Hontiveros unfazed by ‘uphill battle’ for Senate seat

Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros. Cathy MIranda/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Even as she has yet to barge into the “Magic 12”, Team PNoy senatorial candidate Risa Hontiveros remained unfazed and vowed to fight an “uphill battle” until the end.

Unlike  other senatorial candidates, who have name recall and money on their side, Hontiveros said she was only banking on her track record in public service. She used to represent the Akbayan partylist group at the House of Representatives.

“Ako ay isang tao na mahirap madismayado o mahirap mawalan ng gana. Medyo may katigasan ang ulo ko and I will fight until the last day, until the last moment. [I am a person who doesn’t get dismayed easily. I’m a bit hard-headed],” she said Thursday.

“Siguro yun din naman yung naging isang dahilan na out of nowhere into the 2010, I almost made it to number 13 so I’m hoping na ulitin at higitan yung ganyang performance, yung ganyan na resulta ngayon namang 2013. [That’s maybe one of the reasons why, I out of nowhere into the 2010, I almost made it to number 13. So I’m hoping for a repeat and surpass that performance, result in 2013],” she said.

Hontiveros was referring to her failed senatorial bid in 2010.

She ranked 17th in the latest survey by the Social Weather Station from April 13 to 15 and has yet to enter the “Magic 12”.