MANILA, PHILIPPINES — More than 500 Filipino creatives are now rallying behind presidential and vice-presidential candidates Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan.
As of April 25, 2022, Creatives With Leni (CWL) said the team has already gained the support of 530 writers, copywriters, visual artists, chefs, filmmakers and crew, handcraft artists, and sculptors, architects, interior designers, web designers, performing artists, and singers.
Among the prominent creatives who declared support for the Leni-Kiko tandem are artists Tarantadong Kalbo, Cartoonist Zach, Tokwa Peñaflorida, poster designer Justin Besana, writers Jerry B. Gracio and Mina V. Esguerra, photographer Niccolo Cosme, celebrity chef Jaq Laudico, and artist, director-actor, and comedian Jun Sabayton among others.
The volunteer-driven CWL, according to one of the core members Allen Esteban, not only creates logos, artworks, and campaign materials for Leni-Kiko groups around the world and raises amounts for house-to-house campaigns; true to the Leni-Kiko brand of volunteerism, CWL has already raised and shared funds to help the victims of Typhoon Agaton in Leyte and Capiz through one of their art book project Para Sa Bukas Na Kulay Rosas.
In its statement, CWL says its stand for the Leni-Kiko team “manifests the Filipino creative spirit.”
“Clad mostly in pink with bold statements and hope for the future, volunteers transcend what is both a delicate and strong expression of radical love for the country. It is not just a campaign, it is a movement,” the statement reads.
As the “creative champion, someone who will defend the freedom of thought,” Leni “is a strategic thinker who fills the gap in the system, drives results, is a transformative leader, provides transparent governance, and inspires volunteerism.”
This is not a free campaign, however, core team member Lloyd Zapanta says that “six straight years of good governance” is enough payment for campaigning for the Leni-Kiko tandem.
“The reason we’re doing this is mainly to protect our future, not just as Filipinos, but as Filipino creatives. We believe that we cannot thrive as a creative country when the freedom to create and express everything is suppressed. A directionless dictatorship is monotonous and stagnant, and will not create a free environment that will foster each and every idea Filipino creatives have,” Zapanta said.
He added that by campaigning for the right candidates and making them win will keep the Filipino creativity alive for more years to come.
