Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso
MANILA, Philippines — Heavy rains inundated the “Isinggit Nato, Isko!” ISKOncert rally of Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso in Cebu Wednesday night, but thousands of his supporters still waited to see and hear their chosen candidate, and show their full support to the Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer no matter what happens.
The rally started in a festive mood under fine weather with about 20,000 supporters on hand and with many on the way. But heavy rains that started at around 9:30 in the evening created ankle-deep floods in some areas around 3rd Avenue where the stage was set, and forced many of those far from the stage to seek shelter in nearby Robinsons Galleria.
The heavy rains stopped at around 10:30 p.m., only to give way to a lingering drizzle. Yet, a sizable crowd of drenched but high-spirited Cebuanos remained.
Their steadfastness was rewarded with the arrival of Moreno, and Deputy Speaker and Cebu 3rd District Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia at 11 p.m.
“Thank you sa inyo. Cebuano, maraming maraming salamat sa inyo, maraming-maraming salamat kay Congressman Garcia. Ang sarap niyong kasama Cebuano. I love you Cebu,” Moreno said to wild cheering from the Cebuano faithful.
“Nais ko lang pasalamatan yung mga nagpunta kanina. Siympre yung iba nabasa sa ulan. Maraming salamat sa nagbasa sa ulan. Kaya kaya nila ang ginagawa natin?” he said to ringing shouts of “Daog na! Daog na! Daog na!”
The 47-yer-old former basurero who became exemplary mayor of Manila, said the crowd represents the real masses, the real people that he hopes to serve if given the chance.
Moreno urged the people, especially the youth, to look not in the past, but to look towards the future, and take advantage of the opportunity to once and for all put a stop on the decades-long conflict between the Marcoses and the Aquinos and the elitist politics they represent.
“Talagang hindi nila tayo maiintindihan, Dahil tayo, ganito lang ang buhay natin, kahit anong hirap, nakukuha pa rin nating magsaya. Kaya kayong mga kabataan, hindi niyo inabot ang nakaraan, pero ito ang panahon ng kabataan kung saan nabigyan tayo ng pagkakataon na tuldukan na natin ang away ng pula at yellow-pink,” he said.
Isko Moreno
“Yung pagpunta niyo lang dito, at yung nagpunta kanina, at kayong nagpabasa sa ulan, sapat na, malakas na ang loob ko, mananalo tayo sa Cebu! Sasamahan niyo ba ko sa Mayo a-nuebe? Cebu isigaw mo, ‘Daog na!” Moreno said as the fired-up crowd chanted “Daog na! Daog na! Daog na!”
After the brief speech, Cong. PJ once again raised the hand of Mayor Isko in endorsement, and joined his fellow Cebuanos in shouting “Daog na!”
Wednesday’s event was reminiscent of other ISKOncert rallies in the province where even the force of nature could not contain the outpouring of support from Moreno’s faithful supporters.
Last April 8, more than 20,000 Cebuanos braved rains spawned by Tropical Depression Agaton to show their full love and support for Mayor Isko in a grand rally in Toledo City. And despite the stormy weather last April 7, about 35,000 people packed the outdoor area of Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City to see and hear Moreno.
In the meantime, the “silent majority” being touted by Moreno that was always present in his campaign sorties was again in full force last April 24 in Carcar City with about 65,000 people attending the “Grand ISKOncert-Rally.”
And just this Tuesday, a mammoth crowd that reached 80,000 at its peak packed the concert rally in Danao City with Moreno’s wife Dynee Domagoso, sons Patrick and Joaquin and only daughter Frances leading the ISKOoncert rally.
Moreno said he is always grateful whenever he goes to Cebu, but not because of the numbers of Cebuanos who show up in his motorcades, town hall meetings or ISKOncert rallies.
Rather, he said it is because of the very warm reception he gets from the people, be it in motorcades, town hall meetings or ISKOncert rallies where no famous celebrities or artists performed.
“I am always grateful to the warm reception of the Cebuanos. Kaya worth it na magpabalik-balik dito. Talagang nililiwagan nating maigi ang boto ng Cebu. Hopefully I’ll be given a chance by our countrymen, especially here in Cebu province,” he said in an interview at the Radisson Hotel prior to going to the ISKOncert rally.
Isko Moreno
“Basta ako masaya ako. In terms of biggest, marami kaming biggest. Basta ako happy ako. I don’t quantify events based on numbers. I quantify it based on how they received me. Kasi ang ikinalulugod ko ay yung pagpunta, e sana ako yung dahilan. Ang reason is the message, the vision, the idea, the concept of governance, real talk lang,” Moreno said.
And this was proven earlier in the day when he visited the urban poor community in Mambaling where he was warmly welcomed by residents of all ages. Parents brought their babies for Moreno to kiss and elderly women flocked to his side for selfies. Meanwhile, the youth cheered from atop the metal fence surrounding the basketball court where Mayor Isko gave his speech.
“Saan ako kumukuha ng lakas ng loob? Yung nakikita ko sa mata ng mga tao. It’s not yung dami, sa volume, it’s their eyes, it’s their voice, it’s their actuations. Doon ako masaya, whether 500, 2,000 or, I think ang higgest namin about 120,000. And most of them, kanila pa yung tsitsa,” Moreno said.
And throughout his Cebu sorties, Garcia was always present to lend his all-out support. It can be recalled that Garcia has affirmed his unwavering support Moreno’s presidential bid despite One Cebu’s endorsement of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the ousted Philippine dictator.
In fully supporting Moreno, Garcia said Moreno’s track record and brand of leadership best exemplify the ideals of “Dili sulti ang pabuhaton; buhat ang pasulti-on.” “Hindi salita ang gumagawa, ang gawa ang magsasalita. Gawa ang nagsasalita para kay Isko Moreno. Kaya malaking karangalan para sa akin na ipinaglalaban siya sa Cebu,” Garcia said.
He again reaffirmed his full support for Moreno in the same interview. “I’m still here. I would not be here if I did not believe that he could still win. But whatever happens, win or lose, I believe if I vote for the person I believe in, I have already won,” Garcia said.
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