Kapamilya actress, who has long expressed her support for Robredo’s candidacy, officially declared her support for her fellow Bicolana in an endorsement video.
“Kanino ba dapat ipasa ang bato (To whom should I relinquish the stone)?” asked Kapamilya actress, Iza Calzado, as her opening words for the video where she officially endorsed the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo as President in the 2022 national polls.
Calzado is currently playing the original Darna, in ABS-CBN’s TV adaptation of the Mars Ravelo classic, hence her opening line in the video.
Ang sikreto ng mga Bicolano sa pagiging matibay: pagboto ng mga kandidatong may plano at mabilis sumaklolo.
Si Leni Robredo—kasama natin anumang bagyo sa ating buhay. Siya ang Presidente ko. #IpanaloNa10ParaSaLahat #10RobredoPresident #TaraNaKayLeni pic.twitter.com/WjZ8JPbGlO
— Izadora Calzado (@MissIzaCalzado) April 21, 2022
She went on to articulate the person she believed deserving of the trust and loyalty of the people.
“Sana sa isang taong nagpapakita at nararamdaman, eleksyon man o hindi. Hanggang sa pinakamalayong kanayunan (I wish it is someone who shows up and someone whose presence can be felt, even in the most remote places),” she said.
Calzado believes that someone does not necessarily need to be a superhero. She wishes that someone is that person whom we can always rely on, in all the tough moments of our journey. “Sana ‘yung kasama natin sa kahit anong krisis ng buhay (I wish it is someone who always shows up in the different crises of our lives),” she shared.
The actress vouched for the reliability and resilience of the Bicolano people.
“Alam naming taga-Bicol ‘yan, dahil lagi kaming sinasalanta ng bagyo. Taon taon naming hinaharap pero ni isa, walang nagpatumba sa amin (As Bicolanos, we know that truth, more than anyone. We face devastating storms every now and then. Every year, we face these challenges, but none of us fold).”
Calzado shared the secret behind the resilience of the Bicolano people. “Ang pagboto namin ng mga opisyal na mabilis sumaklolo, ‘yung laging may handang plano, at kasama namin sa kahit anong delubyo (It is our collective effort to choose leaders who promptly response to the needs of the people, leaders who have plans, and leaders who are with us in times of crisis)” she shared.
She said that while a true leader is someone who is honest and benevolent, that person is neither a superhero nor a saint. “Hindi santo o Mama Mary (She is not a saint, nor Mama Mary).”
She then explained that a true leader becomes a conduit to make people achieve real unity and kindness, and she becomes the strength of everybody to help one another.
“Yan ang Pilipinas na pangarap ko, Pilipinas na masarap mahalin (That’s the Philippines I dream to have one day…one that is easy to love).”
At the end of the video, she told Filipino voters that “…in love, there is no fear”, before finally pushing for a Robredo presidency. “Sa lahat ng tumatakbo, walang nagmamahal sa Pilipino gaya ng pagmamahal ni Leni Robredo. Si Leni Robredo ang presidente ko (Of all the presidential candidates, no one else loves the Filipino people more than Leni Robredo. Leni Robredo is my president).”
Calzado’s official endorsement notably came weeks after her Starting Over Again co-star, Piolo Pascual, declared his support for Robredo.
