ROBREDO: The Marcoses' New NEMESIS

Nemesis, in Tagalog, means rival. We see that in superheroes. Batman's nemesis is the Joker. Superman's nemesis is Lex Luthor, or in the Philippine context, Darna's nemesis is Valentina. It's not just in comics or among superheroes that this happens. Perhaps some would even consider someone their arch-nemesis or rival in their career, love life, or business. The same goes for politics, especially in our country. We've seen on the news the exchange of jabs between politicians. And, even more so,

we've learned in our history about the intense rivalry in politics. One example is the Marcos family versus the Aquinos. But that was during the 1970s until the year 2016 when Noynoy Aquino became president. After his term, a new decade or stage of conflict emerged. Who will be the new nemesis of the Marcos family? Find out here on The Competitive Investor Channel! Like this video and subscribe as well as turn on the notification bell! And if you're looking for a place to showcase your skills an

d business, the Competitive Investor Channel is the perfect place for that! Collaborate with the Competitive Investor Channel and let's discuss your competitive goal! Drop a message on our email and Facebook page in the description box! Politics has always been a hot topic for each of us. And it became even hotter come the 2022 National Elections. Heads become heated as well. Debates were heated. Some of us even exchanged heated words just to defend or campaign for our chosen candidates during t

he elections. Truly, UniTeam led by Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. versus Kakampink led by then Vice President Leni Robredo is the battle of the century. The fight between Marcos and Robredo became even hotter when Bongbong teamed up with Sara Duterte as Vice President. And we are all too familiar with Leni's relationship status with the Dutertes. If Marcos Jr. had the Duterte allies and other Marcos Loyalists in the government, Leni Robredo, as the face of the new opposition, had the Liberal P

arty and the Aquino family as allies. First among them is former Liberal Party president Francisco "Kiko" Pangilinan, who was Leni's running mate as her Vice President. Many of us witnessed the rise in surveys and the competition in the campaign rallies between the two camps. Red and green were everywhere. And while during Marcos Sr.'s time, it was a sea of yellow, now it's a sea of pink. This marks the beginning of the Pink Revolution. But in the end, come June 30, 2022, exactly at noon, Ferdin

and "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. was proclaimed as the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines. Meanwhile, the former vice president returned to her private life as the mother of her Tres Marias. Nevertheless, despite Leni's loss and that of many of her senatorial bets from Otso Diretso, their supporters remained unwavering. Even before running for vice president, Leni Robredo's name was already well-known not only among people within politics but also among the Filipino masses. In her provin

ce of Camarines Sur, particularly in Naga City, Leni was first known as the wife of Naga City's Mayor and later as the Department of Interior and Local Government or DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo. Jesse was a member of the Liberal Party for almost nine years from 2001 to 2009. In fact, Jesse was the chairman of the Liberal Party chapter for the entire Camarines Sur. So when he passed away, Leni, his wife, was the first choice for the chairmanship of LP provincial post. It was actually the then Pr

esident Noynoy Aquino and former Senator Mar Roxas who convinced Leni to accept the position as chairman of LP Camarines Sur. But why did the Liberal Party have such trust in the Robredo family? Who is Leni and Jesse Robredo? Let's start with the one who introduced politics to the family. Let's start with Jesse Robredo. We know Jesse Robredo or Jesus Manalastas Robredo as the Mayor of Naga who later became the Secretary of the DILG. But before this, Jesse was a simple Nagueno. In the words of so

me, Jesse was the textbook definition of a role model even before entering politics. Third of five children of Jose Chan Robredo Sr. and Marcelina Manalastas-Robredo. Jesse grew up in a simple yet affluent family in Barangay Tabuco, Naga. The Robredos are of Chinese descent. Jesse's grandfather, Lim Pay Co, was a Chinese who migrated to the Philippines from Fujian Province, China in the 20th century. Lim Pay Co adopted the name Juan Lim Robredo upon converting to Catholicism. So as a Chinoy, Jes

se also had a Hokkien name, Lim Pieng Ti. The Robredo family was involved in the lumber and trading business in Naga City. Coming from an affluent family, Jesse attended elementary school at a private Catholic school. He completed his elementary education at Naga Parochial School. As a role model student, Jesse was part of the honor class or Star Section. Additionally, Jesse represented their school in chess competitions. He was also the second honor of their batch in 1970. Jesse continued to be

a chess player until high school at Ateneo de Naga University in 1970. In high school, he was known as a talented chess player and again finished high school as second honor in 1974. According to his classmates' memories, Jesse was one of those called "goody-good shoes." He was kind, obedient, and sometimes sentimental. They even shared in the book "Jess Robredo Proud Nagueno Memories," dedicated to the late DILG secretary, that Jesse was called "Lawlaw" in elementary school because his shorts

were always loose. When he reached high school, he was nicknamed "Siopao" because of his round face. Jesse carried his "goody-good shoes" attitude even in college. Besides being an Atenista, Jesse was also a true-blooded Lasallian. He obtained his double degree in Industrial Management Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from De La Salle University. A double degree! That's how intelligent Jesse Robredo was. So after graduating, Jesse immediately landed a job in a large company. Jesse joined S

an Miguel Corporation and worked there for six years as the head of the logistics division. Before returning to Naga, Jesse completed his master's degree in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines. He returned to Naga and served as the Program Director of the Bicol River Basin Development Program. As the Program Director of the BRBDP, this was where he met Leni Gerona. According to Leni's story, she applied as an economic researcher at the BRBDP. As the program director, J

esse Robredo interviewed the applicants, among them is Leni. Leni, as an applicant and a fresh graduate, brought a recommendation letter from the then-governor of CamSur, Luis Villafuerte, who was also Jesse's uncle. Leni's recommendation letter didn't leave a good impression on the strict Jesse. Jesse told Leni that her recommendation letter was not important or valuable because what mattered was her qualification for the job she was applying for. Because of this, Leni wasn’t accepted for the j

ob. After a few days, Leni was called back to Jesse's office because although Jesse's first impression of Leni wasn't good, Jesse was impressed by the essay Leni wrote. So when there was an open position that matched Leni's qualifications, she was immediately called back to the BRBDP. On August 18, 1986, Leni officially reported to work. Of course, Jesse Robredo was her boss. After just one month on the job, Jesse Robredo courted Leni. And three months later, in December of the same year, Jesse

Robredo came to propose to Leni. For some, the progression or course of Jesse and Leni's love story may seem fast, but for the two of them, they reportedly had no doubt that they were each other's "the one." According to Leni in the Usapang Pogi series of the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation, unlike other women who sought signs to know if their boyfriend or suitor was "the one," Leni knew from the beginning that Jesse was her "the one." The fast love story of Leni and Jesse was opposed by Leni's fath

er, Antonio Gerona Sr. After all, what father would agree to see his eldest daughter walk down the aisle that early? Leni, or Maria Leonor Gerona, is the eldest of the three children of Antonio Gerona Sr. and Sally Gerona. The quick marriage of Jesse and Leni was not approved by Leni’s father because her father planned for her to become a lawyer. This is because Antonio Gerona Sr. was a lawyer and judge. Meanwhile, Leni's mother, Sally Gerona, was a professor at the Universidad de Sta. Isabel, w

here Leni also studied from elementary to high school. In her youth, Leni was close to her siblings, Maria Lourdes and Antonio Jr. And perhaps one reason why Secretary Jesse Robredo and Leni Robredo were truly meant to be is because they had similarities in their youth. If Jesse Robredo was a goody-good shoes, Leni was a diligent student who participated in many extracurricular activities. After her classes, Leni would go straight to her piano lessons and theater and ballet classes. Despite havi

ng many extracurricular activities and being one of the smartest in their class, Leni was reportedly quiet and reserved according to her childhood best friend, Sieg Borromeo. Leni graduated from high school with exemplary grades and continued her college studies at the University of the Philippines Diliman, majoring in economics. By 1986, Leni completed her course. As we mentioned earlier, after graduation, Leni worked under the supervision of Jesse Robredo, and in six months, Jesse already soug

ht Leni's hand in marriage from her parents. Judge Antonio Gerona Sr. allowed Leni and Jesse to get married but with one condition. Leni still had to continue her law studies. Leni needed to become a full-fledged lawyer. So Jesse promised Judge Antonio that he would support Leni's legal education. The following year, on July 24, 1987, Leni became Mrs. Robredo. And true to their promise to Judge Antonio, Leni continued her law studies at the University of Nueva Caceres and graduated in 1992. Howe

ver, Leni did not immediately achieve the title of Attorney before her name because she did not pass the Law Bar Exam on her first attempt. But come 1996, on her second try, Leni was successful, and became a lawyer. While Leni was striving to complete her law degree, Jesse Robredo was gradually entering the world of politics. Jesse began as a protege of his uncle, Luis Robredo Villafuerte Sr. In fact, Villafuerte appointed Robredo to the Bicol River Basin Development Project when Cory Aquino ent

ered as president. Backed by the reigning political family in CamSur, the Villafuertes, Jesse Robredo ran for Mayor of Naga under the Lakas ng Bansa party. Jesse won against Ramon Roco. The race between Robredo and Rocco was tight, with Jesse winning by just 947 votes. Although allies and relatives of the Villafuertes, the good relationship between Jesse and them does not last long. Despite Jesse being the sitting mayor, Villafuerte still had the most significant influence in Camarines Sur, espe

cially in Naga. A power struggle ensued among three families: the Villafuertes, Robredos, and Roccos. Between the Villafuerte, Roco, and Robredo, Robredo was the underdog. And this was proven during the 1992 elections, everyone was surprised by the alliance between Villafuerte and Roco. Because of this, Jesse Robredo was left without allies. This was also accompanied by controversy that Jesse, due to his Chinese ancestry, allegedly could not run for office. However, Robredo found an ally in Pres

ident Fidel Ramos' party. Robredo won by a landslide against Pura Villafuerte, the sister of Luis Villafuerte Sr. Jesse's administration as mayor became known for his crackdown on jueteng and night clubs in Naga. He also found ways to provide affordable housing for informal settlers and reduce urban poverty in Naga. In response, during Jesse's term, the UPAO or Urban Poor Affairs was established to address the needs of the poor in Naga. Most importantly, Jesse couldn't achieve all of this if the

municipality of Naga was corrupt and filled with corruption. So one of his main tasks as Mayor was to clean up corruption and reallocate and maximize the municipality's budget. Robredo also made sure that every citizen of Naga had a voice and his office was open to everyone. He practiced a consultative style of governance in Naga, where before implementing any program or action, Jesse consulted the people of Naga. Due to term limits, Jesse stepped away from municipal politics in the next electi

on. But because of his excellent track record, he returned as mayor after winning the 2001 elections and served three consecutive terms until 2010 before being appointed as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government. Apart from his accomplishments in Naga, Jesse was loved by the Naguenos because of his simplicity. Instead of the semi-formal polo or barong and slacks that mayors and politicians often wear, Jesse always wore shorts and slippers. That's why his administration was

dubbed "Slippers Leadership." And it wasn't just the people of Naga who saw Jesse Robredo's exemplary leadership. In 1995, he was elected as president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, and in the same year, he was appointed as chairman of the Metro Naga Development Council. From 1992 to 1998, Jesse also served as chairman of the Regional Development Council of Bicol. In recognition of his remarkable achievements, Jesse Robredo was recognized by 14 major award-giving bodies. These inclu

de the 2000 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service, the 1996 Outstanding Young Persons of the World Award, the 1998 Konrad Adenauer Medal of Excellence as the Most Outstanding City Mayor of the Philippines, and the first-ever "Dangal ng Bayan" award of the Civil Service Commission. When Jesse Robredo entered the stage of the National government, his focus remained unchanged. If in Naga, "Slippers Leadership" was seen as Jesse's brand of leadership, when he came to the DILG, Jesse used the

"competent and efficient" brand. Like his policies and programs in Naga, Jesse also focused on relocation and housing for the urban poor of Manila. Jesse Robredo pushed for in-city tenement housing for thousands of informal settlers living in danger zones. These are families living under bridges, beside train tracks, garbage dumps, and along estuaries and rivers. When he became the Secretary of the DILG, he established the "Seal of Good Housekeeping" program to inspire LGUs and encourage LGU off

icials to be "competent and efficient." The award is given to LGUs that demonstrate accountability, transparency, and good governance reforms. But the Filipino people only briefly felt Jesse's "competent and efficient" or "Slippers Leadership." In unexpected news on August 18, 2012, Jesse Robredo's Piper Seneca plane crashed off the coast near Masbate. According to the investigation, Jesse was aboard the Piper PA-34-200 Seneca plane with his police aide, Senior Inspector June Abrazado, along wit

h the two pilots of the plane. One of the plane's two engines failed after takeoff from Cebu. Instead of returning to Cebu due to engine failure, the pilot, identified as Captain Jessup Bahinting, continued flying it towards Naga. The plane was in the air for 70 minutes and was supposed to make an emergency landing in Masbate but it did not make it and crashed into the sea. Search and rescue operations were immediately conducted to ensure that Jesse was alive. Over two hundred rescuers, includin

g Philippine military divers and helicopters, conducted the operations. Assistance was also provided by the US Navy and Korean technical divers for the operation. Although many helped in the search and rescue operations, only Jesse's aide, June Abrazado, was rescued alive from the plane crash. Jesse Robredo's body, along with the wreckage of the plane, was found at a depth of 54 meters or 177 feet. Following the confirmation of Jesse Robredo's passing, many were dismayed and saddened, including

then-President Noynoy Aquino and Jesse's longtime friend and ally, Mar Roxas. The entire city of Naga mourned their beloved Mayor, whom they fondly called the Favorite Son of Naga. The entire Philippines also mourned. Because of this, President Noynoy Aquino gave Jesse Robredo a State Funeral. Initially, Leni and their three children declined the grand State Funeral for her husband. In her eulogy for Jesse, Leni said that if Jesse were with them, he would be embarrassed by the numerous accolades

. But Leni added that perhaps, for once, they should allow Jesse to be honored. "But Jesse, just this one time, allow us to celebrate your life in the way we think you should be honored," Leni's message to her late husband. Along with the State Funeral, Jesse Robredo was also awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor, a military honor, a gun salute, and all flags nationwide were flown at half-mast. Because of his unexpected passing, there were many doubts about the investigation into his death. Peo

ple became even more suspicious when only the police aide miraculously survived the plane crash. Foul play is considered the reason for the plane crash that Jesse was in with three other passengers. According to conspiracy theories on the Internet, the crash was an assassination and not an accident, and Jesse's aide de camp allegedly knew about it, which is why he was the only one who miraculously survived the plane crash. Jesse Robredo was also allegedly killed because of corruption he was supp

osed to expose before his death. These conspiracy theories were vehemently denied by investigators and even by Leni. Jesse Robredo left behind Leni and their three children. When Jesse passed away, it highlighted not only his accomplishments as a public servant but also his family life. For the first time, the public saw their three children: Jessica or Aika, Tricia, and Jillian. When Jesse passed away, his eldest, Aika, had already graduated college with a Bachelor of Science in Management Engi

neering from Ateneo de Manila University, and like her father, she also graduated from Harvard University with a Masters in Public Administration. Meanwhile, the second child, Tricia, was only 18 years old at the time and studying to become a doctor at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health. As for the youngest, Jillian, who was said to have inherited the looks of the late Interior Secretary, she was only 12 years old when her father passed away. She has since graduated from New York Un

iversity with a double degree in mathematics and economics. Jillian is also said to be Jesse and Leni's favorite child. According to the siblings' stories about their parents in the "Usapang Pogi Series" of the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation, they have come a long way because of the example set by their parents. Despite being public servants, Jesse and Leni never failed to make time for their children. Tricia Robredo mentioned that it was an unspoken rule for Jesse to stop whatever he was doing jus

t to attend family events and other milestones. Jesse was also said to be more lenient when it comes to disciplining their three children. The siblings also mentioned how Jesse and Leni were as a couple. Compared to Leni, Jesse was said to be sweeter and more fond of public displays of affection (PDA). The former Interior Secretary apparently liked them always being “partners,” wearing couple shirts or outfits with his "love," Leni. Jesse also never forgot to give flowers every Valentine's Day.

However, the flowers he gave to Leni were the leftover ones from the Valentine's flowers he distributed to the employees of the Naga municipality. And Leni didn't just have a home for Jesse. After passing the Bar Exam on her second attempt in 1996, Leni served at the Public Attorney's Office. From 1998 to 2008, Leni was the coordinator of Sentro Alternatibo Linggap Panligan or SALIGAN, a Naga-based alternative legal support group. At SALIGAN, Leni would go to remote areas in Camarines Sur to pro

vide free paralegal training and assist farmers facing legal cases. Leni also founded Lakas ng Kababaihan in 1992 and served as president of the Naga City Council of Women. Under these organizations, Leni served as a lawyer for women and children victims of domestic abuse. Just like Leni Robredo, The Competitive Investor Channel is also cooking up a strong community! We are growing competitive fam! Now you won't only see Filipino inspiring stories and documentaries. Introducing the UNIVERSALIS!

Featuring the best English documentaries about politics, business, and any topic under the sun! Subscribe to the Universalis! With a well-loved husband and a record of public service under her own name, many have been urging Leni to enter politics, especially when Jesse reached his term limit as mayor of Naga. Despite this, Leni preferred her work as a public attorney and activist. This belief changed when Jesse passed away, and thousands of Jesse Robredo supporters showed their support for Leni

. Does this picture look familiar to you? This was also the trajectory of the life of the icon and mother of Philippine democracy, Cory Aquino who was urged by thousands of Filipinos to enter politics after Ninoy Aquino's death. The Liberal Party, her husband's party, initially offered Leni a Senate run, but politics wasn't really on her mind. In previous interviews, Leni mentioned that she was willing to help campaign for Liberal Party candidates in Camarines Sur, but she didn't want to run her

self. Leni's mind changed when her supporters, Naga city officials, and the Liberal Party came to their house to convince her to file her Certificate of Candidacy (COC). So, on October 5, 2012, the last day of filing candidacy with COMELEC, Gaby Bordado withdrew his nomination as the LP Congressional bet for the 3rd district of Camarines Sur. He was replaced by Leni Robredo. Leni went up against her former ally and the family of her late husband, the Villafuertes. She faced Luis Villafuerte Sr.'

s wife, Nelly Villafuerte. According to Leni, aside from public clamor and Jesse Robredo's inspiration, the Villafuertes' reign in Camarines Sur pushed her to finally accept the LP's nomination. Camarines Sur, especially Naga residents, showed strong support for Leni. At least two thousand people attended her campaign rally. Like Cory's supporters before, Leni's supporters wore yellow. However, her opponents also showed strong opposition. Leni even filed a disqualification case against Nelly and

Luis Villafuerte due to massive vote buying. Support for Leni grew even stronger when a photo of her traveling on public transportation surfaced. Leni was seen waiting for a bus home in Cubao. There were no bodyguards or companions with her. This photo of Leni went viral and received praise from the masses. Leni's Congressional bid was successful, and by June 30, 2013, she was already seated as the Representative of the 3rd District of Camarines Sur. During her term, Leni passed the following l

aws: the Extension of the Corporate Life of the Philippine Railways Corp., the Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act, and the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act. Leni also focused on addressing hunger, malnutrition, and poverty as a congresswoman. One of her programs was the Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty, a feeding program that became the basis of the National Food Security Bill, and the Batang M on the Go, an anti-malnutrition program. Included in her programs was "Salud Mo, Kuso

g Ko," a Senior Citizen Wellness Program; the NegoAsenso Livelihood Program, and the Community Rehabilitation Program. Leni was also one of the poorest members of the House of Representatives during her term. According to her 2014 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), her total net worth was only 8.03 million, making her the 49th poorest member of the House of Representatives. The 2016 elections came, and Leni's name was still prominent on the national political stage, especial

ly within the Liberal Party. Jesse Robredo's legacy was also not forgotten by the people. Former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas approached Leni Robredo to accept the offer of the Liberal Party to be the party's Vice Presidential candidate. For those unaware, the Robredos and Mar Roxas are not just from the same party; Roxas is also a close family friend. Roxas became close to Jesse when Jesse volunteered to organize sorties in Bicol for Roxas's senatorial campaign. Thus, Leni and Jesse's youngest

daughter, Jillian, became Roxas's godchild. Let's go back to the 2016 National Elections. Leni initially declined the offer to be the vice president of the Liberal Party's standard-bearer, Mar Roxas. It wasn't just Leni who was not in favor of the idea of her becoming vice president, but also her children. However, for more than two weeks, the Liberal Party, especially Mar Roxas, persuaded Leni. Eventually, Leni and her children agreed. On October 5, 2015, in front of the press at Club Filipino,

the Liberal Party officially proclaimed Leni as their Vice Presidential candidate. In her Vice Presidential candidacy speech, Leni mentioned that her late husband, Jesse, was their children's inspiration to accept the challenge of the Liberal Party for the vice presidency. "Country before Self" and her husband Jesse's famous slogan "integrity and excellence" became the cornerstone of Leni's campaign and platforms. Leni also aimed to continue the "Straight Path" campaign of the previous Aquino a

dministration and the Liberal Party. Therefore, fighting corruption, especially laws she passed while a congresswoman focusing on combating the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), was first on Leni's platform. Her platform also included lowering social inequity or the number of poor people by maximizing public funds climate change and disaster preparedness, peace in Mindanao, and OFW assistance through the creation of a department dedicated to OFWs. When the campaign came, Leni was the

only female candidate for vice president. She faced five senators: Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Chiz Escudero, Gringo Honasan, Antonio Trillanes, and most notably, the former Senator Bongbong Marcos Jr. During the campaign, Marcos and Robredo faced each other. When the two met in the PiliPinas 2016 Vice Presidential debate, the debate between the two became heated. Leni first targeted Marcos Jr.'s lack of accountability for his active participation during Martial Law as the son of dictator Ferdi

nand Marcos Sr., and the billions of ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family. Marcos Jr. defended himself, saying, "The sin of my father is not my sin." In the end, the neophyte Leni prevailed over the two. Their battle was close, with Leni leading Marcos by just 200,000 votes. Leni Robredo is the 14th Vice President of the Philippines. But the face-off between Robredo and Marcos did not end with the 2016 elections. In May 2016, Marcos's camp hinted that they were cheated in the election. Their c

lose fight during the election became the rallying cry of Marcos Jr. and his allies to file an electoral protest with the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) on June 29, 2016. Marcos submitted a 20,000-page affidavit, Certificates of Canvass (COC), and other supporting documents. Marcos questioned the 132,446 polling precincts in 27 cities and provinces. Marcos also contested the vote results in the provinces of Basilan, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Sur, alleging massive cheating against him. Th

e following month, Robredo filed her counter-protest against Marcos. In her counter-protest, Robredo's camp stated that the Supreme Court should dismiss Marcos's petition because there was insufficient evidence of cheating in Basilan, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Sur. The following year, the PET dismissed Robredo's counter-protest and declared Marcos's protest sufficient to investigate the 2016 elections. Because of this, the PET ordered Marcos to pay 66 MILLION, while Robredo was ordered to pay 1

5.43 million It took two years before the Supreme Court began the recount of the ballots. In the recount of the three pilot provinces, Leni was leading with 1 million votes compared to Marcos's 200,000 votes. Following this, the Comelec also declared that there was no failure of elections in the contested provinces of Lanao del Sur, Basilan, and Maguindanao in 2016. And it even lasted until 2021, nearing the end of Leni's term as Vice President, the hearings in the Supreme Court on Marcos's elec

toral fraud complaint were still ongoing. However, on February 16, 2021, the Supreme Court dismissed Marcos Jr.'s electoral protest. Despite facing the electoral protest, Leni remained focused on her work as vice president. As a tradition of the Office of the Vice President, Leni sat in Rodrigo Duterte's cabinet as Chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs. However, due to "irreconcilable differences"

and Duterte's order for Leni not to attend all cabinet meetings, Leni did not last long in her position as chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. Less than a month after being appointed chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs, she was removed from the position by Duterte. From this, it is clear that Duterte and Robredo did not see eye to eye. Since assuming office, they have been fierce critics of each other. As a lawyer-activist before entering

politics, Leni was a staunch critic of the War on Drugs and and the high number of extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration. Because of this, she often faced misogynistic attacks, black propaganda, and disinformation or fake news. One example of black propaganda thrown at the vice president was the NagaLeaks released by the group We Are Collective. In an article titled Deception: The Shocking Truth Behind Leni and Jesse Robredo Part 1, the group claimed that jueteng was rampant i

n Naga while Jesse was still its mayor. This contradicts Jesse's image as a mayor who cleaned up Naga of jueteng lords. The group also alleged that Jesse was involved in the killing of a former ally. They also claimed Jesse's connections to drug lords. Leni's response to this black propaganda was that it was merely a diversion to shift people's focus away from issues facing the nation such as extrajudicial killings, human rights violations, and the bribery scandal at the Bureau of Immigration. S

he also stated that none of it was true. Despite the fake news, black propaganda, and lack of official cabinet work as vice president, Leni Robredo's service to the nation was not hindered. The Office of the Vice President focused on creating advocacy-driven campaigns. This led to the creation of the Angat Buhay program, which later became an official foundation after her term as president. Through Angat Buhay, Leni addressed issues such as nutrition, universal healthcare, public education, rura

l development, housing and resettlement, and women empowerment. Among the beneficiaries of Angat Buhay were the victims of the 2017 Marawi Siege, where the Office of the Vice President distributed hygiene kits, medicine, food packs, construction materials, and psychological aid. The OVP also provided temporary shelters called Angat Buhay Village for families displaced by the Marawi Siege. When the country was hit by the COVID-19 Pandemic, Leni launched Bayanihan E-Konsulta, Swab Cab, Vaccine Exp

ress, free shuttle, and dormitory for front liners during the pandemic. The Office of the Vice President also received the best rating from the Commission on Audit for three years from 2018 to 2020. Leni's term as Vice President ended with a good mark from supporters. From her fight against Marcos in the 2016 elections, until the Supreme Court junked Marcos' electoral protest and the end of Leni Robredo's term, the nation's talk revolved around Marcos vs. Leni or, alternatively, Duterte vs. Marc

os. As the 2022 National Elections approached, there was heated discussion about who would succeed Rodrigo Duterte. Talks surfaced about Duterte possibly passing on his position to his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara "Inday Sara" Duterte Carpio. The public also noted the close relationship between the Duterte family and the Marcos family. While one camp was noisy, Leni remained quiet on whether she would challenge Marcos and Duterte again in the 2022 National Elections. However, while Leni remai

ned silent, her supporters were vocal, especially on social media. Many expected Leni to defeat Marcos again, especially as discussions about Sara Duterte and Bongbong Marcos teaming up had been circulating since early 2021. The public's assumptions proved correct when on November 16, 2021, the Federal Party of the Philippines, Marcos Jr.'s party, announced Marcos Jr. as their standard bearer and that they would join forces with Sara Duterte's Lakas-CMD party, with Sara as Marcos' running mate f

or Vice President. This formed the UNITeam of Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte. Similarly, Leni filed her presidential candidacy on October 7, 2021. Leni was not initially keen on running, and there were reports that she might return to Camarines Sur to run for congress or any local position due to the intense misogynistic attacks against her and her three daughters, as well as other political attacks. However, due to the urging of her political allies and the opposition, Leni once again accepted the

challenge to face off against the Marcoses and Duterte. This time, Leni ran independently, which did not surprise many, especially political analysts. Leni knew that to have a chance of winning against the tandem of Marcos and Duterte, she needed to shed her Yellow Image Leni explained, "Running independently is our symbolic way of showing that we are open to forming alliances with many parties. While the camps of Marcos and Duterte had the UNITeam, Leni aimed to form the United Opposition. Sen

ator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan joined Leni as her running mate for Vice President. Although she ran independently, Leni still had the full support of the Liberal Party. Leni also garnered the support of the Makabayan Bloc, composed of Bayan Partylist, Gabriela Partylist, Anakpawis Partylist, ACT, and Kabataan Partylist. And if not yellow, what color did Leni's campaign take on? As the only woman among the candidates, what other color represents femininity if not pink? Thus was born the Pink Revo

lution. The catchphrase of the Kakampinks was "The Future is Pink." Included in Leni's platform was a focus on education and youth, promising to allocate 68 billion pesos for educational aid. Job creation and retention with 5 points of action were among Leni's promises. Here, Leni pledged to rebuild the trust of workers in the government, revive the country's industries, and end job discrimination. Leni also promised to establish the National Unemployment Insurance Program, where laid-off worker

s would receive 80% of their wages for three months. These platforms were carried by the Kakampinks in their Pink Rallies. The largest Pink Rally was attended by no less than 412,000 people along Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay. International pop star Ariana Grande even noticed Sen. Kiko and Leni's Pasig Pink Rally when an aerial shot rally went viral, showing a sea of people singing together to one of Ariana Grande's hit songs, "Break Free." While the fervent support of the Kakampinks smelled as s

weet as roses, it wasn't enough to defeat Marcos and Duterte. With an overwhelming 31 million votes, Bongbong Marcos became the 17th president of the Philippines. Senator Kiko Pangilinan also lost to Sara Duterte with 31 million votes as well. Even though she lost her position, Leni continued to serve the nation. Her Angat Buhay program formally became a foundation in June 2022. The Kakampink Movement also gave birth to various movements like the Youth for Leni Movement. At present, Angat Buhay

continues to focus on enhancing public education, disaster and relief response, community engagement and empowerment, and public health. There are many parallels in the lives, especially in their political careers, of Leni and Cory. Both were mothers, wives, widows, from the same party, but above all, they both served the nation. Even if just for a moment, they became symbols of hope for many Filipinos. From the Yellow Movement to the Pink Revolution, what color will flood the streets of the Phi

lippines next? Will we see Pink or Yellow again? What do you think, Competitive Fam? Whether you're Yellow or Pink, or red and Green, whatever your political party is, you are welcome here at the Competitive Investor Channel! Be part of our Competitive Fam! Interact with other Competitive Fam through live chat, a Shout-out, and loyalty badges for only 79 pesos. If you want something truly competitive, and to be the first to access our content, then for only 99 pesos, you can do that! Be an offic

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