Vice President Leni Robredo personally filed on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, her certificate of candidacy for president in the 2022 elections at the Harbor Garden tent of Hotel Sofitel in Pasay City.聽 (Photo courtesy of OVP)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday lamented the lack of machinery and resources but welcomed the 鈥渙verwhelming鈥� public support聽 after she decided to run for president in the 2022 elections.
鈥淎lam natin kung gaano kahirap kasi wala tayong makinarya ngayon, hindi tulad nung 2016. Wala tayong resources na kailangan na kailangan sa kampanya. Hindi tayo naghanda,鈥� Robredo said during her聽 BISErbisyong LENI radio program aired on DZXL.
(We know how difficult it is because we do not have machinery unlike in 2016. We do not have the resources needed for campaigning. We did not prepare.)
Robredo, however, cited the public鈥檚 overwhelming support after she announced her presidential bid.
鈥淗indi natin inaasahan 鈥榶ung overwhelming na reaction ng tao. Akala namin 鈥榶ung matutuwa lang 鈥榶ung dati nang supporters,鈥� Robredo shared.
(We did not expect the public鈥檚 overwhelming reaction. We thought only our supporters would be happy.)
鈥淧ero nakikita namin ngayon, ibang-iba. After the announcement, ang dami talagang nag-vo-volunteer. Ang daming gumagastos ng sariling pera. Ang iba nga nakikita ko na lang sa Facebook. Ang daming nag-iisip ng mga paraan kung paano makatulong,鈥� she went on, expressing appreciation to those who supported her.
(Now, it is different. After the announcement, many people volunteered and shelled out their own money. I saw some of it on Facebook. Many people are thinking of ways to help.)
Undeterred
鈥淎lam natin na marami sa mga kumakandidato, ilang taon na naghahanda. Tayo ay wala talaga,鈥� she added.
(We know that many of the candidates have been preparing for years.)
聽鈥淧ero lagi ko naman 鈥榯o sinasabi na tayo kahit mahirap 鈥榩ag naramdaman natin na ito 鈥榶ung tamang dapat gawin, handa tayo dapat isuong 鈥榶ung kahirapan,鈥� said Robredo.
(But, like I always say, although it is difficult, if we feel that this is the right thing to do, we are ready to take on the聽 challenges.)
Public support
Robredo also mentioned that the public鈥檚 support for her may be an affirmation that her decision to run is right.
鈥淪abi ko nga kanina wala akong resources. Wala tayong makinarya pero 鈥榶ung suporta ng taumbayan nagpapakita na 鈥榩ag taumbayan na talaga 鈥榶ung nag-desisyong gumalaw, wala nang laban 鈥榶ung laki ng makinarya ng iba. Kasi tao na 鈥榯o,鈥� the vice president pointed out.
(As I鈥檝e said, I do not have the resources and machinery. But the public鈥檚 support shows that if they mobilize, we can outdo the machinery of other candidates.)
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