Leni tells supporters: Journey will be hard

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday evening asked for her supporters’ help anew, saying there will be hurdles as she starts her duties as the country's second top leader.

“Marami pong hadlang, maraming kahirapan pero sanay na po tayo diyan,” she said at her thanksgiving party following her oath-taking in Quezon City.

Robredo said she is confident that she will be able to get through the next six years with the public’s trust. She said if she and her supporters gained victory in the election, she can overcome the challenges the vice presidency brings.

Robredo expressed her gratitude to supporters who joined her in her fight during the campaign season but also asked them for another support in her new fight as vice president.

“Ito po ay gabi ng pasasalamat gabi pero ito po ay gabi din ng paghingi ko po muli ng inyong tulong. Hindi pa po tapos ang laban nagsisimula pa lang po tayo,” Robredo said.

The country’s new vice president repeatedly thanked her supporters who led her to the victory, citing that her “1 percent to vice president” journey is also their journey. She also thanked them for introducing and defending her during the campaign season when most people only knew her because of her husband, the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Robredo recalled the start of her campaign from the time she was chosen by her Liberal Party running mate Mar Roxas, to the whole stretch of the campaign period.

She also apologized for not being able to accommodate them at her inauguration ceremony citing that the Quezon City Reception House is too small. She said the party is a continuation of her inauguration.

“Dahil po kayo na nandito ngayon karamihan sa inyo kahit po nung tila wala pang pagasa tumaya na sakin at naniwala na. ‘Yung inyo pong pagtulong isang klaseng pagtulong, sakripisyo sa oras, sakripisyo sa pagod, sakripisyo sa pera kasi marami sa inyo gumagastos ng sariling pera, paminsan sakripisyo din sa panlalait,” she said.

“Marami po sa inyo nag-tiis na dumepensa sakin at hindi ko po ito makakalimutan dahil ginawa niyo po ito nung panahon na wala pa tayong kalaban-laban,” Robredo said.

Robredo said the Office of the Vice President will be open to the public and her supporters as she considers them now a "family."

"Yung akin pong tanggapan araw araw po sa susunod na anim na taon welcome na welcome po kayo,  dahil yung bahay ko po, bahay niyo na rin,” she said.

The vice president’s thanksgiving party graced by performing artists was held at the Liwasang Aurora, Quezon City Memorial Circle. It was attended by estimated 1,500 supporters. — Video by Efigenio Toledo IV