Following the announcement of Vice President Leni Robredo to run for president in the upcoming May 2022 elections, former FEU Central Student Organization (FEUCSO) president Clarice Gerona opened a volunteer campaign last October 7.

In her Facebook post, Gerona announced that the volunteer campaign ‘Tamaraws for Leni’ is accepting volunteers from the FEU Manila community. It is also open for students from other FEU campuses.

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, Gerona specified that the main goal of the volunteer campaign team is “to reach what we call median voters or the undecided voters.”

“Kumbaga sa side ni Vice President Leni Robredo, crucial siya kasi it might change the numbers. Baka maaaring ikapanalo o ikatalo niya ‘to (It means that on the side of Vice President Leni Robredo, it is crucial because it might change the numbers. This can either make her win or lose),” Gerona explained. 

Moreover, Gerona shared that she was “overwhelmed” by the amount of support and attention that the volunteer campaign received from the Tamaraw Community. 

She also added that she is grateful to the community, especially those who stepped up and chose to be part of the core team.

In particular, the volunteer team plans to conduct ground and social media campaigns, and social media educational discussions. For the ground campaign, the team plans to mobilize volunteers in some areas of the National Capital Region (Region) and Calabarzon.

Further, the team intends to partner with FEU student organizations to garner assistance in fundraising, widen its reach, and broaden its political platforms. 

According to Gerona, FEU students, student leaders, and alumni should be involved in organizations and movements like ‘Tamaraws for Leni’ to battle for the right, and in doing so, shall unite the voices of Tamaraws.

“Sa Tamaraw community, dapat isa isip natin na kailangan natin ipaglaban ‘yung karapatan natin bilang isang estudyante, [at] bilang mamamayan. At kailangan maging nagkakaisa tayo, sa kung ano ‘yung tama at mahusay na direksyon (In the Tamaraw community, we need to instill in our minds that we need to fight for our rights as students, [and] as citizens. And we need to unite as one on what is right and excellent direction),” she added.

Also, she encourages student leaders from FEU to become active in advocating voter registration and voter education.  

Gerona would like to remind her fellow alumni as well that being busy with their careers and jobs should not hinder them from supporting their electoral bets. 

Most importantly, she stressed that FEU students should become part of history that will change our current situation.

‘Tamaraws for Leni’ officially opened the registration for volunteers last October 12 on its official Facebook page. Meanwhile, its ground campaign still has no tentative date.

- Shane Vallery A. Beduya

(Photo courtesy of Clarice Gerona)