QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The opposition senatorial slate mounted Wednesday a concert and gathering at the country’s premier State University in a gesture to thank its supporters and show its force barely six days before the May 13 midterm elections.
Amid heavy downpour, the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Sunken Garden saw the assembly of hundreds of allies, volunteers, supporters, and endorsers of the eight “Otso Diretso” senatorial candidates, namely, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, reelectionist Senator Bam Aquino, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, veteran election lawyer Romy Macalintal, former Senator Mar Roxas, and former congressman Erin Tañada.
Tañada said the concert was aimed at “energizing” supporters until the last stretch of the campaign period on Saturday.
“Ito ay para ma-energize pa rin po sila sa mga nalalabing limang araw para sila po ay umikot sa kanilang mga komunidad at magpasalamat sa mga taong naniniwala sa Otso Diretso,” Tañada said in an interview.
(This is to energize our supporters and volunteers so they would continue going to communities and thanking people who believe in Otso Diretso.)
READ: Otso Diretso volunteers: All heart amid rising odds
‘We’ve planted seeds of a critical population’
Whether the opposition slate emerges victorious or not on May 13, Hilbay believes that their volunteer-driven campaign has succeeded in “plant(ing) the seeds of a critical population.”
“Sa tingin ko beyond the campaign, kahit ano’ng mangyari dito sa eleksyon na ‘to we’ve planted the seeds of a critical population. Hindi namin alam kung gaano kalaki ‘yun but definitely alam namin na malakas, maingay sila,” he said.
(Whatever happens beyond the campaign and this election, I think we’ve planted the seeds of a critical population. We may not know how wide the support is, but definitely, it is loud and strong.)
“Otso Diretso” senatorial candidates (left to right) reelectionist Senator Bam Aquino, Magdalo Partylist Rep. Gary Alejano, former Senator Mar Roxas, Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc, former congressman Erin Tañada, veteran election lawyer Romy Macalintal, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, and former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay at their thanksgiving event at the University of the Philippines Diliman Sunken Garden. INQUIRER.net/Pathricia Roxas
Roxas, meanwhile, lauded supporters who braved countless “fake news and intrigues” against them and pushed for Otso Diretso’s principles towards an honest governance.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan lalung-lalo na sa ating volunteers na sa kabila ng napakaraming fake news at tsaka pang-iintriga, hindi sila bumitiw… talaga namang tinataguyod ‘yung mga values at prinsipyo na pinaglalaban natin — malinis at maayos at maunlad na pamamahala,” the former presidential aspirant said.
(I thank our fellow countrymen especially our volunteers who braved countless fake news and intrigues with us… they even pushed for our values and principles towards a good, honest and progressive governance.)
Vice President Leni Robredo, opposition Senators Antonio Trillanes IV, Risa Hontiveros, and Francis Pangilinan, who also serves as Otso Diretso’s campaign manager, attended the gathering.
“Sobrang dami ng volunteers na committed na committed na kagaya ninyo kaya maraming-maraming salamat,” Robredo said during her short speech.
(We have many volunteers who are very committed like you so thank you very much.)
The concert would be a mix of musical acts by musicians Noel Cabangon, Bituin Escalante, Cooky Chua, and Ebe Dancel, bands Autotelic, Imago, Truefaith, Paraluman, Grace Note, Jana Garcia, and Better Days, as well as spoken-word performances by artists BAON Collective, Jam Pascual, and Mark Ghosn.
Prior to this, Tañada, Alejano, Hilbay, Hontiveros, Robredo, and Pangilinan attended Mass at UP’s Parish of the Holy Sacrifice.
The opposition would also mount a “nationwide candle-lighting para sa Honesty sa Pamahalaan” on Thursday, May 9, and Katipunan noise-barrage and Mother’s Day press conference on Friday. /kga