Over 20,000 supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo flocked to the Quezon City Memorial Circle on Sunday, according to Robredo, in a show of support for her presidential campaign.
The presidential candidate said her supporters, dubbed as "Kakampinks," who showed up on the "Pink Sunday" grand rally want to change the system of governance in the Philippines.
"Ito po 'yung mga taong nagdesisyon na panahon na 'yung kapangyarihan natin gamitin natin para mabago ang takbo ng ating pamahalaan," Robredo said.
(These are the people who decided that it’s time to use our power to change the way the government is being run.)
Initial estimates for the massive crowd were said to be around 5,000, said the vice president, adding that she insisted against declaring the number of expected attendees for the grand rally.
"Kahapon po na nasa Zambales ako, nakita ko po sa Twitter saka sa Facebook, 'yung umaga pa lang nakalagay, 5,000 people daw yung expected," she said.
(Yesterday when I was in Zambales, I saw on Twitter and Facebook that morning that there were 5,000 expected attendees.)
"Sinasabihan ko na po 'yung team namin, wag kayong maglalagay ng 5,000 kasi baka hindi naman natin makaya yung 5,000. Sabi ko, okay na 'yun na sabihin natin na imbitado 'yung mga supporters, pero wag na magsabi ng numero," she narrated.
(I told our team to not include the 5,000 because we might not be able to meet that. I said, it’s okay to say that supporters are invited, just don’t say numbers.)
However, the vice president said the expected numbers further hiked to 10,000 by noon, and then 20,000 by evening.
"Mukhang wala sa'king nakinig, kasi 'yung tanghali 'yung 5,000 naging 10,000 na. Tapos nung pauwi na po kami nung gabi, lalo akong ninerbyos kasi ang nakalagay na 20,000 people expected," she said.
(It seems like no one listened, because by noon the 5,000 became 10,000. And then when we got home by evening, I became even more nervous because it said 20,000 people were expected.)
"Pero mabuti naman pala na hindi sila sumunod, dahil ngayong araw po lampas-lampas tayo sa 20,000 people," she added.
(But I’m glad that they did not follow me because today we have more than 20,000 people.)
Robredo was joined by her running mate, vice presidential candidate, and Senator Francis Pangilinan.
Some members of her senatorial lineup were also present, namely Senator Antonio Trillanes, Atty. Alex Lacson, Atty. Sonny Matula, Senator Dick Gordon, Senator Risa Hontiveros, Atty. Chel Diokno, and former Ifugao Governor Teddy Baguilat.
Senator Leila De Lima, who is also a member of Robredo's lineup, was also present and introduced during the event.
