Team DailyPedia
Last April 1, Facebook user Wado Tan Siman recounted on the social network a conversation he had with the driver of the Uber car he was riding. Apparently, the Uber driver also had vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo as a passenger previously. He ferried her to the bus terminal where the Camarines Sur Representative took a bus to Bicol.
The driver remarked that throughout the entire trip, Robredo never even talked about her being a candidate in the upcoming elections. “Hindi daw niya binanggit na siya ang kandidato sa pagka bise presidente. (She never mentioned anything about running for vice president),” posted Siman. “Pinagusapan nila ang pamilya ng driver, nag drive thru sa McDo at nagpacheese burger. (They just talked about the driver’s family, then went through a McDonald’s drive-thru and he was treated to a cheeseburger.)”
“Pagbaba, di na daw nakapagpigil at sinabihan niya si Leni na ‘kayo po ang iboboto ko.’ (When she was getting off, the driver couldn’t contain himself and said, “I’ll vote for you.”)” Siman further said. “Ngumiti lang si Leni at nagpasalamat. (Leni just smiled and said thank you.)”
Receiving, to date, 2,196 shares and 4,201 reactions, the post was met by replies hailing Robredo for her simplicity and promises of voting for her in May.
Not all were impressed, though. “She is so EPAL,” netizen Edwin Trompeta replied, “always with a photographer to shot ONE GOOD PHOTO for publicity purposes!”
But a lot of FB users, and those who commute to Bicol regularly, were quick to defend Robredo.
“No she’s not with a photographer pag uuwi sya sa Bicol (when she goes home to Bicol),” said Vince Tanada. “Nung Holy Week na pauwi sya, may media talaga na kumukuha ng mga byabyahe. Pag dating nya nakuhaan siya. (When she went home for the Holy Week, the media was already there to cover those travelling at the time. That’s why she was photographed.) The rest are photos by private individuals shared in social media. Nawitness ko ito because mga twice ko na sya nakasabay (I witnessed this firsthand because I was on the same trip as her twice) and mind you I’m not campaigning for her and might not even vote for her. I’m just telling you the truth. Huwag po tayong maging masama magbintang (Let’s not throw accusations) just because we’re voting for another candidate.”
Hannah Grace Gamis, meanwhile, shared her thoughts on why she is a “Leni fan.” “She’s a lawyer who has been serving those in the fringes of society. She did not run for office when her husband held his post because they do not believe in political dynasties. She then ran for congress and as one has been doing her job silently and without a sudden upscaling in her lifestyle.”
“Btw,” adds Pauline Daba, “her husband served as Mayor of Naga since 1988, for 6 terms. Rather than become an idle ‘first lady of Naga,, this was when she stepped up her public service to the poor, out of the limelight. Seems this is a woman whose family has been given power but collectively and adamantly refused to be seduced by its lure. And because the ability to resist power is so rare, it makes it even more precious.”
