Robredo: Winning the good fight, like ousting dictator Marcos, always starts small

KALIBO, Aklan — Vice President and presidential candidate Leni Robredo on Tuesday told supporters here that positive change will not happen by electing the same powerful people, and that the forces of change—such as the student-led movement that eventually ousted the dictator President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986—can start small.

"Kami ni Senator Kiko [Pangilinan], bago ng taon ng People Power Revolution, pareho kaming students sa UP. Iyong panahon na iyon, kasagsagan ng dictatorship. Nung nag-uumpisa pa lang ang kaunting mga rallies, demonstrations, hindi naman nag-umpisa sa maramihan lahat," Robredo told cheering supporters, referring to her running mate, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan.

(Senator Kiko and I, before the People Power Revolution happened, we were both students at the University of the Philippines. In those days, we were in the midst of the dictatorship. It started with a few rallies, demonstrations. It didn't start with the majority.) 

Robredo made the statement two days after a Pulse Asia poll still showed her a far second (16%) to former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. (60%), who is the son of the late dictator.

"Na- umpisa po ito sa kaunti, maliliit na grupo na naglakas-loob na labanan iyong mali na sa ating lipunan. Ako po mismo, late bloomer ako, kapareho rin ng marami sa inyo, hindi rin po ako nakikisali. Pero nag iba iyon ng 1983, noong nag-iba ng takbo ang ating lipunan," Robredo said.

(It started with small groups who dared stand up against injustice. I myself was a late bloomer and I was not joining these protests. But it all changed in 1983 when our society took a major turn.)

"[Ito ay] dahil iyong pagbabago sa lipunan, nagsisimula sa kakaunting malakas ang loob. Walang pagbabagong mangyayari kung ang sasamahan lang natin ay yung dating makapangyarihan," she pointed out.

(Progressive change starts with the few who had the courage to speak up. We cannot expect change if we will only elect the same powerful people.)

"Ang pagbabago, hindi pwedeng asahan sa kaunti lang na makapangyarihan, walang pagbabago na maayos kung sila-sila lang ang mag-uusap at di tayo kasama sa usapan," she added.

(We cannot expect change when we only choose among the same powerful people. Nothing will change when the conversation is only for the powerful and our voice is not being heard.)

Pangilinan agreed, saying that candidates should be gauged on their competence and track record rather than unverified TikTok and YouTube videos.

"Malungkot man isipin, marami pa ang naniniwala na ang basehan para mamili kung sino ang mamumuno ay TikTok. Tama ba yun? Ang basehan para piliin kung sino ang mamumuno ay YouTube, sapat ba yun? Lalo na’t puno ng kasinungalingan, puno ng panlilinlang, puno ng mga peke ang lumalabas dito," he said.

(It is sad that many people base their choice of leader on Tiktok, YouTube, which have become a platform of lies. Are those videos enough to make a decision when they are feeding us lies?)

"Kaya dapat tayo pag sinuyo, tignan natin ang katotohanan, ang totoong track record, 'yung nagawa at hindi yung pinapangako lamang. Walang pagbabagong mangyayari kung ang sasamahan lang natin ay yung dating makapangyarihan," he added in an earlier campaign stop in Capiz.

(If someone asks for our vote, let us find the truth, the track record, the accomplishment, not the promises. We cannot expect change when we elect the same powerful people.) — BM, GMA News