AMID the troubling reports of some Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) receiving pre-shaded ballots in the mail electing Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte-Carpio, amid some overseas absentee voters suddenly not finding their names in the roster of eligible voters even when they have already registered and voted in the past with good standing in the community…
Amid the misogynist attack of presidential candidate Isko Moreno against the lone female candidate VP Leni Robredo, asking the VP who places second in (questionable) polls to withdraw from the race so that those trailing behind her would get the attention they are craving for…
Amid the P203-Billion unpaid estate tax by the Marcos family, represented by its administrator presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos whose campaign continues to spew lies and disinformation to discredit VP Leni Robredo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, resorting to peddling malicious fake sex videos targeting Robredo’s eldest daughter Aika…
Indeed, the Lord has ways to reveal the true color of presidential candidates, how they respond to crisis situations, how they are truly transparent and accountable to the Filipino people, and just how true of a public servants they are.
Trending now on social media is the big switch of supporters — ordinary Filipino voters who now join honorable former government officials, retired military officers, members of the academe, businessmen and financial analysts, professional groups of doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses, artists, even the farmers, fishermen, nongovernment organization leaders fighting for the truth, justice, good governance, human rights, the rule of law, etc — in endorsing and campaigning for Leni Robredo and her only chosen trusted Vice Presidential candidate Kiko Pangilinan.
Why the big switch? What did they find in Leni and Kiko that made them decide to drop the candidate they formerly were supporting to give their all out vote of trust and confidence to Leni and Kiko? Here are some of their comments on social media in response to Papi Lucas on Twitter.
“I’m thinking of switching to Leni just because I just don’t want bbm to win this race. For me he is incompetent and not a great leader. Naging sikat lang siya because of his father, nevertheless Leni is our 2nd choice . So be it if the survey stand still We will Switch to Leni. At first I was hesitant to switch to her side but then again I realized something. Isa sa pinaka tumatak sakin is bukod tanging siya lang ang “ Walang Bahid ng Korapsyon, Transparent at honest”. Katangiang hindi ko nakita sa ibang kandidato. Enlighten me why Leni Please?
Team Isko kase kami buong fam pero sa nakikita kong survey mukhang si leni lang ang may chance na lumaban for bbm.”— Papiii Lucass
“Si VP Leni hindi pakitang tao ang pagtulong sa kapwa. Kahit noong wala pa sya sa politika ay matulungin na sya sa mga nasa laylayan. Kaya nung mapasok sya sa politika ay sinikap nya lalo ang makatulong sa pamamagitan ng mga programa nya tulad ng Angat Buhay program.” — Rina David
“Sa conference nangyari nakita ko ang ugali ni Isko.yung walang galang sa babae.Di kasalanan ni VP Leni na yung mga supporters ni Isko ay lumipat kay VP Leni.May nakita mga dating supporters sa paguugali lately ni Isko.ok si Isko sana pero hindi ito time.maaga pa.Nagulat ako bakit ganun na lang galit nya kay VP Leni.bakit si VP Leni ang gusto nya umatras.dahil ba sa Transparency Act na ipapatupad ni VP Leni?sa nangyari conference pinakita ni Isko ang extreme desire nya to win over VP Leni.wala sya sinabi tungkol kay BBM.” — Katrina Joaquin
“700B ang nawawala sa kaban ng bayan kada taon dahil sa korupsyon. Imagine 700B na galing sa pinaghirapan ng taong bayan, na dapat sana napakinabangan natin. Pero binulsa lang ng mga ganid na buwaya. Papayag ka ba na nakawin lang ang pinaghirapang mong tax? Kaya kay Leni na tayo.” — Jaxpineda1
“Bakit si LENI?
She has The Qualification:
L- Love for God and country
E- Excel on helping the needy with insufficient budget
N- No record of corruption
I – Intelligent as professional lawyer and economist”
— Rommel Manalo
“These are few of OVP’s proj (PPE procurement, locally made PPEs, Bayanihan E-Consulta, Test kits, food and care paCKages, shuttle service, relief operations, online community market, teacher training, etc.) just in the pandemic alone. Before pa taco mag lockdown she already had a meeting with experts as part of her prep. Kaya nung nag lockdown, isa siya, if not the first, sa mga nakapagsend agad ng PPEs at nag provide ng shelter at transpo sa medical frontliners.” — Prongs05
“Being in govt service, nasa kanya talaga yung ina-advocate na data-based planning (na hindi puwede sa executives na tamad), proactive, & prudence & transparency in govt spending.” — @Joyjoyclar
“Pinaka impt sa akin yung 3 yrs in a row na highest rating nakuha ng Office of the VP sa Commission on Audit. Ibig sabihin, walang nakitang corruption! Mahalaga sa akin yun kasi ayoko ng Presidenteng pasimpleng nagnanakaw” — @Tonettejadaone
“At bilang auditor sa COA, binubusisi talaga namin ang agency. Financial, Compliance at Performance audit yon tapos 3 years in a row na Unqualified sila so it speaks Transparency!”
— randomcuites22
“Even oppositions can’t find anything to use against her apart from lenlen, lugaw, babae, fake and spliced videos, accusations with no evidence. Isko pocketed money that he can use to improve the conditions of his constituents. Even if you say that’s legal, delicadeza na lang.” — Baguio1973
“It’s the pandemic response of the OVP that really made me think she is fit for the job. So efficient and very much in tune with what the public needs. Also, walang corruption at all, since COA always gives her office a high rating.” — Nuelle Duterte (Niece of President Duterte)
“Unahin na natin ang Angat Buhay Project niya. Limitadong budget, pero napakacomprehensibo ng sakop. Makikita mo naman po sa OVP reports lahat-lahat ng proyekto nila, pero eto po noong ang 1st yr plng nila.” — @MeasinmeMe
“If I were to hire a President AND Vice President they should be someone na alam ang reyalidad ng ordinaryong pinoy – not limited to their cities but basically in tune sa eksena sa lahat ng areas ng bansa- not purong lip service lang.” — @ToniSpeakEasy
“Mabilis umaksyon. Walang bahid ng korapsyon. Malinis ang track record. Walang mga kasong kinakaharap sa ibang bansa. Hindi political dynasty at napakahumble ng pamilya.” — @Nelson_0628
“Kasi mabuti syang tao. Legit yung bayanihan ekonsulta. Nagaattend pa sya ng debriefing ng volunteers pag may time sya. Ganun nya pahalagahan ang kapwa nya. Hindi mema lang yung mahal ko kayo. Totoo sya…” — @KEvangelista24
“Di pa siya pulitiko NGO worker na siya at nagserve as probono lawyer sa SALIGAN. At ang pagiging NGO worker niya nadala niya hanggang sa naging pulitiko siya. Pwede mong icheck ang angat buhay program niya at website niya https://lenirobredo.com
Pwede ifact check yan.”
— @BuddyReyes27
“1. Highest COA rating = all funds in OVP are liquidated down to the last centavo.
- Proactive in the pandemic and disaster response.
- Highly involved sa Marawi rehabilitation (pabahay, livelihood).
- Livelihood programs sa mga mahihirap na communities.”
— @MATom_MD
“We need an economic expert amidst the pandemic, the rising gasoline prices, and the climate crisis (“Let the Earth Breathe”). Si Leni yan. Some of her platforms include the Public Employment Program, National Unemployment Insurance Program, etc.” — @Sivviee
“Yung projects niya, pinagiisipan to address root causes hindi lang band aid solutions. And nagagawa niya to ng walang bahid ng korapsyon at supplemented ng donations from people who trust her. Walang kuryente sa Agutaya? Solar alternative naman. Walang iniiwan si VP.” — @altacctjustcoz
“Walang masyadong mandato pero maraming nagawa ang kaniyang opisina. Sa mga bagyo o anumang sakuna siya ay laging handa, kahit limited budget. Pag siya mabigyan ng pagkakataon na maging Presidente mas marami pa siyang magagawa at hindi mababaon sa utang ang Pilipinas.” — @Diana_Nicole03
“VP Leni has spent most of her adult life working for the poor and the disadvantaged. With little or no pay. She’s a public servant at heart. Nasa puso ang pagtulong. Sana you can consider her on May 9. Thank you!” — @ItIsRight
“Hindi sya ang lesser evil, si VP Leni talaga ang good choice. Minsan lang dadaan sa life natin ang ganitong candidate. For the longest years, nasanay tayo na lagi corrupt namumuno, this time good at clean governance naman. with VP office received 3x highest COA rating.” — @GreatMidoriya
“Marami nang sagot pero para saken, yung super empath nya. Di kase un napag-aaralan sa school or napepeke. Either may pake ka sa kapwa mo, or wala. Siya kase, ramdam talaga. Empaths know empaths after all. Kaya ramdam talaga na sincere sya. Di pabibo lang. At ang hottest take saken: alam kong wala siyang pagkakautangan ng loob except sa mga tao din. Etong people’s campaign ang biggest proof. The voters are investing on her and kiko. So kung may pagkakautangan sila ng loob, ang voters yun. Nasatin ang panalo. :)” — @cheonsa232
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989. She was a news anchor, TV host and radio commentator and public service host for ABS- CBN and DZMM. She is now working on her advocacies independently, serving the Filipino audience using different media platforms. You may contact her through email at [email protected], or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos. Also on Twitter, Instagram: Gel Santos Relosv
