindi kami nadawit sa katiwalian,” she said. “Kaya po bawat pupunta dito, pag sinabing ‘Ayoko sa korapsyon’, hingian niyo ng resibo. Pagsinabing ‘Aasikasuhin ko ‘yung mahihirap’, tanungin ninyo kung papano pinakita ‘yung pagmamahal sa mahihirap. Pag wala pong korapsyon, talagang aangat ang buhay ng lahat kasi mapapangalagaan natin ‘yung pera ng bayan.”
Robredo went to more rallies in Binalbagan City and La Carlota and a whistlestop in Hinigaran where she was joined by her daughters, Aika and Tricia.
Entertainment was courtesy of a slew celebrities including Sharon Cuneta, Edu Manzano, Joel Torre, Ronnie Lazaro, Agot Isidro, Ogie Diaz, Mama Loi, Dyosa Pockoh, DJ Joey and Nikki Valdez, Kuh Ledesma, The Company, Kyla, Gab Valenciano, Janina Vela, Tippi dos Santos, Kay Leni Tayo Singers, Curtismith, Gracenote, Mayonnaise, and Rivermaya./PN
