Negrenses welcomed presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo as their new Star of Hope, with a jampacked grand people’s rally in Bacolod City and crowds that gathered at her various stops in Negros Occidental throughout Friday, March 11.
At press time, tens of thousands of Negrenses have gathered at the Paglaum sports stadium in Bacolod City, waiting for the program to start and waiting to see 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 City, where she was warmly greeted with trademark Negros Occidental hospitality.
In Barangay Caradio-an in Himamaylan City, Robredo spent time with beneficiaries of the eight of the OVP’s Community Learning Hubs in Himamaylan.
The hubs are part of Robredo’s COVID-19 response operations in the province, which also include the teacher training program of Bayanihan e-Skwela, PPEs and medical supplies to 36 medical institutions, offices, and LGUs and the vaccine express which vaccinated over 2,000 people.
Meanwhile, the Angat Buhay programs of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in Negros Occidental include a feeding program in Hinobaan and livelihood subsidies for groups in Hinobaan, Murcia, and Sipalay City; the building 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 kong pinapakita natin hindi sa salita kundi sa gawa. At tayo pong mga botante ‘yung dapat ‘yung hihingiin natin sa bawat manliligaw sa atin,” she said to supporters in Sagay, after which she explained how the OVP has 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. Pag sinabing “Aasikasuhin ko ‘yung mahihirap,” tanungin niyo 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 and La Carlota City 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, as well as Kuh Ledesma, The Company, Kyla, Gab Valenciano, Janina Vela, Tippi dos Santos, Kay Leni Tayo Singers, Curtismith, Gracenote, Mayonnaise, and Rivermaya./WDJ