Poe says support for her presidential bid growing

Multi-awarded singer-composer Ogie Alcasid pours his heart out to the Gobyernong May Puso of Sen. Grace Poe, vowing to help campaign for victory in the May elections. He joins many other notable personalities who came out in support of Poe.

OVERWHELMED by the support that she says she has been getting in the final stretch of the campaign, presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe on Sunday vowed to finish her fight to the end and “hand victory to the Filipino people.”

Poe said support for her presidential quest is growing – from politicians to showbiz personalities, to civil society groups, business leaders and ordinary folks.

“Pinagbuksan tayo ng pinto sa bawat bahay na kinatok, binigyan ng mainit na pagsalubong sa bawat bayan na dinayo. Salamat sa inyong tiwala at suporta,” she said in a statement.

She said people from all walks of life come to her and pledge their vote “to preserve the country and reject a destructive leader.”

“Nakakagulat at nakakataba ng puso ang patuloy na pagdami ng mga kababayan nating gustong tumulong. We will finish this fight to the end and will hand victory to the Filipino people,” Poe said.

Multi-awarded singer and composer Ogie Alcasid was the latest in a roster of supporters to add star power to Poe’s campaign.

Alcasid, who resigned as a member of the government’s Edsa People Power Commission, joined Poe’s sortie for the first time in Marikina City Saturday night.

Alcasid, president of the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), serenaded the crowd of around 25,000 during the 5th National Fireworks Festival at the Marikina Riverbanks Center Amphitheater with his original composition titled “Gobyerno na may Puso,” a song dedicated to Poe.

“Saksi ako sa sinseridad ni Grace na magsilbi sa taumbayan. Siya ay may takot sa Diyos at may paninindigan,” he said in a statement.

He rallied the audience to vote for Poe, saying she is the candidate who has a heart for the children and the youth.

After Alcasid belted out the “Gobyerno na may Puso” song, the sky lit up with a fireworks display from participants in the  competition.

An adopted daughter of movie stars Susan Roces and the late Fernando Poe Jr., Poe’s hordes of supporters from the entertainment industry were on hand to give their candidate a moral boost, among them were Dingdong Dantes, Coco Martin, and Vic Sotto and Pauleen Luna-Sotto.

Beyond words of encouragement, Martin has joined some of Poe’s sorties to personally urge the people to vote for her.

Earlier, local executives from the Bicol region, led by Albay Governor Joey Salceda,  also joined Poe’s campaign, pledging to deliver votes for her.

Poe also gained new allies from the province of Zambales after several Liberal Party candidates for mayor and provincial board members shifted loyalty to her.

In Nueva Vizcaya, the senator got the endorsements of Deputy Speaker Carlos Padilla, wife Governor Ruth Padilla and Vice Governor Lambert Galima and his slate.

Women leaders are also making their voices heard for Poe with the recent launch of “Kababaihan para kay Grace Poe” in Quezon City. The group counts among its members former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, former Senator Santanina Rasul, lawyer Katrina Legarda, Sister Mary John Mananzan, film director Bibeth Orteza, leaders of various women’s groups, and students, among others.

During the event in Marikina, Poe vowed to put focus on programs that would ensure the youth’s welfare, such as the free lunch program, which she said she wants expanded to cover more students, including those in day care.

Citing the tragedy that struck the city when Ondoy hit the country in 2009, the senator batted for a comprehensive flood control program to give Marikina residents peace of mind that they would not be inundated again when heavy rains come.

Poe also expressed her desire to revitalize the city’s shoe industry not only to provide the residents a source of income but to showcase the Filipino’s ingenious craft.

“Sisiguraduhin ko na masigla ang ating ekonomiya para maraming magbukas na trabaho dito sa ating bansa,” she said in her speech.

Poe also reiterated her commitment to curb labor contractualization scheme, which she said does not give security to the employment tenure of workers.

“Ang kailangan sa ating pamilya ay permanenteng trabaho na may sapat na kita. Kasi paano tayo makakapagplano bumili ng motor, paano tayo makakapagplano na bumili ng bahay na matitirhan ng ating pamilya kung wala tayong kasiguruhan sa ating trabaho,” she said.

Poe was invited in the event as guest in the grand finals of the fireworks festival.

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