Jokes, songs lighten the mood at Tondo campaign rally

Photo by Ryan Leagogo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Re-electionist senators lightened the mood at a campaign rally in Tondo, Manila on Tuesday with jokes and songs.

Six out of the seven re-electionist senators were present during the rally hosted by Senator Grace Poe — Senators Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, Cynthia Villar.

Senator Bam Aquino was invited but was not able to join the rally as he was at opposition slate’s campaign sortie in Naga City in Camarines Sur on the same day.

Aside from airing their platforms and appeals for vote, all candidates came prepared with a joke or two for the crowd.

The day before V-Day

Love was in the air during the event as Angara and Pimentel were both accompanied by their wives.

At one point, Pimentel called her wife, chef Kathrina Yu-Pimentel, to the stage so they can serenade the crowd with a love song: “Endless Love.”

“Mga kaibigan, ano bang petsa ngayon? February 13? Ano ba bukas? So, imbes na mag-speech tayo rito, kakantahan ko na lang kayo ng love song for Valentines’ bukas (Friends, what is the date today? February 13? Instead of a speech, I will just sing a love song because it’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow),” he said.

“Tawagin ko yung aking misis, para mag-duet kami (I will call my wife so we can sing a duet),” he said.

Meanwhile, Angara joked that his wife, Tootsy, surprised him with her presence a day before Valentines’ day.

“Ginulat po niya ko, di ko akalain na dadating siya, dahil sa pagmamahal nandirito siya (She surprised me. I didn’t know she is coming. Because of love, she is here),” he said as his wife joined him on stage.

“Palagay ko, naninigurado lang siya, dahil Valentines’ day bukas kung talagang pupunta ko dito, baka iba ang puntahan ko (I think, she is just making sure that I’m here because it’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow. I may go somewhere else),” he said in jest.

Angara then addressed senior citizens in the crowd. “Dito po sa ating bansa, di ba ho may 20 percent discount ang mga senior citizens (Isn’t there a 20 percent discount for senior citizens)?” he asked.

“Sino po ang magchecheck-in bukas? Valentines’? Okay 20 percent discount ha? Pakisabi na lang kay Lolo: Build, build, build tayo bukas (Who will check [at a motel] tomorrow? The 20 percent discount is good, right? Please tell grandfather we’ll ‘Build, Build Build’ tomorrow),” he added.

Pun intended

Some senators even poked fun at themselves during their short time on stage.

Ejercito recalled his encounter with some supporters regarding his looks.

“Alam niyo po, galing ako sa Bataan, sabi ng mga tao, sabi ‘Ay, JV ang gwapo mo pala sa personal, bakit sa TV? Ang laki laki mo, akala namin ikaw yung trainer ni Manny Pacquiao (You know, I went to Bataan. The people there said ‘JV, you are so handsome in person, why not on TV?’ You are so big, we thought you are the trainer of Manny Pacquiao),’ he said.

“Sabi ko ‘Hindi talaga ako telegenic pero mas mabuti na yung gwapo sa personal diba? Tama ba (I said I am not really telegenic, but it is better to be handsome in person, right)?” he added.

Villar took a different spin on livelihood and even mentioned her husband, Manny.

“At siyempre pag tayo’y tumutulong, mamahalin tayo ng ating mga asawa, totoo ba yon? Mahal ba kayo ng asawa nyo? Sagot!! Kailangan pagbutihin natin ang ating hanapbuhay para mahalin tayo ng mga lalakeng yan,” she said after she spoke about creating more jobs for Filipinos.

(If we help earn a living, our husband will love us. Is that true? Does your husband love you? Answer! We need to strengthen our livelihood so those guys will love us.)

“Ako magaling maghanap buhay kaya mahal ako ni Manny. Pagbubutihin natin ang paghahanap buhay nang tayo’y mahalin ng mga lalaking yan, tama ba ( I work hard, so Manny loves me. Let’s work hard so those guys will love us, right)?” she added. /ee