Opinion: In Some Ways, VP Leni Has Already Won Even Before The Election | By Manuel L. Caballero

Photo courtesy of VP Leni Robredo FB page

ON MY WATCH

BY MANUEL L. CABALLERO

IN SOME WAYS, VP LENI HAS ALREADY WON EVEN BEFORE THE ELECTION

A political operative in Washington DC once warned that a politician who prepares for election 2 years in advance wants only political power for personal interest. That could be Marcos Jr. , isn't it?

VP Leni decided she will join the presidential aspirants in the Philippines in October 2021, 6 months before the May 9, 2022 elections.

In fact, during my two of three interviews with VP Leni here in the US in 2018 and 2019, I asked her if she had plans to run for president in the 2022 elections. In both, her answers were the same, she was not thinking of the next elections because the country had so many problems.

From day one (last October) since she offered herself to be a candidate for president, this vice president has already "won" a number of things. 

The first was when the Filipino people simultaneously and spontaneously made pink the official symbol and color of the Robredo candidacy.

Also, the Filipinos, on their own initiative, turned around lugaw from an insult vs. VP Leni to a useful and helpful staple for Filipinos. My friend Eduardo Dela Cruz  will bear me out of my assertion. Edu is now the regarded "Lugaw ni Leni King of New Jersey." In fact, he has been practicing his pro-Leni stance while visiting Manila by attending Leni rallies in Pasig and Tarlac where he distributed water and bread for free to attendees.

From the start when she offered herself to run for president, VP Leni told Filipinos she would fight on the bases of "love and hope" (pagmamahal at pag-asa). Since then, she campaigned based on these two social philosophies which have been obviously embraced by her supporters and hopefully, even non-supporters. During Sunday's 130+K PasigLaban rally, participants from all walks of life were saying in their social media posts and my personal conversations with some I know that they were amazed that attendees behaved and treated each other like one big family sharing with each other something to drink or eat. This behavior, I'd say, is inspired by their leader, VP Leni, who tells her supporters she leads by example.

Lastly, it is obvious that VP Leni has won the hearts and minds of the Filipinos as evidenced by the mammoth volunteer crowds that attend her team's rallies in Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon. The last three in Pasig, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija are proofs to my claim.

So, barring any demonic acts by some people, it appears that VP Leni-Kiko and Tropang Angat will come out as real winners in the May 9 elections. 

   

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Why is it apparent that the Marcos Jr. candidacy has spiraled downwards?

It is our observation, aside from starting his campaign on the wrong foot, he engineered, with the help of his non-Filipino enablers and strategists, the manufacturing of lies, especially on PH history and economy during Martial law years under his father. Evidently thinking they could deceive, the Filipinos pushed back and rejected vigorously their false claims that Marcos and company  believed as true.

Like Putin who is losing Russia"s War in Ukraine, Marcos Jr. seems to have underrated the Filipinos and overrated his political strategists.

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Happy Birthday to a special Filipina in California on March 24th.