NO LONGER SOLID | Presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto lll barnstorm Ilocandia. (Photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — While the tandem of senators Panfilo Lacson and Vicente Sotto III will stick to discussing hard issues in their campaign, their “counterparts”— eponymously dubbed “Papa Ping” and “Tito Vice”—will take care of the less serious business of the campaign.
In a video shared by Partido Reporma, mascots of Lacson and Sotto were seen practicing the dance steps of “Paro Paro G,” a popular song in TikTok.
According to Partido Reporma treasurer Arnel Ty, the mascots will aid in the Lacson-Sotto campaign by visiting the areas that the tandem will not be able to visit ahead of the May 9 elections.
Mascots of presidential candidate Ping Lacson and VP bet Tito Sotto—named Papa Ping and Tito Vice—will go to areas that the tandem will not be able to visit in their campaign. Partido Reporma says Lacson-Sotto will stick to the issues while the mascots will “break the ice”. pic.twitter.com/h6hohbiqK8
— Neil Arwin Mercado (@NAMercadoINQ) February 24, 2022
“They will do their own parallel campaigning. ‘Yung mga areas na hindi napupuntahan o later pa mapupuntahan, uunahan na nitong si Papa Ping at ni Tito Vice,” Ty said in an interview.
Papa Ping and Tito Vice will start their “road trip” next week as they head to the Ilocos Region.
Lacson and Sotto have previously said that will not resort to singing or dancing to woo voters.
READ: Lacson, Sotto justify guesting of ‘Eat Bulaga’ artists in campaign rallies
Asked about the tandem’s stand and the launching of the mascots, Ty said Lacson and Sotto will continue tackling issues in their campaigns and the mascots will merely “break the ice.”
“The personality of the tandem ay talagang seryoso. Everytime that they are in sorties, ‘yung programa ang pine-present nila. Pero sometimes, there are voters na gusto naman nilang makita yung fun side of our candidates,” Ty said.
“The Papa Ping and Tito Vice characters will just break the ice… Instead of hiring a dancer, an artist, who will sing, who will dance, it will cost a lot e si President Ping masyadong allergic sa gastusin,” he added.