The Streets of Pasig Bleeds Pink in Support of Leni-Kiko Tandem

In the middle of a pandemic, in a country that has suffered much loss, in a sea of people wary of new leadership, the crowd shouts "Leni! Leni! Leni!" in hopes of a new beginning.

 

A sea of Pink washed over Emerald Avenue in Pasig City as early as noon last March 20, 2022. An estimated 130,000 Kakampinks stood shoulder to shoulder, wavering in the heat just to show support to vice-presidential candidate Leni Robredo.

 

Before her speech, Robredo raised her right hand, asking the crowd to chant the name of Kiko Pangilinan who is her running mate. Pangilinan could not be at the rally as the Commission on Elections vice-presidential debates were happening at the same time.

 

Celebrities for Leni

 

Many known personalities stood stern in support of Leni. Julia Barretto and Robi Domingo's hosting together with Melai Cantiveros' witty banters kept the attendees entertained all day long. 

 

Cherry Pie Picache gave a heartfelt speech, "Kasama niya tayong maglilingkod sabay sabay. Bubuo tayo ng gobyreno na nakaugat sa kabutihan." 

 

"Nasa puso ka namin, Leni Robredo" Picache cries together with thousands of Kakampinks.

 

Several artists like Ben and Ben, Itchyworms, and Rivermaya also hyped the audience. The crowd echoed in cheers as they sang along.

 

Emotions were most evident when singers Gab Pangilinaan and Nica del Rosario serenaded the crowd with Robredo's campaign theme song, "Rosas."

 

Standing strong amidst Fake News

 

Despite the numerous attacks on Kakampinks naming them "bayaran," the sea of the pink crowd says otherwise. The Pasigueños at the rally were proactive in the campaign; the LGBTQIA+ community together with frontliners, professionals, persons with disability, and the urban poor cried out for Leni.

 

Many are quick to discredit the number of people that showed up at her rallies. Countless photographs of crowds that were photoshopped spread over the internet and one way to battle against it was the deafening chant coming from the Pasigueños.

 

The Robredo camp has yet again, despite being undeterred by her survey numbers, proves that the fight for the seat has only gotten much tighter.

 

The Pasig-Laban Hangover

 

Social Media netizens went into a frenzy when Ariana Grande reposted a clip of Kakampinks in the Pasig Rally chanting along to her song "Break Free."

 

"I could not believe this was real. I love you more than words." Grande captioned in her story.

 

Netizens were quick to throw witty banters on this international intervention. "Leni's team must have millions in the budget for her to afford Ariana Grande," one netizen joked on Twitter.

 

Following Grande's story, Bretman Rock who is an international internet sensation also took to his story the Pasig Rally.

 

Rock is a Filipino social media influencer based in Hawaii. He captioned his story, "this statement shook me to the core... The president is a woman."