By Joseph B.A. Marzan
Ilonggos in the city woke up Friday, October 8, 2021 to pink ribbons and cars donned with tarpaulins and flyers expressing support for Vice President Leni Robredo’s 2022 presidential bid.
The Ilonggos for Leni coalition held a mass at the Jaro Cathedral on Friday, which was followed by a caravan going around the districts of Mandurriao, Jaro, La Paz, City Proper, Molo, and Arevalo.
The caravan was also met by avid supporters outside their homes and businesses who waved pink shirts, sashes, flags, and images of the vice-president, manifesting a groundswell of support.
The caravan was approved by the Iloilo City government through a letter of request, with accordance to minimum health protocols.
Ilonggos for Leni spokesperson Ariel Castañeda confirmed that 300 vehicles participated.
Castañeda said that the mass and the caravan was a “spontaneous movement” that had been planned and organized 6 hours after Robredo announced her intent to run for the chief executive post.
“It was a spontaneous movement within 6 hours after she had accepted the nomination, and she was going to file her candidacy as president. Unbelievably, a lot of people responded to the invitation and now involved different sectors, including professionals, regular people, and the religious, among others,” Castañeda told Daily Guardian.
He said that many joined not only because of their support for the vice president, but because of a genuine desire for things to change in the country.
“We are people who want to elect the next president who can effect changes. Probably, this is also a show of discontent of the way things are being managed, especially this pandemic,” he said.
He added that they will continue to recruit more people to campaign for Robredo and move towards convincing more people on the ground.
