Vice President Leni Robredo met with supporters in Baguio City and thanked Cordillerans “for all their sacrifices.”
“I thank you all. Just like what the national artists are saying awhile ago, despite difficulties, we will fight. Even if there are obstacles, we cannot give up because we all know that what we are fighting is right, we will win,” she said.
She thanked the endorsement of three prominent personalities whose works are widely celebrated in the region: National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, also known as Rio Alma; National Artist for Visual Arts Ben Cabrera or BenCab, as he is popularly known; and National Artit for Film Eric Oteyza de Guia, also known as Kidlat Tahimik.
Robredo and her running-mate Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan held that Takder Kordi Cordillera Grand Rally held at Mervin Jones Football Field Monday evening in Baguio.
An estimated crowd of about 30,000 intermittently burst into chants of “Awan Ti Solid North”, meaning “there is no Solid North,” rejecting the perception that Northern Luzon voters fully support Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Last Easter Sunday, Marcos reportedly skipped his Baguio rally at the same venue because of low turn-out.
Fr. Gilbert Sales, president of St. Louis University, said universities and colleges in the city have gathered and expressed support for the Leni-Kiko tandem. Sales said because the schools realize that Robredo is a “God-fearing” leader who loves her country. He also urged residents to vote for Robredo.
Ray Dean Salvosa, board chair of the University of Cordilleras, said For the first time in the history of Baguio, the big three universities: University of Baguio, University of the Cordilleras and St. Louis University are shedding their neutrality and are openly coming out for Leni and her team.”
“I am 75 years old. I will die in the next five years or so but my children and my grandchildren are going to live in this country and ang hino-hope ko is they will live under a government, a president that they can respect. So tandaan niyo’ yan, laban natin ‘to. Laban ‘to ng mga anak natin. Laban ‘to ng mga apo ko,” he added.
Virgilio Bautista, former president of University of Baguio, said supporters want to make sure Robredo and Pangilinan will run the country and ally fears of a martial law declaration.
For National Artist Ben Cab, who has a museum here, said: “Ang masasabi ko lang, ang karapat-dapat na maging pangulo ng Pilipinas ay si Leni Robredo at bise-presidente si Kiko Pangilinan. Wala nang iba.”
Baguio resident National Artist Kidlat Tahimik said: “Wag tayo masindak doon sa mga polls, na predicting na babalik daw ang dark days ng martial law. Hindi yan babalik, I’m sure, dahil meron tayong mga alternatibo talagang may lakas na ipapaluwas sa atin (make us safe).”
National Artist Almario, for his part, said: “Panahon na para magbago ang Pilipinas, panahon na para mawala ang korapsyon at mangayayri lamang ito kung kasama naming kayo na iboboto sa Mayo a nueve ang ating Kakampink.”
If elected vice-president, Pangilinan promises to arrest vegetable smugglers who distress the income and livelihood of Benguet farmers.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Cordillera Administrative Region) in 2020 produced a total of 366,314.6 metric tons of various vegetables from over 23,000 hectares of farm lands. Vegetable crops include broccoli, cauliflower, kangkong, lettuce, pechay, banana blossom, peanut, string beans, gourd, okra, squash, ginger, pepper, carrots, gabi, radish and garlic.
