Supporters brave rainy weather to attend Robredo sortie in GenSan (Sabong News)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY— Vice President Leni Robredo’s supporters, who call themselves “kakampinks,” did not let the rainy weather here dampen their spirits as they attended her first grand rally in the SOCCSKSARGEN region. Supporters were soaked as many of them chose to stay on the field to listen to the senatorial candidates’ speeches, but the energy was still palpable. Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno and reelectionist Senator Richard Gordon chose to get wet as they spoke to a jampacked crowd that obviously adored him. But when it was Robredo’s running mate, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan’s turn on stage, the rain stopped and people who initially took cover returned on the field. Robredo took the stage next to thank supporters who stayed to watch the “Tropang Angat” despite the bad weather. Obviously miffed by allegations that her supporters were “hakot,” or paid to attend her grand rallies that so far drew the biggest of 86,000 people in Bacolod, the Vice President assured the crowd that she knew they have done more for her. “Alam ko naman ‘yun. Alam kong hindi kayo bayad pero madami sa inyo talagang abonado pa (I know that. I know that you’re not paid, but many of you spent their own money),” she said, noting that people spent on “creative” placards and lugaw (rice porridge)-eating initiatives. Repeating her message from her other rallies, Robredo emphasized that changing the color and surname of the politicians is not enough. Rather, there needs to be a change in the “old and rotten politics” that engage in transactional and the “palakasan (patronage)” politics. “Ang kailangn po natin ibalik yung matino, mahusay, masipag, at makataong pamamahala (We need to bring back a decent, excellent, industrious, and humane governance),” she said. “Gobyernong agad na sasaklolo sa mga nangangailangan, na handang pumunta kahit saan, kahit anong oras. Handang humarap sa kahit anong laban. Walang itinatago. Walang pagtataguan. Walang aatrasan kaya walang maiiwan (A government that helps those in need, that’s ready to go anywhere, anytime. Ready to face whatever battle. Nothing to hide. Nothing to hide from. Nothing to back away from so that no one gets left behind),” Robredo added. The aspiring president promised to be an “ally” no matter the crisis, and said she’s excited to work for “18 hours” alongside her supporters. With only 55 days to go to Election Day, Robredo challenged her kakampinks to leave no stone unturned and convert people to join her cause. “Iisa ang pinagdadaanan natin. Iisa ang laban natin. Iisa ang mga pangarap natin. At ang landas na tungo sa mga pangarap na to, gobyernong tapat sa tungkulin, tapat sa pinaglilingkuran (We go through the same thing. We fight for the same thing. We have the same dream. And the way to these dreams is a government honest to its duties, honest to its people),” she said. The Vice President, who had been receiving endorsements from the academe, lawyers, doctors, human rights advocates, retired military officers, ex-government officials, the clergy, economists, and even members of President Duterte’s political party, ended her speech by reading some witty placards from the thousands of kakampinks here.