‘Ishagit Mo, Isko!’ Butuan grand rally draws more than 10,000 ordinary folks

Isko Moreno’s grand rally in Butuan City with an estimated 10,000 people in attendance

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — More than 10,000 ordinary people, mostly coming from the so-called “silent majority,” turned up Monday evening at the “Ishagit Mo, Isko!” (Isigaw Mo, Isko) grand concert-rally here to show their full support for Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso.

The Aksyon Demokratiko rally started early afternoon with “only” around 8,000 people present, but soon turned into a large frenzied crowd that spilled over the roads surrounding Guingona Park as dusk turned to evening.

The absence of famous local artists and the threat of a downpour did not dampen the spirits of the ordinary folks as they patiently waited for the arrival of their real star – the young and charismatic Manila mayor who they embrace as one of their own.

Moreno’s arrival at around 8:30 p.m. fired up the crowd even more, chanting “Yorme! Yorme! Yorme!” as Moreno squeezed
through throngs of avid supporters who were lucky enough to be where he happened to pass on his way to the stage.

Ishagit Mo, Isko! Rally at the Guingona Park in Butuan City draws a crowd of 10,000, according to local police.

Moreno expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the people of Butuan for their unbridled support for his candidacy despite the tall odds he faces in his journey towards serving the people as President of the Republic.

“Pag ganito ang audience, parang at home ako. Ito ang tunay na buhay, ang buhay ng tao, walang kulay. Hindi pula, hindi dilaw,” a visibly excited Moreno said in his booming voice.

“Marami tayong problema. Kung gusto niyo ng simpleng gobyerno, yung gobyernong nararamdaman yung nararamdaman niyo, yung gobyernong naranasan ang naranasan ninyo, available ako, maiba naman,” said Moreno to loud cheering from the large crowd.

The 47-year-old presidential candidate reiterated his commitment to find ways to improve the lives and livelihood of all Filipinos should he be given the chance.

If elected president, Moreno has vowed to pursue a “Life and Livelihood” economic policy that aims to address poverty, hunger, unemployment, inequality and social injustice through though the effective, efficient and prudent management of government resources under an open, transparent and inclusive administration, as spelled out under his 10-point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda.

“Mga kababayan, panahon na magkaroon tayo ng gobyernong katulad ninyo, galing sa inyo, katulad natin. Laban natin ito. laban ng ordinaryong pamilyang Pilipino. Pagkakataon natin na tapusin ang away ng pula at dilaw,” he said.

Ishagit Mo, Isko! Rally at the Guingona Park in Butuan City draws a crowd of 10,000, according to local police.

“Simpleng gobyerno – bahay, eskwelahan, hospital, trabaho, murang bilihin, murang koryente, murang krudo. Iyon po ang pagtutuunan ko. Tao muna. Wala ng pulitika. Sobra na, tama na,” Moreno said.

The Manila city mayor also urged the youth, which mostly comprises the crowd, not to be swayed by the promises and false narratives of the elitist brand of politics being peddled by the two rival parties who have been fighting for power since the post-Martial law years.

“Muli patunayan ninyo, sa mga kabataan na nandirito, na tayong kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan. Sa Mayo a-nuebe, kung gusto ninyo ng peace of mind, walang away, walang higantihan, walang bawian. available ako,” Moreno said.

Lastly, the former basurero who became an actor, Manila councilor, vice mayor and mayor exhorted his supporters to stay the course and accompany him in the fight for equality and social justice.

“Samahan ninyo ako, sa inyo lang ako humuhugot ng lakas ng loob. Patuloy ko kayong ipaglalaban, at bigyan ng pagkakataon na ang isang batang basurero ay pwedeng maging mayor ng Maynila. Na ang isang batang basurero ay pwedeng maging pangulo ng bansa, sa awa ng Diyos at sa tulong ninyong lahat,” Moreno said.

Ishagit Mo, Isko! Rally at the Guingona Park in Butuan City draws a crowd of 10,000, according to local police.

The “Ishagit Mo, Isko!” grand rally capped a whole day of motorcades and town hall meetings in the Caraga region by Moreno and the rest of Team Isko: vice presidential candidate Dr. Willie Ong and their senatorial candidates Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc, Jopet Sison and guest candidate John Castriciones.

Earlier in the day, Moreno paid courtesy calls to Surigao City Mayor Ernesto Matugas Jr. (Surigao del Norte); Cabadbaran City Mayor Judy Amante ((Agusan del Norte); Bayugan City Mayor Kirk Asis (Agusan del Sur); and Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Lagnada.

Team Isko also engaged Mindanaoans in several town hall meetings along the way where thousands of “real supporters” packed the venues to show their full support for the young and charismatic presidential candidate. Moreno was accompanied by his running mate Dr. Willie Ong, Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial bets Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc and Jopet Sison and John Castriciones of PDP-Laban.

And the sincerity of the crowd is as real as the programs of governance that Moreno wants to institute if given the chance in order to hasten human and economic development under a Moreno administration.

Ishagit Mo, Isko! Rally at the Guingona Park in Butuan City draws a crowd of 10,000, according to local police.

Besides providing the minimum basic needs of the people – quality housing, education and health care, and creating jobs and livelihood opportunities – Moreno also vowed an accelerated infrastructure program that will be focused in areas or provinces with low human development index (HDI), particularly in Mindanao and the Visayas, to bring about a more inclusive economic growth.

To further hasten human and economic growth, Moreno also vowed to strengthen physical, economic and digital linkages among growth centers and the rural economies, as well as promote and strengthen medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) to further provide livelihood and job opportunities.

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