BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The Kalanguya tribe of Nueva Vizcaya ‘adopted’ Manila mayor and presidential aspirant Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso through a native ritual offered for him in the municipality of Santa Fe on Saturday.
The ritual was led by the council of elders and Santa Fe Mayor Tidong Benito.
A black pig was butchered and its blood was splattered to shoo away bad spirits, a common belief of the indigenous folk in the province.
Domagoso also placed blood on his forehead with the knife used in butchering the pig.
“I would fight for your (indigenous people) rights and welfare and I thank (you for) the support,” Domagoso said.
He later received an inabel, a handwoven cloth of the Kalanguyas, as a token.
As an adopted son, the Kalanguya tribe members had pledged to protect and help Domagoso’s campaign while the Manila mayor promised to push for the rights and welfare of the Kalanguya tribe.
Former Santa Fe Mayor Teodorico Padilla Jr. said Domagoso was “born on October 30 this year in this town.”
“The tribes here, not only the Kalanguyas, have the duty to protect Isko Moreno as he goes to Malacañang. Other tribes are here too for him,” Padilla added, claiming that Domagoso has the major support of various sectors in Northern Luzon.
Moreno was with his running mate, Dr. Willie Ong and senatorial bets Samira Gutoc, Jopet Sison and Carl Balita.
Domagoso also had a courtesy call with local leaders led by Governor Carlos Padilla in Nueva Vizcaya.
As this developed, Aksyon Demokratiko supporters have pledged to fetch a million supporters by December this year.
Former Transportation Undersecretary Thomas Orbos, who heads the Ikaw Muna Pilipinas (IM Pilipinas), Domagoso’s network of campaign volunteers, said the eyes of the volunteers have been opened and the “roads become clearer…as ‘Yorme’ (Domagoso) is very marketable.”