ILOILO, Philippines – From campaign posters down to outfits, the Iloilo City kick-off rally organized by campaign volunteers of ex-senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan on Thursday, March 6, was showered in hues of pink, reminiscent of their success in the city during the 2022 national elections.
There was plenty of nostalgia among supporters like 23-year-old April Rose Jagolino, a fresh graduate from West Visayas State University. It had been quite awhile since she had seen this much movement from her fellow “pink” supporters as in 2022.
Jagolino first gave her support to Pangilinan’s 2022 running mate, former vice president Leni Robredo, who was vying for the presidential seat.
Robredo attended the rally with Senator Risa Hontiveros and former Senate president Franklin Drilon, who have families originating from Panay Island. Iloilo officials also joined the event, including Iloilo 3rd District Representative Nonoy Defensor, who introduced Robredo on stage.
The Leni-Kiko tandem lost to the UniTeam of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte in the nationwide tally of the 2022 polls, but in Iloilo, a majority of voters chose the former.
In Iloilo, Robredo and Pangilinan received 579,525 and 448,171 votes, respectively, compared to Marcos’ 374,144 and Duterte’s 364,898.
“Naiiyak nga ako dahil kanina nakita ko si [Leni Robredo]… Noong nakita ko siya mas tumindi yong hope namin para sa bansa,” Jagolino told Rappler.
(I’m teary-eyed because I saw Leni Robredo earlier… When I saw her, my hope for the country grew stronger.)
A large bulk of the attendees of the rally at the Iloilo Sports Complex Gymnasium were young adults.
Jagolino explained that a large factor why young Ilonggo voters like herself supported Aquino and Pangilinan was because they were more critical of candidates and preferred candidates with solid plans for the country.
In 2019, Aquino, who at the time was vying for senator, earned top spots in the polls in both Iloilo City and the province. Pangilinan also won in Iloilo in 2007, 2016, and 2022.
Campaign challenges
Aquino and Pangilinan currently rank low in election surveys, and the two acknowledged during a news conference that they needed to intensify their campaign efforts.
Pangilinan said that he was focusing on food security and lowering the prices of goods and services, while Aquino vowed to strengthen the education system and ensure young people are job-ready.
A February survey of the Social Weather Stations showed 90% of Filipino voters will support candidates who will advocate for food security and strengthening of the health care system.
Pangilinan said his advocacy on food security and agriculture aligned with voter concerns but required stronger outreach to counter disinformation and limited campaign resources.
“Hindi pa alam ng marami nating kababayan dahil siguro sa paninira, sa fake news at kulang na rin ang aming resources to bring our message,” he said.
(Not many people know perhaps due to propaganda, fake news and our lack of resources to bring our message.)
Aquino called on their supporters and volunteers to actively campaign for them, saying that mobilization on the ground can help improve their standing in surveys.
Greater odds
Factions of the once-united Marcos-Duterte group are growing increasingly hostile amid the vice president’s impending impeachment trial, with Aquino and Pangilinan saying their odds of securing senatorial seats have improved because of that.
Aquino said the ongoing rift between the two political clans could work to their advantage as “independent candidates” by highlighting the people-centered governance they will bring to the Senate.
“This is not going to be as difficult as 2022 […] I think 2022 was harder. In 2025, people are more free to vote,” he stressed.
Pangilinan pointed out that in 2022, they were constantly vilified and treated as antagonists via propaganda in comparison to the then-unified Marcos-Duterte ticket that had the backing of many in Luzon and Mindanao.
“Today, there is a quarrel. The ‘Unity’ is having a problem. So that gives us an opening of one-third each for all three major islands,” he said.
True unity
Hontiveros, meanwhile, delivered a sly riposte aimed squarely at the fractured UniTeam alliance.
“We deserve better. Dedma na sa mga lumang modus. Tama na ang mga panloloko nila. Dito na tayo sa totoong unity,” the senator said pointing towards Pangilinan and Aquino.
(We deserve better. Ignore the old modus. We’ve had enough of their manipulating. Let’s rally behind the true unity.)
Robredo also contributed a remark. “Naghiwalayan na ‘yong iba, tayo ay magkasama pa din,” she told their supporters on Thursday evening.
(The others have separated, but we are still united.) – Rappler.com