Korina Sanchez: Mar Roxas ‘ready to accept challenge’

SCREENGRAB FROM KORINA SANCHEZ’ INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT

Ahead of President Benigno Aquino III’s expected endorsement of Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II as the standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party, the latter’s wife, Korina Sanchez, said Friday that he is “ready to accept the challenge.”

In an Instagram post, the news anchor called Aquino’s formal anointment of her husband as his party’s presidential bet at the Club Filipino in San Juan city a “historic passing of torch.”

“It’s a big day today… for a lot of people. I hear it is a historic passing of the torch — from one like-minded to another, between kindred spirits and who share one heart for the Filipinos,” she said. “Amidst differences, ubiquitous intrigue, power play, creeping doubts and fears, it must still and always be country above self.”

READ: Roxas to be ‘anointed’ by Aquino today

She added that her husband is not reluctant and is willing to accept the job.

“In a country where reluctance seems to be a primordial credential, there is no reluctance in my husband Mar. He is ready for the challenge, willing to serve hand and foot as he has, and able to bring this country to as close to where it deserves to be as he can take it. Honor here is not in declining power. Honor here is in accepting sacrifice,” she said.

Posting a collage of postcards long taped on their bathroom mirror, Sanchez added that the truth will prevail after the “many big ideas, big words, big dreams that will be said today.”

“No matter what the bigness of this world, it will still and always be the simple and unwavering truths that will prevail — Presidency or otherwise,” she said.

Sanchez and Roxas have been married since 2009 and have remained as one of the Philippines more powerful couples with connections in politics, business and media.

On Thursday night, Malacañang confirmed that Aquino will endorse Roxas as his chosen presidential candidate of the administration party during a “Gathering of Friends” at Club Filipino.

READ: Palace confirms Roxas endorsement, VP candidate unnamed

The announcement of a vice presidential bet, however, was not mentioned. IDL