Senatorial candidate. Rizalito David. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – He ran for senator during the presidential elections in 2010 and lost but now Ang Kapatiran Party candidate Rizalito David is back, determined to pursue what he called a “faith revolution” which would save not only him but the entire populace.
“What I am doing now is anchored on faith,” the 51-year-old senatorial candidate recalls in an interview with INQUIRER.net over INQuest: Vote 2013.
From an active student in the University of the Philippines Los Banos who could not leave campus whenever there were crackdowns on left-leaning groups, David claims to have renewed his faith and said that it was the Ang Kapatiran’s mission to ensure the salvation of the people.
“One day I was watching television and the name of Ang Kapatiran came up and I thought why shouldn’t I continue what I have done before but in a different method?” was his answer when asked how he transitioned from a student leader named No. 2 in the order of battle of the National Intelligence and Security Authority (NISA) to a senatorial candidate.
His decision to join Ang Kapatiran was his own and maintained that he was not convinced by anyone else.
“Even if I don’t win, what is important is that I sacrificed myself for God,” he adds.
Ang Kapatiran’s candidates, David claims, shared the same view it did not have to be them who won in this particular election but that they had to pursue public office in order to make chances better for their future candidates.
“We are on a continuing mission. It might sound too noble but if we cannot do it in one, two, three elections then maybe on the fourth we can win,” he said.
“It doesn’t have to be us. Maybe other candidates from our group can win later on,” adds the senatorial bet.
But David’s family may not be entirely sold on the idea of him running again.
“I’m not getting the support I need from them but what I think about then is that they have lives of their own, they are busy,” he says.
“They may not be so happy about this but they understand that Papa has something to do. It is clear to them that if I win, it will be good for everyone,” he adds.
David is married to Ma. Luna David. They have three children.
Should he win, the Ang Kapatiran candidate, equipped with knowledge as staff to several legislators in the past, seeks to ensure that “every bill, every law, every program and policy passed will be reflective of my faith as a Christian, and the faith of others also.”
He maintains that while he would be elected by the people, his “first covenant” would be with God.
“There should be a faith revolution. We should bring faith back to our everyday lives, not only in our communities but also in the national government,” he says.