Photos by Ryan Leagogo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — It started and ended in Tondo for independent candidate Senator Grace Poe.
The reelectionist senator picked Tondo as the kick-off point of her quest to return to the Senate in a proclamation rally with reelectionist senators last February 13.
In a star-studded finale on Friday also in Tondo, Poe said her stand is to keep the balance in the Senate.
She told reporters in an interview at the back of the campaign stage that she is appealing to the voting public to keep government institutions like the Senate “balanced.”
“Kaya nga umaapela ako sa ating mga kababayan, maganda sana na balanse ang ating mga institusyon (That is why I am appealing to our countrymen. It would be good for the Senate to have a balance),” she said.
“Hindi natin alam kung anong magiging kahihinatnan nitong eleksyon na ito pero maganda na bawat kampo ay may representasyon (We do not know the outcome of this election, but it is good that every camp is represented),” she added.
Independent candidate
Poe admitted that the lack of machinery in the grueling three-month campaign period as an independent candidate has been a challenge as she has a lot of ground to cover.
“Talagang hindi madaling maging independent. Napakalawak ng Pilipinas para wala kang partido at makinarya (It’s not easy to be an independent candidate. The Philippines is vast for you not to have a party and machinery),” she said.
Despite this, Poe noted that she was warmly welcomed in every province or city she visited.
“Pero maganda talaga ang naging karanasan namin sa kampanya na ito kasi kahit na independent, sa lahat ng pinupuntahan natin, mainit ang pagtanggap ng ating mga kababayan kaya pagkakataon na rin ito na magpasalamat sa kanilang lahat,” she said.
(We had a good experience in the campaign even as an independent. Wherever we went we were received warmly, so this is also our opportunity to say thank you to everyone.)
Balanced Senate
As administration-backed candidates for the Senate ranked high in pre-election surveys, does Poe believe the candidates can sustain their rank?
“Kahit na anong komposisyon, ‘pag galing sa isang kampo lamang, baka naman maging sunud-sunuran sa iisang grupo lang, hindi tama ‘yon (No matter what the composition is, if they come from only one camp, there is a danger that they will blindly follow one group. That’s not right.),” she said.
“Lalung-lalo na ang Senado na lang ang tinitingala na parang nagkakaroon pa ng konting diskurso para maging balanse sa mga issues (And especially as the Senate is the only institution expected to facilitate discourse and balance issues),” she added.
Star-studded finale
Poe was able to gather celebrities to grace her last campaign rally and surprise the crowd. Her guests “Ang Probinsyano” lead actor Coco Martin, megastar Sharon Cuneta, and singer Imelda Papin.
Cuneta, the wife of Senator Francis Pangilinan, said she had wanted to campaign for Poe in her presidential bid in 2016.
“Noon pong tumakbo pong pangulo ang ating mahal na senadora, wala po akong na endorsong presidentiable noon dahil po gusto ko sanang maikampanya ay walang iba kung hindi sya (Poe),” Cuneta told the audience.
(I wanted to endorse the Senator when she run for President [in 2016]. I wasn’t able to endorse anyone, but I really wanted to campaign for her.)
“Ngayon po matapos ang dalawang dekada, salamat sa aking asawa sa pagrespeto sa akin at saking puso…” Cuneta added. “At naninidigan na po ako para sa mahal na senadora at ito po ay si Senator Grace Poe (After two decades, I thank my husband for respecting what I believe in. I’m standing by behind Senator Grace Poe).”
In 2016, Cuneta’s husband campaigned for former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas as they both belong to the then ruling Liberal Party (LP).
Both Roxas and Poe lost to President Rodrigo Duterte.
Poe is seeking a Senate comeback in the midterm polls. (Editor: Eden Estopace)