Pacquiao to hold May 6 miting de avance in vote-rich Cebu City

FILE PHOTO: Sen. Manny Pacquiao. (Contributed photo)

CEBU, Philippines — Presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao is set to hold on Friday, May 6, the first leg of his miting de avance in vote-rich Cebu City, where he said his family traces its roots.

He said he wanted to hold a series of his miting de avance in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, but that he chose to stage one in Cebu, claiming this is where the Pacquiaos originated, and then another in his hometown General Santos City on Saturday, May 7.

“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 said in a press briefing here.

(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 are many.)

Pacquiao spent the last leg of his presidential campaign in Cebu, known as the most vote-rich province in the country with about 3.2 million voters, where he was warmly welcomed by residents.

He went to Cebu on Wednesday, barnstorming across Southern Cebu covering Minglanilla, Talisay, Naga City, San Fernando, Carcar City, Sibonga, Argao, Toledo, and Balamban.

People flocked along the streets to see Pacquiao, who is also a world-famous boxing champion.

His campaign activities extended over the early morning hours of Thursday as he held a rally at the Balamban Sports Oval here.

He said he was surprised and “touched” by the warm welcome of Cebu residents, who braved the heavy rain and waited for him until he arrived at the venue at about 1 a.m.

“Hindi umaalis ‘yung tao na talagang gusto nilang hintayin at makita ako at marinig ‘yung mga plataporma ko. Natutuwa naman ako na kahit umabot kami ng madaling araw, hapon pa sila naghintay ah, gusto namin ipasabukas na lang pero hihintayin nila kami kahit umabot pa ng madaling araw,” Pacquiao said.

(The people stayed and waited for me to hear my platform. I was glad because even though it is early in the morning already and they have been waiting since the afternoon and we wanted to reschedule the event already but they wanted to wait for me.)

“Na-touch naman ako na itong ginawa nilang support sa akin na mga mahihirap. Tandaan ninyo mabuti, hindi ko kayo ipapahiya. I will not let you down, gusto kong kayo naman ang manalo dito sa laban na ito. Yan ang hangad ko,” he added.

(I was touched by their support, especially the poor people. Remember this, I will not disappoint you. I will not let you down. I want you to win in this fight.)

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.

He was met with a number of people who wanted to see him and shake his hand.

“Diyan mo makikita ang tunay na survey — sa ilalim. ‘Yung damang-dama ng mga mahihirap na tao, damang-dama ng mga nahihirapan na mga pamilya ang aking adbokasiya na para sa kanila itong laban na ito.  Hindi ito para sa sarili ko. Para ito sa inyong lahat, laban ninyo ito,” the senator said.

“Dapat ninyo itong ipanalo. Magkaisa kayong lahat. Ipakita natin sa kanila na kakaunti ‘yung mayayaman at tayong mahihirap ay marami. Ito na yung pagkakataon,” he added, stressing that his decision to aspire for the presidency is a revolution of all poor Filipinos.

He said that the widening gap between the rich and poor has triggered a silent uprising which they now express by supporting his candidacy.

“Tandaan niyo ang laban ni Manny Pacquiao, isa itong rebolusyon para maipanalo ang mga mahihirap na tao. Rebolusyon hindi armas ang gamit kundi ang kamay para i-shade ang balota ngayong May 9 para ang bawat Pilipino, ang bawat pamilya na nahihirapan ay manalo naman,” Pacquiao said.

(Remember that the fight of Manny Pacquiao is a revolution of the poor people. A revolution that does not use guns but only hands to shade the ballot on May 9, so that every Filipino, every family that is suffering will win.)

He also called on all Cebuanos to support a fellow Bisaya, the only one among the presidential candidates, who also has roots in Cebu.

“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 us Visayans. I am the only Visayan presidential candidate, so to all my Visayan brothers and sisters, join me.)

On Friday, Pacquiao is expected to island-hop in Bantayan, Camotes, Carnaza, and Olanggo before holding a grand rally at 3rd Avenue North Reclamation Area in Cebu City.

RELATED STORY

Manny Pacquiao calls Isko Moreno ‘insecure’ over conduct of Cebu sorties

KGA