15,000 Pangasinenses flock to ‘Isigaw Mo, Isko’ in Lingayen; Moreno hopes to get INC endorsement

By: Dennis Gutierrez - 3 years ago

ISKOncert at the Lingayen Baywalk in Pangasinan | April 30, 2022

MANILA, Philippines — After a successful four-day barnstorming of the Western Visayas region, Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso on Saturday campaigned in Lingayen, Pangasinan where a peak of 15,000 people went to Team Isko’s grand rally to air their support for the Manila city mayor.

The Pangasinan sortie was highlighted by a concert-rally held at the Baywalk in Lingayen town, where an estimated 10 to 15,000 Pangasinenses massed up to see Moreno in person as well as his running mate Dr. Willie Ong, Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial bets Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc and Jopet Sison, guest senatorial candidate John Castriciones of PDP-Laban and Mocha Uson of the Mothers for Change party-list.

“Maraming salamat sa napakainit na pagsalubong at pagsuporta, Pangasinan! Kung pagod na po kayo sa away ng pula’t dilaw, kung pagod na kayo sa bangayan dito at bangayan doon, available po ako. Sinisiguro ko po sa inyo na kung ako ang pagbibigyan n’yo, uunahin ko pong tugunan ang mga problema ng tao at mga suliranin na kinahaharap ng ating bansa,” Moreno told the massive crowd who waited patiently for his arrival.

The concert-rally dubbed “Isigaw Mo, Isko” had several celebrities and performers gamely entertaining the crowd. The artists included This Band, musician Luke Mejares, popular singer Nina, Soapdish, Mocha Girls, Tanya Markova, Mocha Uson, composer and singer Jimmy Bondoc and multi-awarded actress Vivian Velez.

Earlier in an ambush-interview, Moreno said he is hopefully praying to get the endorsement of the influential Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) as the block-voting religious group will definitely boost his bid to become the next president of the country.

“Lahat ng tulong. Katulad ng panawagan ko sa inyo, sa inyong nandirito. Yung bawat boto ninyo mahalaga. In fact, tiyagain ninyo, pumila tayo. Ang bawat isang boto pag pinagsama-sama madami yan. So, lahat ng uri ng tulong kailangan ko,” Moreno told reporters in Lingayen, Pangasinan before the start of grand rally in this Northern Luzon province.

With the May 9 polls just one week away, Moreno said it’s very important for him and the rest of Team Isko to get the help of each and every Filipino as every vote counts during elections.

Asked if any of the INC leadership already talked to him and the Aksyon Demokratiko candidates, Moreno said the candidate are the ones who go to INC leaders.

“No, we go there. Ako, as a matter of fact, I always ask for the help of Iglesia ni Kristo. Sumusulat ako lagi. Humihingi ako ng tulong sa ating mga kapatid sa Iglesia, sa tagapamahalang pangkalahatan. Lahat hinihingan ko ng tulong dahil kailangan ko ng tulong. But for now, magtulungan tayo. Ano lang common denominator natin muna. Unahin muna natin walang away, walang higantian,” Moreno pointed out.

“Usually di naman sila sumasagot. They will tell you when,” he said.

Moreno said that when he ran for Manila mayor in 2019, he effectively challenged both his predecessors Alfredo Lim and former President Joseph Estrada, who was the incumbent mayor.

Moreno, who was then running a close third in surveys, eventually got the INC endorsement and he won, becoming the 22nd mayor of Manila.

ISKOncert at the Lingayen Baywalk in Pangasinan | April 30, 2022

“Yes. Salamat sa ating mga kapatid sa buong Iglesia ni Kristo noong 2019. Bagamat ako ay pangatlo rin sa survey nung 2019, pinagkatiwalaan ako ng pamamahala ng Iglesia at ng mga kapatid. At isa sa naging tagumpay ko ay sa tulong ng Iglesia at sa tulong rin ng tao. So, ako sabi ko nga sa iyo wala akong stiff neck. I’m always grateful to those people who are helping us and we don’t forget those people who are with us on the way up because these are the same people that we are going to meet on the way down because principle of gravity will be applied to everybody. Anything that goes up must come down,” Moreno explained.

Moreno added: “Kaya hindi ako lumilimot katulad ng utang na loob na pinararamdam ko sa mga tiga-Tondo. Itong kinalalagyan ko ngayon nag-umpisa ang paglalakbay na ito sa Tondo bilang konsehal at 23 years old. So, I owe it to them, I owe it to the people but I owe it kung saan ako nagsimula. Masayahin naman ako, marami akong dapat ipagpasalamat sa Diyos at alam ko yung salitang kabubusugan. I know it very well because I know how to appreciate things. Anything above zero is positive kasi galing naman ako sa hirap eh.”

The INC has an estimated 3 million members in the Philippines and in over 150 countries and territories overseas. It was founded by Felix Y. Manalo, fondly called Ka Felix by his followers, who served as the first Executive Minister of INC. The INC usually announces its choice of candidates to support a few days before election day.

In the same interview, Moreno again called on the people to put a stop on the decades-long conflict between the Marcoses and the Aquinos, to vote for a candidate who will give them peace of mind and a chance for a better life.

ISKOncert at the Lingayen Baywalk in Pangasinan | April 30, 2022

“What I’m offering you now mga kababayan with just a few days before the elections, pipili na tayo ng bagong pangulo ng bansa. Tuldukan na natin, huwag na nating dugtungan yung away ng pula at dilaw. Sa mga negosyante, sa mga trabahante, sa mga nanay at tatay sa bahay, ate, kuya, tingnan ninyo ang mga pami-pamilya ninyo, nagkakahiwa-hiwalay na kayo, nagkakasamaan ng loob ang mga kaibigan, unfriend dito, unfriend doon, kina-cancel yung order sa tindahan, pati mga saleslady sa mall inuutusan sila na piliin yung partikular na kulay. Pero deep inside them di nila gusto. Pero, para hindi na lang sila sungitan, ng mga matapobre eh umooo na lang sila,” Moreno said.

Moreno said what happened recently at a posh mall in Makati City where supporters of his rivals Vice President Leni Robredo and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos had a shouting match is just a preview of what things to come for the country if either one of them becomes president.

“Yung nakita nyo sa Rockwell hindi pa sila nananalo, inakita nyo sa Rockwell, supposed to be mga nakapag-aral yun, supposed to be magaganda ang katayuan nila sa buhay. Yung nakita nyo sa Rockwell na nangyari sa pula at yellow/pink, yun ay preview, yun ay trailer ng mangyayari sa ating bansa. Walang katahimikan. Kaya ako tulungan ninyo ako, tulungan nyo si Doc Willie, yung apat kung kasama, we will do give you peace of mind,” Moreno said.