By Gianela Zapata

PHOTO: ABS-CBN News

From hair and makeup to a honeymoon in Bohol, a soon-to-wed couple were met with an overwhelming amount of support from kakampinks who are continuing the spirit of volunteerism in their own ways. 

Emanuelle Cruz De Guzman and Ariean Cristobal’s viral photo at the Pasig rally on March 20 showed the pair holding placards that said "Ikakasal kami na si Leni ang presidente." However, as the VP’s  numbers could not be enough to win the presidency, the couple were subjected to online bashing and belittlement. 

Then, on Wednesday night, top-rated fashion designer Gladi Echavarre offered to make the bride's wedding dress for free.

"This lovely couple has been bashed and became the poor subject of ridicule. Let's turn our loss and grief into something beautiful to our fellow kakampink," Echavarre said on her page. 

From there, a thread of pledges from top wedding suppliers and fellow supporters began. These included Vania Romoff for entourage dresses, and accessory designer Christopher E Munar for the bride's earrings. A barbershop visit for the groom, antigen tests for visitors, and artwork giveaways for ninongs and ninangs are on the list of free services offered in the comment section as well. Loi Villarama, who hosted several rallies for the Leni-Kiko tandem, also offered to host the event, while musician Johnoy Danao is set to play music at the wedding scheduled in December. 

"I guess 'yung pagmamahal na naramdaman ko sa nakaraang tatlong buwan ng kampanya ay gusto kong ipagpatuloy na ipasa, hangga’t kaya. Nag-uumapaw pa sa aking puso ang pagkukusang-loob ng mga kababayan natin. Kailangan maipasa sa iba," Danao told ABS-CBN News in an interview. 

While their dream to be wed under a Robredo presidency can no longer happen, the couple are grateful for the people’s heartwarming gestures and want to pay the kindness forward. 

"We've almost booked all of our necessary suppliers even before we went to the rally in Pasig and there are a lot of pledges that we already have. We're planning on posting in social media if the pledges can also be passed along with other engaged kakampink couples," the groom said. 

The couple also say that although their candidate did not win, they are proud of taking a stand for their family and their country.


Edited by Quian Vencel Galut