Andrea Brillantes, Miles Ocampo, Sam Concepcion, and Mikoy Morales are just some of the many celebrities who have volunteered to campaign for the teamup of Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan without asking for a talent fee.
In a brief chat with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), each of them spoke about what it's like taking part in either the campaign rallies or house-to-house rounds this election season.
First-time voter and one of the most influential teen stars of her generation, Andrea Brillantes, is among the artists who are going all out to support Leni and Kiko.
She joined the rally held in Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City where she got the chance to meet VP Leni in person.
"Super kabado po ako na excited. Pagpasok ko. Nagpakilala ako na, 'Ako po si Andrea Brillantes.'
"'Tapos sabi niya, kilala niya daw po ako 'tapos fina-follow niya nga daw po ako sa social media," Andrea excitedly recounted.
"Sobrang saya ko po na nakaharap at nayakap ko pa po siya."
As she waited for the finale number, Andrea threw water bottles and candies to attendees who could no longer move from where they were standing because of the huge crowd.
As the most followed Filipina actress on TikTok, Andrea used her platform with a massive following of 17.6 million to post updates from the rally.
She also used her official Facebook page with 17.8 million followers to livestream the Pasay rally.
The livestream earned more than 2 million views on Andrea’s page alone and hit concurrent live views of more than 170,000 viewers.
On May 7, 2022, Andrea was spotted distributing flyers and convincing Tandang Sora residents to vote for Leni.
One of the volunteers told PEP.ph, "Ang aga po niyang gumising at dedma po siya sa init ng araw. Binaybay po namin ang kalsadang ito."
SAM CONCEPCION
Singer-actor Sam Concepcion also lent his voice to support the Leni-Kiko tandem by joining the rally held in Pampanga.
He also participated in the house-to-house campaign, and engaged in face-to-face conversations with voters.
Together with volunteers from Team Leni Robredo, Sam went to a barangay in Pampanga, which he described as a "non-Leni territory."
What was it like?
"Despite the bad weather, we spent the whole afternoon from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., knocking on each and every house in the community.
"To be honest, I didn't know what to expect since online, you are met with resistance usually. I was wondering how that will translate on a face-to-face level," Sam recounted.
"But to my surprise, when I reached out to them, they were warm. They were excited and welcoming to their house. They wanted to take a photo and have a conversation."
Sam pointed out that having a celebrity join this kind of effort really helps a candidate win people.
"Since they know you or are happy to see you, that sort of breaks the ice already and opens the opportunity to have a genuine, rational conversation.
"You won’t change their minds right then and there, but at least they are open to what you have to say."
While hecklings can't be helped from hardcore non-Leni supporters, Sam made an effort to play hoops with some residents or chat with a group of men having drinks.
Sam explained to PEP.ph: "I’ve realized that people are open to having their minds changed if you do it in a graceful, loving manner. Nakikinig naman sila.
"The best we can hope for is for them to read the materials we gave, learn more about VP Leni’s platforms, and just remember the experience.
"That we, supporters of Leni and Kiko, reached out to them and how we made them feel after that quick encounter."
MIKOY MORALES
Kapuso singer-actor Mikoy Morales, for his part, went the extra mile in the name of volunteerism.
He hosted the La Union leg of Robredo's campaign where he shared the stage with comedienne Tuesday Vargas and his Protégé mentor Jolina Magdangal-Escueta. Protégé was a defunct Kapuso reality show that Mikoy joined in 2012.
Then he made himself available for wherever the Team Leni Robredo volunteer group needs help.
"I feel like I am not doing enough just by utilizing my social media platforms. I know that I have to go out or break away from my echo chambers online.
"So sabi ko sa sarili ko, doon ako kung saan ako mas kailangan o may maambag," said Mikoy.
In Pampanga, Mikoy volunteered to assist celebrity guests in the rally. Here, he chose to assist his Bubble Gang co-stars Kokoy De Santos and Elijah Canlas.
"Bida-bida pa ako nun," Mikoy quipped. "Sabi ko, 'Akin na po si Kokoy. Ay, Elijah!' Kasi bukod sa mas madali asikasuhin kasi magkasama na sila dadating, e, mga kaibigan ko pa.
"So, sa taping pa lang sinabihan ko na si Kokoy na, 'Uy, ako mag-P.A. [personal assistant] sa iyo sa Pampanga.' Akala niya nagdyo-joke ako."
In Pasig, Mikoy volunteered as a photographer under the documentation team where he was tasked to take interesting moments happening in his assigned area.
"Since bida-bida na naman ako na may zoom lens na gamit, I was assigned to station at the back, about a few meters from the main entrance.
"The energy was very nice. Everyone was very helpful. Even when I had to squeeze my way to the main stage, there was not a single person who got mad or irritated," Mikoy shared.
He noted that it took him about 45 minutes just to reach the stage as an estimate of about 137,000 people trooped to Pasig that day.
When asked if stars like him are paid to participate in these massive Robredo-Pangilinan rallies, Mikoy has this to say: "Let's just put it this way, marami kaming ginagawa [na mga artista] na hindi naman na dapat ginagawa kung bayad kami.
"People would be surprised to know how passionate artists are when it comes to these rallies lalo na siguro when they see kung ano ang ginagawa namin na pag-immerse o pag-participate once we are already off stage."
MILES OCAMPO
Just like Mikoy, Happy ToGetHer star Miles Ocampo took the spirit of volunteerism to heart.
Despite challenges in her schedule, she still found ways to immerse and get to know Robredo more.
"I watched videos and joined Zoom sessions about VP Leni dahil for me, hindi lang enough na alam mo na karapat-dapat yung kandidato mo, kailangan lubusan mong alamin kung sino ba talaga ang taong kinakampanya mo.
"Hindi mo siya pipiliin dahil pinili siya ng majority. Pinili mo siya dahil naniniwala ka sa kanya," Miles explained.
Miles also related how she and her friends volunteered to help pack relief goods at the Robredo-Pangilinan headquarters in Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City last December. This was for the Typhoon Odette victims.
"We were there around midnight. It was super fun because even though there were a lot of people at the time—all willing to help and all sharing the same principles," she said.
But Miles' fondest experience would have to be the Pasig rally, where she joined not as a celebrity guest, but as a Kakampink supporter.
"I wasn't part of the program, but I really wanna take part and show my support. So, I started walking to the venue around 2 p.m., and I reached the backstage before 6 p.m.
"It took that long, but I have no regrets. I am very happy to experience that together with other Kakampinks."
MESSAGE TO FELLOW VOTERS
With only a few days to go before the May 9, 2022 elections, Miles, Sam, and Mikoy encouraged fellow youth voters to make an informed decision when it comes to choosing candidates.
Miles said, "Read, research, and don’t be afraid to speak up. Have the freedom to express your principles and beliefs.
"Sobrang daming paraan to campaign and promote our bets. Puwedeng through social media, by wearing a certain color, using hashtags or taglines, finger heart, at iba pa.
"Nasa sa atin na kung paano natin ikakampanya at makakapagkumbinse ng ibang tao. Tandaan, your choices reflect you and your values."
Sam, for his part, said: "Be a responsible voter. Use your vote wisely. Think critically. Ask questions.
"Do your research talaga because, sometimes, you think you know everything. You are so passionate and idealistic about these things. You use the power of social media. You share insights.
"But, at the end of the day, there is a lot to understand about what's going on around us. So let's make sure we are fully equipped with the right information and use that in making our choices."
Interview and text by Jan Enriquez