The tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan has drawn the biggest crowd for their Manalakaran: Pampanga People's Rally over the weekend, with a police estimate of 220,000 attendees.
The Pampanga sortie was so far the largest crowd the ticket has gathered, beating the Pasig-Laban rally last month.
Robredo, who lost to Marcos in Pampanga during the 2016 vice-presidential elections, thanked the pink-clad crowd of Kapampangans who chanted "Babawi kami. [We will make up for it]."
"Ang pangako ko po sa inyo, 'pag ako naging pangulo ay magiging pangulo po ako ng lahat ng kulay," she said.
[I promise that if I am elected president, I will be the president of all colors.]
"Ang obligasyon namin, dapat mag-lingkod-bayan sa kahit anong kulay. Magiging pangulo hindi lang ng mga naka-pink pero lahat ng mga kulay. Ang ating paniniwala, ‘pag tapos na ang eleksyon, dapat tapos na ang politika," she added.
[Our obligation is to serve our people regardless of color. To be president not just of those who wear pink, but of all colors. Our belief is that after the elections, partisan politics should end.]
Last week, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo urged her fellow Kapampangan to give the tandem of Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte-Carpio a "landslide victory" in the upcoming national elections.
Arroyo is currently running as congresswoman for Pampanga's second district.
Suprise endorsement
But the highlight of the night was the surprise endorsement Pangilinan received.
The senator turned emotional when a group of farmers from San Simon, Pampanga appeared on stage to show their support for his candidacy.
Their message was simple: If politicians won’t raise your hands, we will.
San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr., Candaba Mayor Rene Maglanque, and Guagua Mayor Dante Torres were among those in attendance at the rally.
