Isko Moreno barnstorms Aquino bailiwick; offers self as ‘alternative candidate’

Presidential candidate Isko Moreno Domagoso visits Tarlac Contribute photo

MANILA, Philippines — Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso said he is offering himself as an “alternative candidate” to voters who want a genuine change in the Philippine political landscape, as he expressed hope that he will be given a chance to serve the country as the next chief executive.

“Naniniwala ako na ang bawat botante ay malayang makakapamili ng kanilang kandidato. Kagaya nga ng nasabi ko, matigas man ang bulalo, lalambot din ‘yun. So patuloy lang tayo na lalapit sa tao at ang aking pakisuyo na sana ay mabigyan tayo ng pagkakataon na makapaglingkod sa bayan,” Moreno said during the whole day sortie in Tarlac province.

Tarlac is known as a Liberal Party (LP) bailiwick because it is the home province of the late Senator Ninoy Aquino, his wife and former President Corazon Aquino and his son the late former President Noynoy Aquino. But despite the province being known as “dilawan,” a political color identified with the Aquino family and allies in the LP, the people came out to cheer Mayor Isko and his fellow candidates during their motorcade.

In a media interview at the Provincial Capitol after Moreno’s courtesy call on Tarlac Gov. Susan Yap, the local chief executive said he felt the genuine hospitality and heartwarming welcome they received from Tarlaqueños.

Presidential candidate Isko Moreno Domagoso talks to the crowd in Tarlac. Contribute photo

“Maraming, maraming salamat po sa mga Tarlaqueños sa mainit ninyong pagtanggap sa amin. Kahit saan kami pumunta, napakainit ng inyong pagtanggap. I am grateful and I am happy to be back,” Moreno said, recalling his visit in Tarlac in October 2021 after he filed his candidacy for president.

“Wala pa ang Mayo, may panahon pa at nakikita niyo rin naman na ‘yung dagsa ng tao, ‘yung salubong at pagtanggap nila sa atin ay mainit. Kahit na literal na mainit ang panahon, nagtiyaga sila para tayo ay masilayan. Kayan naman magtitiyaga rin tayo, magsisikap tayo at talagang susuyuin natin lahat ng Pilipino saan man dako ng Pilipinas at hindi tayo titigil,” he added.

Moreno thanked all the local government units (LGUs) that welcomed him, his running mate Dr. Willie Ong, and Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial candidates Samira Gutoc, Carl Balita and Jopet Sison, as well as guest candidate John Castriciones, former agrarian reform secretary of President Duterte, during the whole-day campaign.

“With their endorsement or no endorsement, masaya na ako at ang aking grupo na tanggapin kami bilang tao at inaruga kami habang kami ay nasa kanilang mga probinsiya. ‘Yun desisyon nilang political later on, I give it to them. Kung ma-endorse, bonus na ‘yun. We are already gratefgul na meron kaming ganitong mga pagkakataon na mainit ang pagtanggap sa amin. In fact, most of them gastos pa ng mga host province, city or municipality ang pagdalaw namin. We are very happy and grateful to every LGU that welcomed us,” the Manila mayor said.

This is the second time that Moreno and his Aksyon Demokratiko slate visited Tarlac province. In October last year, Moreno had dialogs with farmers and fisherfolks in Tarlac City and it was during this “Listening Tour” that he first bared his plan to cut down by 50 percent taxes on fuel and electricity to help tide over those badly affected by the pandemic.

“As you’ll remember Tarlac ang una kong pinuntahan na lugar at dito nabuo yung isa sa mga sinusuhestiyon natin five months ago. Hindi ko naman mahuhulaan na magkakagiyera sa Ukraine but at that time napapansin natin masyadong nalulugi yung mga magsasaka at tsaka patuloy ang pagtaas ng krudo,” Moreno said.

“Again, I’m happy to be here together with Governor Yap na napakainit ng pagtanggap sa amin dito sa kapitolyo. Let me stress again I hope someday kung mabigyan tayo ng pagkakataon ng Diyos at ng tao na uunahin nating talaga ma-address yung pagtaas ng petrolyo at susunod na tataas ay presyo ng kuryente,” he said.

Despite the heat due to the onset of dry weather, thousands of Tarlac residents came out in droves and crowded the streets to cheer and express their overwhelming support to the local chief executive as their motorcade wended its way around the province.

The first stop of Team Isko’s motorcade was Concepcion town which has a total of 45 barangays and more than 170,000 residents. No less than Concepcion Mayor Andres “Andy” David Lacson who is also the Vice-Chairman of Aksyon Demokratiko, joined Moreno and the rest of the national candidates in touring the town including a stop-over in front of the municipal hall building to pose for pictures with employees and the townspeople.

Everywhere Team Isko proceeded, thousands of screaming and cheering supporters jostle for position in the crowded streets, all trying to shake or just touch the hands of the 47-year-old presidential candidate.

It was as if the whole barangays stopped their chores just to get a glimpse of Moreno, with many of them showing off his campaign shirts and banners while Team Isko passed through the streets on top of a medium-sized flatbed truck with a make-shift roof.

Moreno also took time out to step down from the truck to sign his signature on the campaign shirts and posed for souvenir photos with some of the residents who were all excited to meet him.

People from all walks of life such as workers, public utility vehicle drivers, store owners, market vendors, construction workers, farmers, parents carrying their children, senior citizens, youth, and members of the LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer and intersexed) community were all there, everybody cheering Moreno as he and his motorcade passed through their communities.

There were also instances that Moreno alighted from the vehicle to greet and utter some words of comfort and gratitude to the elderly on wheelchairs who waited patiently in front of their homes just to see him and show their support to their candidate.

Even motorists, commuters, travelers, truck drivers, and riders going in the opposite direction could be seen waving and honking their horns to express their support for Moreno, and the rest of Team Isko.

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JPV