ANNOUNCEMENT

Three months before 2021 came to an end, Leni Robredo, Philippine vice president and leader of the opposition Liberal Party of the Philippines (LP), finally decided that she will run for president in the 2022 elections. In announcing her decision to join the presidential race, Robredo vowed to fight for a better Philippines, “where the government truly puts the interest of the Filipino people front and center.”

Her Vice Presidential pick is no other than CALD Chair and Philippine Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan. According to Robredo, she chose Senator Pangilinan to be her running mate because of his simplicity and his willingness to help. “I saw how he works and for us public officials, what’s important, too, is his personality,” Robredo said. “There are many who are great but somewhere along the way, they forget the values.”

The #LeniKiko campaign has since received outpouring support from the Filipino community. Millions of Filipinos on social media turned their profiles pink, wore pink outfits, and attended caravans. Pink is a symbol of radicalism and accepting that there is something wrong and wanting to resolve it, according to Robredo.

The campaign has clearly been turning into a people’s movement. Pangilinan shared that he has never had a billboard for his previous campaigns, but now he and Robredo have billboards left and right, thanks to the donations of various Filipinos who want to see change.

“The future is something we choose, something we work for, something we fight for,” Robredo said when she announced her candidacy on October 7 in Manila. “We have to choose to step forward. Here I am today, taking that step forward.”