Since Vice President Leni Robredo announced her candidacy in October, supporters—dubbed as “Kakampinks”—have been staying true to her campaign’s team call to launch a “true people’s campaign,” including weekend motorcades, wearing pink on Wednesdays, and sharing their own skills and talents free of charge.
Take the case of academic-turned-digital marketer Marisse Galera-Brotoisworo, a volunteer who was treated to a free meal by another diner who apparently overheard that she was teaching a free digital marketing workshop to fellow campaign supporters.
According to Marisse’s post, she was having dinner and preparing for her workshop at a goto diner with her husband, where they were discussing mundane things such as looking over pre-workshop forms. “There weren’t many people in the restaurant and music was pretty loud so I didn’t think anyone would be interested to listen in,” Marisse wrote.
Their conversation apparently caught the attention of another diner seated nearby. “I am shookt,” Marisse’s post read. “The man sitting a few tables away apparently heard me talk about preparing for the workshop tomorrow and paid for our entire bill.”
Scrawled on the bill was “Thank you and let Leni lead!”.
“I was just surprised when the waiter approached me and said, ‘Ma’am, the guy already settled your bill. He told me to just inform you after he leaves.’ We’re all in this together.”
“When I found out that another diner paid my bill, I was really surprised but in a good way, and it really pumped me up to do the workshop better,” Marisse told Coconuts, adding that the gesture was the perk-up she needed after battling a depressive episode for weeks.
“We were actually at Goto Tendon because I was feeling really down and needed a pick-me-up so I could get the energy to do the task. Of course, there was a lot of self-doubt on whether I could really do it well or contribute at all,” she shared.
“When I found out that the person had paid for our meal, I really felt like someone believed in me, the cause was real, and that I could really make a difference,” Marisse said.
Marisse became a volunteer for the Vice President’s campaign after her former faculty department chair connected her to supporters who needed training on digital marketing and social media.
“I said I could give a workshop to a small group of vetted people who can make a lot of impact on the campaign,” she shared.
Marisse added that her workshop received glowing reviews and gathered sign-ups and interest from campaign volunteers also involved with the VP’s senate slate such as Chel Diokno, Teddy Baguilat, and Risa Hontiveros.
The workshop covers basic digital marketing principles and frameworks, social media management, community management, and paid ads.
The second workshop is scheduled on November 17, Marisse said, adding that it is free and is open to vetted volunteers and campaign supporters.
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