IT WAS a night filled with fun, laughter, singing and dancing, said the Liberal Party led by its chairman, President Benigno S. Aquino III, said Wednesday night.
The LP members celebrated their thanksgiving party at the LP headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City, and at 7 p.m. Aquino arrived at the event, which was attended by the supporters of administration bets Manuel Roxas II and Vice President-elect Leni Robredo.
Before the party, a mass was held at 5 p.m. where several LP members and Cabinet officials were present.
Meanwhile, Aquino on Thursday continued to defend the Disbursement Acceleration Program even if it has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
He told GMA News that the DAP was beneficial to Filipinos.
“The bottomline is… it was able to help our countrymen… How can this be wrong?” he said.
Roxas and Robredo took the stage and expressed gratitude to the continued support of their supporters.
“Alam niyo po noong patapos na ‘yung kampanya, nag-uusap po kami ni Secretary Mar, sabi po namin siguro sawa na kayo sa amin, palagi niyo po kaming napapanood. Pero ngayong gabi po, matabang-mataba po ang aming puso na kahit po tapos na ang eleksyon, ‘yung pagmamahal niyo po sa amin buong-buo pa din,” Robredo said to cheers and applause from the crowd.
“Nakikita po namin ang mga expression ng inyong pagmamahal at suporta sa Facebook, sa Twitter, sa Instagram, maraming-maraming salamat po dahil iyan po ang nagpapalakas ng aming loob.
“Sa ngalan po ng aking pamilya, siyempre po pati ni Secretary Mar, gusto po naming paabutan kayo ng aming buong-pusong pasasalamat at hindi niyo po kami iniwan sa laban mula noon hanggang ngayon at sana, pati na po sa darating na panahon.”
Robredo’s three daughters Aika, Tricia and Jillian were present.
In his speech, Roxas lauded his supporters for continuously wearing a yellow shirt and flashing the “Laban” sign. Sandy Araneta
“Itong dilaw, itong ‘Laban’ sign, hindi ko pag-aari, hindi kay Leni, hindi kay Noynoy. Ito ay pag-aari ninyong lahat, ng sambayanang Pilipino,” he said.
“Kaya natutuwa ako na sini-celebrate ninyo ang pagsuot ng dilaw, at ang ‘Laban’ sign dahil ibig sabihin engaged kayo, may malasakit kayo sa ating bansa, sa ating mga kababayan, sa ating mga komunidad, sa ating kapwa. Hindi lang pansarili, hindi lang ako, pero sa lahat.”
President Aquino, meanwhile, showed his gratitude to LP supporters by serenading them.
He joined Roxas and several members of his Cabinet on stage, belting out their favorite videoke songs, among them “Can’t Smile Without You”, “Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko”, “September”, “Buttercup”, and “Always Something There To Remind Me.”
The President also sang “The Impossible Dream”, the signature song of his late father, Ninoy Aquino.
The crowd turned emotional when the song “Bayan Ko” was played.
Among the Cabinet members present were Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Interior Secretary Mel Sarmiento, and former justice secretary, now Senator-elect Leila de Lima.