Actor Jaime Fabregas has endorsed the presidential bid of fellow Bicolano and Vice President Leni Robredo as he urged their provincemates to actively recruit more supporters for her to ensure that the next Philippine president is from Bicol Region.
“Iparamdam natin sa buong Pilipinas ang galing, lakas at pusong Bicolano. Ipakilala natin sa kapwa Pilipino ang tapat na pinuno. At ipakita natin sa buong mundo ang kakayanan at katatagan ng ating lahi,” Fabregas said.
The actor also declared that in Robredo, Bicol owns the best and most qualified candidate in the field of presidential aspirants in the 2022 elections.
“Ang pakiusap ni Lolo General sa inyong lahat, na mangumbinsi pa tayo ng hindi bababa sa lima pang botante na makiisa sa ating layunin,” said Fabregas, referring to the nickname of his character in the popular TV series “Ang Probinsyano.”
Fabregas expressed disappointment over the fact that no president from Bicol Region has been elected despite having the fifth-largest voting population and the fourth-largest ethnic group in the country.
“Hindi ba kataka-taka na sa buong kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, wala pang naging Presidente mula sa Bicol?” Fabregas said.
Central Luzon has produced five presidents, namely Ramon Magsaysay (Zambales); Diosdado Macapagal and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Pampanga) and Cory and Noynoy Aquino from Tarlac.
Ilocos Region, which has fewer voters compared to the Bicol Region, has three presidents– Elpidio Quirino, Ferdinand Marcos, and Fidel Ramos.
Two presidents hailed from Luzon — Manuel Quezon (Tayabas) and Joseph “Erap” Estrada (National Capital Region), Visayas has two presidents in Manuel Roxas and Carlos Garcia while Mindanao has one in Rodrigo Duterte.
Robredo, for her part, urged fellow Bicolanos not to let this chance to elect a president from the Bicolandia in 2022.
“Huwag na po nating palampasin ang pagkakataon na ito. Ang tagumpay natin sa Mayo ay tagumpay ng bawat Bicolano at Pilipino. Inaasahan ko po kayo,” she said.