Acting Cebu Gov. Agnes Magpale last night recalled how Cebu has consistently supported two Aquinos.
She said that when Cebuanos supported the late president Corazon Aquino after the 1986 Edsa uprising , this was also support for her campaign to restore democracy.
When Cebuanos voted for her son Noynoy, then a senator, in the 2010 presidential election, they also supported his fight against graft and corruption “dahil kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”
Magpale said Cebuanos are grateful to the Aquino administration for restoring investment confidence in the country. “The President needs people to sustain the gains that has been made. Let’s choose peopl who will help him,” Magpale told the cheering crowd at the Tabunok gym. The Liberal Party rally last night was fast paced with no Manila entertainers. Singer Leah Navarro acted as emcee. Bread and juice packs were distributed by 7:30 p.m. By then some participants started leaving the Talisay sports complex.
Magpale took the microphone to welcome President Aquino and senatorial candidates to the second part of the program, which is a meeting with local leaders and the community. This prompted people to return and fill the venue. Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya introduced the President who gave a 30-minute speech.
Dumaguete trip
Aquino apologized for canceling his Dumaguete city trip due to bad weather and promised to visit later during the campaign period.
Aquino then reported on the status of ongoing Cebu projects .
He mentioned the North Hagnaya road project which he said DPWH Regional Director Ador Canlas promised to finish on Feb. 19.
“Kapag hindi natapos ipaalam nyo po sa akin para ma palitan natin ang RD.”
The Ouano Avenue Rehabilitation Program will shorten travel from Cebu City to the Mactan Cebu International Airport to 30 minutes, he said. The widening of the Mactan Circumferential Road is underway and the airport upgrade program which will be completed before his term ends in 2016.
Aquino then turned to local politics and introduced LP Cebu province candidates.
He started with Hilario Davide III, saying Davide was not the kind to hang on to power or cling to his office if he’s elected to the Capitol.
Aquino described acting Gov. Magpale as a hard worker: “Inuna po niya ang gawa hindi ang drama.” (She gives priority to the work, not to drama.)
After the President’s speech ended at 8:41 p.m., he posed for photos with different batches of LP local leaders with hands raised in the air.