Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero on Thursday formally sealed their tandem after filing their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for president and vice president, respectively in Intramuros, Manila.
Poe said she will nurture the Philippines with care and compassion in the same way that a mother would take good care of her child.
READ: Poe, Escudero promise leadership undistracted by ‘petty politics’
“Napakahabang pag-iisip at pagdadasal bago kami nakarating sa puntong ito. Bilang isang nanay marami tayong pangarap para sa ating mga anak. Ganoon din ang dasal ko para sa ating bayan—na kung ano man ang aking gagawin ay para sa nakararami,” Poe told the media after filing her COC.
(We prayed hard and had various talks before we reached this point. As a mother, I have many dreams for my children. That is also my prayer for our country—that whatever I will do will benefit many.)
Poe also acknowledged the reforms of the present administration on good governance, but added that there were still a lot of things that needed to be done.
READ: Poe readies Senate slate
“Malaki na ang pinagbago ngunit marami pa dapat na programa ang dapat maibigay sa mga nangangailangan para tayo ay sabay-sabay na umangat,” she said.
(There have been many improvements, but we still need to implement more programs for the poor so that all of us may live a better life.)
Escudero, meanwhile, emphasized the need for a government with feelings—one that rejoices with the citizenry in times of joy and victory, and one that cries with them in times of sorrow.
“Layunin po namin na magtayo ng isang pamahalaan na may puso at pakiramdam at nakakaramdam—isang pamahalaan na nasasaktan kapag may Pilipinong tinatamaan ng kalamidad; isang gobyernong nagbubunyi kapag may nagtatagumpay, at isang gobyernong nagagalit kapag may Pilipinong inaapi o namamatay,” Escudero said.
(Our goal is to build a government that has a heart and emotions and is able to sympathize—a nation that gets hurt when Filipinos are hit by natural calamities; a government that celebrates when Filipinos triumph; and a government that fumes when Filipinos are opressed or die.)
Poe was accompanied by her mother actress Susan Roces, while Escudero was with his actress wife Heart Evangelista.
Both Poe and Escudero have emerged as frontrunners in recent preference polls. IDL
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