Isko Moreno gets warm reception from QC residents, Joy Belmonte

By: Dennis Gutierrez - 3 years ago

Mayos Iso Moreno in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso’s campaign sortie on Saturday got a very warm reception in Quezon City with no less than Mayor Joy Belmonte personally welcoming the Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer and his vice presidential bet Dr. Willie Ong.

Belmonte was holding a caucus with local leaders and residents at a covered basketball court in Barangay Commonwealth when the “Team Isko-Doc Willie” motorcade made a brief stop-over and upon seeing each other, the two mayors briefly embraced before exchanging pleasantries.

“Maraming, maraming salamat sa ating minamahal na punong lungsod Mayor Joy Belmonte at atin pong mga konsehal na nandito lalong-lalo na sa ating mga kaibigan na tinulungan kaming umikot dito sa lugar ninyo. Maraming, maraming salamat,” Moreno said while being cheered by the people attending the meeting.

“At sabihin ninyo sa inyong mga kamag-anak na sumalubong sa amin dito sa inyong barangay, maraming salamat sa mainit ninyong pagtanggap. Amoy na amoy ko kayo. I love you,” Moreno said.

Belmonte said she was happy that Moreno, whom she considers as a long-time friend, included Quezon City in his campaign sortie.

“Syempre masayang masaya kami, matagal na kaming magkaibigan ni Isko. Sakto nadaan yung motorcade nya dito (sa caucus venue) kaya inaya ko na sya. Matagal na kami magkasama niyan,” the 51-year-old Belmonte who is seeking a second term as city mayor, told reporters.

Moreno’s brief speech was cut a few times by the people on hand who showed their genuine love for the 47-year-old presidential candidate by shouting: “We love you mayor!” eliciting a smile from the former “basurero” who became Manila councilor at age 23, Manila vice mayor at age 32 and Manila mayor at age 44.

Aside from thanking the crowd who showed up during their motorcade, Moreno also took the opportunity to ask for the people’s help in the coming May 9 elections as the battle for the presidential and vice-presidential race will be a tough one.

“Sana po mga kababayan, kailangan-kailangan namin ang tulong ninyo ni Doc Willie. Sana tulungan ninyo kami. Tandaan po ninyo mga kababayan laban natin ito. Eto ay tungkol sa anak niyo, tungkol sa kinabukasan nila. Nakasalalay sa mga puso’t, isipan ninyo at desisyon ninyo, Walongput araw mahigit ang nananatiling araw kaya’t isipin nating maigi… dun ba tayo sa uso, o doon tayo sa kumikilos? Dun ba tayo sa kwento na walang kwenta o yung may kwenta na at may resibo pa? Nasasa-inyo po ang karapatang pumili,” Moreno said.

Last Saturday’s motorcade brought the Team Isko-Doc Willie to Districts 2 and 3 in Quezon City. Just like what happened in the motorcades in Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Navatos and Malabon, tens of thousands of residents came out of their homes to cheer and express their full support for Moreno and Ong as the motorcade meandered its way through Barangays Holy Spirit, Pasong Tamo, Culiat, Batasan and Commonwealth.

Joining Moreno and Ong in the motorcade are Aksyon senatorial candidates Dr. Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc and Jopet Sison, Quezon City 4th District Councilor Irene Belmonte and Dave Valmocina who is running for councilor in the 2nd district of the city.

In his short speeches during brief stopovers, Moreno constantly reminded people to be very wise in choosing the next leaders of the country because the future of their children is what is at stake here.

“Muli kaming humaharap sa inyo dito, humihingi ng tulong ni Doc Willie, kailangan namin ang tulong ninyo. Mabigat ang laban namin, hindi ito biro etong laban namin puro bigatin yan. Pero may awa ang Diyos kaya nating talunin ang mga higante. Kaya dito lumalapit kami, humihingi ng tulong,” Moreno said.

“Ang boto nyo sa amin ay boto para sa mga paaralan, ospital, pabahay, at trabaho. Yun ang bobotohan nyo sa amin ni Doc Willie. Dalawang taon ng anim na taon itatawid namin kayo sa pandemyang ito, iraraos natin at magpapantay-pantay ang bawat Pilipino, walang mahirap, walang mayaman, lahat pantay-pantay,” he said.

Moreno also said voters should be careful in picking candidates whose families and allies already had the opportunity to run the country but didn’t do enough to lift the lives of the people especially the poor.

“Maraming kwentuhan, maraming salitaan. Ayaw natin ng away pero ang katotohanan na iiwan ko sa inyo ay katanungan at bahala na kayo sumagot sa inyong isip at panalangin. Mga kababayan mahabang panahon, sobrang haba. Wala tayong away, sasabihin lang natin yung factual, yung tunay na numero. Twenty-one years koponan ng mga pula binigyan natin ng pagkakataon maglingkod sa atin. Tama, mali? Eighteen years binigyan natin ng pagkakataon maglingkod ang mga dilaw at koponan ng mga p. Eighteen years, 21 years ilang taon? Thirty-nine years ng buhay natin dalawang koponan ang namahala sa atin. Eto ang iiwan kong tanong sa inyo, Kamusta naman kayo?” Moreno pointed out.

Everywhere Moreno proceeded, thousands of screaming and cheering supporters warmly welcome him with open arms as they jostle for position in the crowded streets, all trying to shake or just touch the hands of the charismatic presidential candidate.

“Gwapo, gwapo!” screamed some of the adoring female residents who brave the heat just to get a glimpse of the mayor.

People were also seen coming near the medium-sized truck with a make-shift roof carrying Moreno and Doc Willie to get a chance to hold the mayor’s hand or have a fist bump with him.

Many residents also cheered and shouted “Isko, Isko, Isko” and “Yorme, Yorme, Yorme” wherever he went. Many also took out their cell phones to shoot photos and videos of him. People from all walks of life also waved handmade placards expressing various expressions of support.

Showing he has a kind heart especially for people with disability, Moreno came down from his vehicle and took a groupie photo with a man on wheel chair and a number of teens who waited for his motorcade to arrive. He also greeted an old couple and paid his respect to them.

Moreno, if elected president, vowed to address the perennial problems of poverty, hunger, unemployment, inequality and social injustice in the country by focusing on providing the minimum basic needs of the people – housing, education, health care and jobs – through the efficient and prudent management of government resources. These form the main pillars of his 10-Point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda.