On Sunday, hundreds of Filipino Canadians gathered in Bowness Park to express their support for the Philippine presidential candidate with ties to Calgary.
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People were holding signs and waving the flags of Canada and the Philippines, calling for change in this small island nation, and advocating that the Vice President of the Philippines Lenny Robredo should become the next president.
Robredo is competing with the former dictator’s son Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and retired boxer Manny Pacquiao.
Antonio Gerona, the brother of Robredo who lives in Calgary, was very moved to see so many Filipinos supporting his sister.
“The Filipinos in Calgary expressed their support for Leni Robredo,” Girona said.
“There are a lot of Filipinos in Calgary, so now, I am a little surprised that nearly 200 cars have joined this caravan.”
Philippine Vice President and Opposition Leader Lenny Robredo smiles at a press conference in Quezon City on Friday, October 15, 2021. Robredo will run for president in next year’s elections, a move that will make the pro-democracy advocate and the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
AP Photo/Aaron Favila
Participants in the rally criticized the current Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who claimed that he was negligent in handling the COVID-19 pandemic and accused him of violating human rights.
“We don’t think the current government will benefit the Filipinos much,” Girona said.
“According to my sister’s performance, she has helped many Filipinos.”
Organizers stated that Sunday’s event was part of a Canadian caravan event held in Winnipeg, Vancouver and Toronto at the same time.
Elections in the Philippines are scheduled to be held on May 9, 2022.
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