Kris Aquino and close friend Angel Locsin (n black shirt) joined the grand rally in Tarlac City on May 23, 2022, to endorse the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo. (Photo from the Facebook page of VP Robredo)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� A visibly weak Kris Aquino showed up in Tarlac City on Wednesday to endorse Vice President Leni Robredo at her grand rally, urging voters to fight against the return of a dictatorship.
The youngest sister of the late President Benigno 鈥淣oynoy鈥� Aquino III spoke more slowly than usual as she explained why she was endorsing Robredo.
She also took notice of Robredo鈥檚 simple lifestyle, staying in the same house since she was a member of the House of Representatives, which Aquino said indicated no corruption.
鈥淚 have seen how simple she is. I felt that when I saw she was still living in the place where I interviewed her before she became vice president. She did not move out,鈥� Aquino said in Filipino. 鈥淎nd I really saw how simple she dressed. I felt that she wanted to be thrifty. And I really saw that in her heart she really cares for all of you.鈥�
鈥淎nd she has respect for the law. She fights for democracy,鈥� Aquino said. 鈥淚鈥檓 appealing to you: Let鈥檚 not allow this to disappear again. Let鈥檚 fight for our rights so that dictatorship will never return.鈥�
Aquino鈥檚 parents聽 鈥� the late Sen. Benigno 鈥淣inoy鈥� Aquino Jr. and the late President Corazon Aquino 鈥� fought against the dictatorship of then-President Ferdinand Marcos.
Unsent letter to Robredo
At the Tarlac City rally, the actress revealed that, after her brother died in June 2021, she found a letter that he had written. It was addressed to Robredo.
鈥淲hen Noy died, there was a letter I read that was addressed to VP Leni,鈥� Aquino revealed at the rally. 鈥淚t was not sent. I will not reveal what else it contains because that鈥檚 confidential. But there鈥檚 one paragraph that really touched my heart: Noy said that of all people 鈥� meaning of all the party mates 鈥� she was the one with a single view, a single vision.鈥�
Robredo and the late president belonged to Liberal Party.
鈥淚n other words, Noy said: It鈥檚 only in you that I see sincerity and ability 鈥� [the attitude] that put other people first before self,鈥� Aquino went on. 鈥� And you know, when I read that, I said to myself: You have to fight for her because it was her that impressed Noy. And it鈥檚 true. They both have a lot of qualities that are similar. Number one: Whatever is thrown at them, they won鈥檛 retaliate.鈥�
Aquino also noted that her brother and Robredo were both hard workers 鈥� and not fond of posing while at work.聽 She said both also shared an incorruptible attitude.
The actress has been suffering from an autoimmune disease that has kept her weak, although she has been subjected to several experimental treatment methods.
She is scheduled to leave for abroad to undergo a series of tests. So she was leaving up to her close friend, actress Angel Locsin, to campaign for Robredo.
Running mates Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Francis Pangilinan at their grand rally in Tarlac City on Wednesday, May 23, 2022. (Photo from the Facebook of VP Robredo)
鈥榃orth all the risk鈥�
According to Kris Aquino, her doctors advised her not to go out. But she felt it was worth the risk to endorse Robredo in Tarlac, the home province of her parents.
鈥淣umber one: It was just nine months ago when Noy suddenly died.聽 But I learned yesterday that鈥� the grand rally of VP Leni would be in Tarlac. So I said: 鈥業鈥檓 going, and nobody can stop me.鈥� That鈥檚 it, okay. If you know knew how many were nervous of what I鈥檝e been giving for everyone鈥� Aquino said.
鈥淏ut I said: 鈥楩or my dad, the Filipino was worth dying for.鈥� For me, stepping back here in Tarlac is worth all the risk because I want to thank you: You did not leave us. You did not forsake us.,鈥� she said.
Closing the gap
Robredo is running for president in the May 2022 elections against several other candidates, including former Sen. Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr. 鈥� son of her father鈥檚 nemesis.
Ninoy Aquino鈥檚 assassination in 1983, under the Marcos regime, sparked a series of demonstrations that ultimately led to his widow Cory running for president and challenging the older Marcos.
Currently, the Marcoses have a huge chance of returning to power 鈥� if the latest survey conducted from Feb. 18 to 23 by Pulse Asia proves to be accurate. That survey shows Marcos Jr. leading by a wide margin over second-placer Robredo.
However, Robredo鈥檚 allies claim that she has been closing up the gap.
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