OPINION: MANILA- How Leni Robredo is winning the presidential race

If anything, this shows that Robredo has the ability to unite rivals – something that has long been a tricky thing to do in Philippine politics.

The People’s Campaign is not really a battle of who can draw the most supporters or who can host the most fun rally. But it could provide us a glimpse of the strength of the candidates’ supporter base which, of course, is crucial come Election Day.

So, if the elections happened yesterday, Robredo would have won already.

Performance at presidential forums and interviews

Robredo has also been slaying interviews after interviews, particularly the two widely-aired presidential forums by GMA Network and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).

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One part of her interview with the award-winning broadcast journalist Jessica Soho that struck me most was when she said that while her rivals are probably longer-time politicians than she is, she has long been a public servant. Maybe that is what the Philippines needs today – a public servant who has worked in the grassroots for a long time to be able to understand the deep causes of the problems. Her interview with Soho made the strength of her being a public servant even more evident.

Robredo’s advantage as an economist is showing, too. For instance, Robredo told Soho that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) – which has been bombarded with a deluge of corruption scandals and issues – should be headed by a health economist or an expert in actuarial science, a field that deals with evaluating risks and maintaining the economic stability of financial or insurance organizations such as PhilHealth. Those who are experts in this field combine the use of mathematics, statistics, and probability principles to anticipate future events and take preventive measures. It was only Robredo who said something so specific and accurate.

The incumbent vice president was also able to display gracefulness even when asked more personal questions, such as her “failure” to unite the opposition, her involvement with the Liberal Party, and her rivalry with Marcos Jr., among others. Even with such tough questions, Robredo did not falter. (After all, GMA-7 said in a statement in relation to the non-appearance of Marcos Jr. in their show: “The questions are tough because the job of the presidency is tough.”)

In both shows, Robredo was able to establish that she knows the issues – whether at the grassroots or at the international levels such as the West Philippine Sea dispute, the drug war and human rights, labor rights and workers’ wages, class inequality, and wealth tax, among others.

Just as with the People’s Campaign, a candidates’ performance in a forum or interview is no guarantee to make them win. But the electorate can certainly use it as a basis for their decision on who they will vote for. This is why the presidential forums received high broadcast ratings – proof that the public yearns for such shows months leading to Election Day.

Display of a ‘new’ Leni Robredo

NAGA, LUZON, PHILIPPINES – FEBRUARY 08: Thousands of Filipinos from Bicol, Leni Robredo’s home province, showed support as she promises good governance and a government free from corruption. (Photo by Jes Aznar/Getty Images)

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Her detractors keep on saying that Robredo is a “weak” leader because she is a woman – an argument that is, unsurprisingly, nothing new in the Philippines’ patriarchal society. In all forums and interviews, Robredo was able to push her narrative that while being a woman will not necessarily make her win, it will also not necessarily make her lose, too (heck, she won the vice presidential race in 2016, beating all of her male opponents including Marcos Jr.).

Further, she has been exhibiting a rather different Leni Robredo already: feisty, quick, and fierce.

When television host Boy Abunda asked Robredo in a one-on-one interview why the Filipino people should not vote for her biggest rival, Marcos Jr., Robredo did not mince her words: “Number one, sinungaling. Pangalawa, in the difficult moments, hindi siya nagpapakita” (Number one, he is a liar. Number two, he does not show up during hard times).

And when she was asked if she is ready to reconcile with Marcos Jr., Robredo could have just said Yes to get the support and sympathy of her detractors (most of whom are supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte and Marcos Jr. – two people the public know have not been too kind on her). But she said instead, “Ano ‘yung mensaheng binibigay natin sa tao? Na okay lang ‘yung lahat ng mga abuses na ginawa in the past? Na okay lang ‘yung corruption? Na okay lang na convicted ka of a crime na hindi mo pa napapanagutan?” (What is the message we are giving to people? That all the abuses in the past are okay? That corruption is okay? That conviction of a crime is okay?). A clear No.

Who again said she is weak? Who again said she is soft-spoken? Who again said she cannot argue and fight? I do not think that her critics can say these keywords against her anymore. What else have they got left?

The more we come nearer to Election Day, the more we see Robredo’s true color – pink, like a pink rose, that is the color of love, hope, and a beautiful metamorphosis.

All these things and more are reasons why she is poised to win.

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