(FILE) Sen. Manny Pacquiao waves to supporters during his visit to Laguna on Dec. 7, 2021. (Photo from his Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayang Propesyonal Para kay Manny Pacquiao (MP4MP), a group of lawyers, medical frontliners, architects, engineers, and other young professionals supporting the presidential bid of Sen. Manny Pacquiao, staged a motorcade around Metro Manila on Sunday to welcome the year with hope and optimism and show their solidarity to help the victims of Typhoon Odette.
Atty. Lemuel Dolot, MP4MP spokesman, said the motorcade also marks the beginning of their group’s drive to help Pacquiao generate more donations to help families who were displaced by Typhoon Odette.
“This was not a political motorcade. We did not go out to ask people to vote for Manny Pacquiao but show them that despite our hardships, we should not lose hope for a better life this year. We also want to use the motorcade as our rallying point in our campaign to secure more help for the victims of Odette,” said Dolot.
From Pacquiao’s campaign headquarters, around 50 vehicles belonging to the MP4MP traveled on a convoy towards Edsa, going all the way to Roxas Boulevard, España, then Quezon Avenue. The group then turned left on Edsa, proceeding all the way to Monumento before returning to Makati.
The MP4MP was originally launched to persuade Pacquiao to run for president and has since become one of the parallel organizations campaigning for Pacquiao. They also vowed to mobilize other professionals to help Pacquiao safeguard his votes and take an active role in his campaign.
Dolot said they decided to organize the professional sector to campaign for Pacquiao because “ he is the only one who has the purest heart and the best intention” to serve the nation.
“The other politicians only make their promises but have no real proof that they have done something great and extraordinary to help their fellowmen. Manny Pacquaio has gone to great lengths to help the poor. He built free houses for thousands of Filipino families, financed the scholarships for thousands, and provided direct assistance to victims of calamities and the pandemic using his hard-earned money,” Dolot said.