Manny Pacquiao —MANNY PACQUIAO FACEBOOK PHOTO
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Prior to the last day of the campaign period, presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao on Friday sought to get the votes of Cebuanos as he held the first leg of his miting de avance here.
Pacquiao held his Cebu miting de avance along 3rd Avenue – the same venue where Manila Mayor Isko Moreno held a rally on Wednesday, May 4.
However, his running mate Rep. Lito Atienza was unable to accompany him in his miting de avance.
Before his miting de avance, Pacquiao first went island-hopping around Cebu — Bantayan, Camotes, Carnaza and Olanggo.
He arrived at the venue at around 9:30 p.m.
WATCH: Cebuanos chant “Number 9” as presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao arrive at the venue for his Cebu miting de avance.
He is No. 9 in the ballot for the May 9 elections. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/9y3bwEUXlL
— Daphne Galvez (@DYGalvezINQ) May 6, 2022
Actress Ruffa Gutierrez was the first to perform for the crowd. She was followed by couple Richard Gutierrez and Sarah Lahbati.
Actress Ruffa Gutierrez performs before the crowd. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/nBAkKWIXJW
— Daphne Galvez (@DYGalvezINQ) May 6, 2022
Couple Richard Gutierrez and Sarah Lahbati graces Pacquiao’s miting de avance, tells crowd to support his presidential bid. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/yoQZ2lIjsy
— Daphne Galvez (@DYGalvezINQ) May 6, 2022
Singer and comedian Mitoy Yonting also graced the event and performed before the crowd.
Gutierrez patriarch Eddie also graced the event and performed an Elvis Presley song before the Cebuano crowd.
Singer Freddie Aguilar then performed a ballad titled “Dugo’t Pawis” which is dedicated to Pacquiao.
Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia, and wife, Jinkee also had their turn to speak before the crowd.
The senator had said that he has roots in Cebu, therefore he wanted to have his miting de avance here, then appealing to Cebuanos to support their fellow Visayan in his quest for the presidency.
His father, Rosalio, was born in Barangay Guimbawian in Pinamungajan, Cebu.
“Doon tayo nagsimula, doon din magtatapos. Ang Manny Pacquiao talagang dito kami nanggaling sa Cebu. Taga-Cebu talaga ang mga Pacquiao. Sinasabi ko na nga, dito sa Cebu, isang barangay puro mga Pacquiao eh,” he earlier said.
(That’s where we started so that’s where we’ll end. Manny Pacquiao came from here. The Pacquiaos are really from Cebu. I’m telling you, there is one barangay here that is full of Pacquiaos.)
“Napakaraming Pacquiao, tahimik lang ang mga Pacquiao pero napakarami,” the senator added.
(There are so many Pacquiaos. They are just silent but they have big numbers.)
Pacquiao spent the last stretch of his presidential campaign in Cebu, which is known to be the most vote-rich province in the country with about 3.2 million voters, where he was warmly welcomed by residents.
“Walang ibang magtutulungan kundi kaming mga Bisaya. Ako lang ang Bisaya na tumatakbo pagka-presidente kaya sa mga kapatid ko ma Bisaya, samahan niyo ako,” Pacquiao said in Visayan dialect.
(No one will help each other but as Visayans. I am the only one Visayan presidential candidate, so to all my Visayan brothers and sisters, join me.)
He went to Cebu on Wednesday, barnstorming across Southern Cebu covering Minglanilla, Talisay, Naga City, and San Fernando, Carcar City, Sibonga, Argao, Toledo, and Balamban.
Flocks of people went into the streets to see Pacquiao, who is also a world renowned boxing champion.
His campaign activities even spilled over into early morning to meet with supporters who have been waiting for him since afternoon.
He said he was surprised and “touched” by the warm welcome of Cebu residents, who waited for him and even braved torrents of rain until he met with them.
On Thursday, Pacquiao went to the northern towns of Asturias, Tuburan, Tabuelan, San Remigio, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Bogo, Tabogon, Barbon, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Compostella, Danao, Liloan, Consolacion, Mandaue and Carbon with a series of caravan and people’s rallies.
In 2016, when he ran for senator, Pacquiao got over 850,000 votes in Cebu province, making him the third most preferred senatorial candidates then.