Leni-Kiko thanksgiving rally moved from QC Circle to Ateneo

The thanksgiving rally of  Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan will be held at the Ateneo de Manila University grounds instead of the original venue at the Quezon City Memorial Circle after the local government turned down its application for permit.

In an advisory, Robredo and Pangilinan asked their supporters to go to Ateneo at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 13 for the gathering dubbed “Tayo Ang Liwanag: Isang Pasasalamat."

“Bagamat ikinalulungkot namin ito, iginagalang namin ang pasya ng lokal na pamahalaan. Nananabik kaming makasama ang mga kaibigan, kapwa-volunteer, supporter, at kapwa Pilipino sa Ateneo grounds bukas,” their camp said.

(While we’re saddened by this, we respect the decision of the local government. We are excited to see our friends, co-volunteers, supporters, and fellow Filipinos on Ateneo grounds tomorrow.)

The QC government, meanwhile, said it turned down the request due to the posed “significant risk” to overall public safety brought about by the expected large crowd the event will draw.

“The QC-DPOS (Department of Public Order and Safety) explained that the presence of an enormous crowd (without the benefit of a previously-arranged crowd control plan) on a weekday would cause massive traffic jams, countless stranded commuters, and a significant risk to overall public safety. Given this, the pending request for the event was not granted, and the organizers understood and respected their decision,” it said.

The Thanksgiving event will be held four days after the conduct of the May 9 polls.

Robredo is trailing behind leading presidential bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. based on the partial, unofficial tally of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

As of 4:17 p.m. on May 12, Robredo got 14,822,026 votes compared to Marcos Jr. 's 31,104,060.

Pangilinan is  second to vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio with 9,232,875 votes.

‘Kakampinks’ to open ‘Pink Museum’

In a Facebook Live video, Robredo announced “Kakampink” volunteers are planning to put up a “Pink Museum” in Naga City to memorialize her election campaign, which was primarily driven by volunteers.

It will include artworks and other gifts she received from supporters during the 90-day election campaign.

“Marami dito na ayaw namin bitawan dahil sobrang historic at sobrang meaningful nang nangyari noong seven months. So ngayon, nagde-decide kami kung paanong gagawin,” she said.

(We don’t want to let go of a lot of things here because what happened in the last seven months was historic and meaningful. We’re still deciding what to do.)

“Nanggaling ako sa Naga, ‘yung grupo ng volunteers doon nagpaplano silang gumawa ng ‘Pink Museum’. Siguro sa Manila pwede rin tayo gumawa kasi sobrang dami talagang dapat nakatago for posterity, she added.

(I arrived from Naga and some volunteers there are planning to put up a ‘Pink Museum’. Maybe we can also establish one here in Manila because we have a lot of things to keep for posterity.)

Robredo also raised the possibility of holding an auction on several items targeted to raise funds for her programs.

“Pwede rin magkaroon tayo ng bigay or auction to raise funds for our projects, and yung ipa-fundraising natin para pangtulong sa mga nangangailangan,” she said

(We can also hold an auction to raise funds for our projects…. and whatever we will raise, we will use it to help the marginalized.)—LDF, GMA News