CEBU CITY—With only five days left before voting, vice presidential aspirant Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Wednesday evening reminded the 65 million Filipino voters of their power to change for the better the political landscape in the Philippines, telling them not to waste this opportunity to elect competent leaders.
Citing the slow government response on COVID-19, Pangilinan urged the attendees of the CEBUyass! campaign caravan at the Southwestern University to be forward-looking.
Pangilinan also urged voters to base their decisions on excellent track records and clean governance. He warned that the future of every citizen will be affected, should voters make the mistake of voting for a politician who failed to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and politicians who are corrupt.
He said everything—from education, jobs, tourism, and the future generation—are at stake in the May 9 elections.
Speaking about COVID, Pangilinan said since the first case was recorded last January 21, 2022, the Philippines now tallied a total of 3,686,375 cases of COVID-19 as of writing. Of this number, 60,439 died.
The poor COVID-19 response also led to a series of hard lockdowns, leaving many Filipinos jobless and hungry with minimal government support.
As the country reels from the negative effects of the pandemic, Pangilinan said that Filipinos have an opportunity to put a stop to this by voting based on their conscience.
Four days before the May 9 election, Akbayan Partylist launched a “Cinco de Mayo” national house-to-house campaign in a final push for the tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko Pangilinan.
In Quezon City, Akbayan women members meanwhile wore Santacruzan “Rosas de Mayo” gowns to woo voters residing in different communities to vote for the Leni-Kiko tandem. Akbayan said that they are making “one last push” before the Leni-Kiko Miting de Avance scheduled on May 7.
This activity is also part of their collective efforts to “stand against undemocratic forces that want to capture the presidency.”
“This is one last push before the big day. We are making one last push for a better future and to stand against those who want us to suffer another six years of undemocratic governance,” Akbayan president Rafaela David said.
“House to house. Person to person. Heart to heart. We will knock on every door. We will talk to each of our fellow voters and convince them that there is a more democratic, compassionate and pro-active government under a Leni presidency,” David added.
Akbayan’s national house-to-house campaign drive was also held in Zambales, Bulacan, Cebu, Iloilo, Negros, Zamboanga, General Santos City, Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental and Tagum. Some of the house-to-house efforts featured serenades, or “harana”, as well as other forms of artistic expression, community snake rallies, drum beating and ati-atihan events, among others.