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Saturday, November 13, 2021

Festive vibes, warmest smiles greet Lacson-Sotto in ‘The Land of Sweet Surprises’

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental — Spirited crowds applauding at the sound of exuberant drumbeats welcomed Partido Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III upon their return trip to this province.

The tandem barnstormed Negros Occidental also known as ‘The Sugar Capital of the Philippines’ or ‘The Land of Sweet Surprises’ for the sixth leg of their “Online Kumustahan” event at the Tangub Community Center in Bacolod City, Saturday afternoon (November 13).

Throngs of supporters wearing white Lacson-Sotto campaign t-shirts were present at the main assembly site in the provincial capital and thousands more participated across 21 satellite venues covering all six districts of Negros Occidental.

These include the cities and municipalities of San Carlos, Calatrava, Toboso, Escalante, Sagay, Manapla, Victorias, Cadiz, Talisay, Silay, Hinoba-an, Sipalay, Cauayan, Kabankalan, Binalbagan, Himamaylan, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, San Enrique, Valladolid and Bago.

Event organizers estimated the total in-person attendance for the socially distanced gatherings at 15,400 as each participating location accommodated between 700 to 800 supporters. They all wore face masks and followed other COVID-19 related protocols on the advice of public health authorities.

In his speech, Lacson said he is grateful to see and feel the warm expressions of support from the Negrenses, especially when he was informed by their host barangay captain Noli Villarosa of Tangub that candidates who visit their small town generally win during elections.

“Ang sabi niya (Villarosa) sa akin, alam mo, senator, lahat ng dumalaw dito nananalo… (He [Villarosa] told me, you know, senator, those who visited here have won),” Lacson told an energetic crowd.

Villarosa, who helped organize the “Online Kumustahan” activity in his area, said he and his constituents are non-partisan and were ready to welcome the veteran lawmakers and their senatorial candidates as soon as they learned that they were going to visit.

“Boluntaryo kong ipinahiram ang aming barangay kasi non-partisan naman kami at sila mga incumbent senator… (I voluntary lent our village [for this effort] because we are non-partisan and they are incumbent senators),” Villarosa said.

He considered his village as sort of “lucky charm” for politicians seeking re-elections or higher national positions since other aspirants who visited their village during previous electoral campaigns won convincingly.

“Siguro buenas itong lugar na ‘to at saka pinapakita lang [din namin sa mga] kandidato na karapat-dapat na mapansin din at matulungan kami,” Villarosa told Partido Reporma after the successful program for the “Online Kumustahan” event wrapped up.

(I believe our town brings good luck to those who are seeking public office and we are just showing them that our small town deserves to get noticed by these candidates and we need their support.)

Partido Reporma senatorial candidates Dr. Minguita Padilla and Monsour del Rosario joined Lacson and Sotto during their Negros Occidental visit to introduce themselves and seek the approval of electorates for their respective candidacies as well.

Del Rosario, the former martial arts actor and Makati congressman, was born in Manila but was raised in Bacolod City. His connection to the local residents of Negros Occidental was palpable considering his fluency in Hiligaynon.

The Partido Reporma senatorial bet shared that during his stint at the House of Representatives, he filed around 292 legislative bills, and the ratification of Republic Act 11165 or the Telecommuting Act of 2018, which he co-sponsored was his proudest accomplishment.

Dr. Padilla, meanwhile, said she also has many relatives in Bacolod City. She gave away free eye glasses for some members in the audience aged 50 and older who are having vision problems.

The seasoned opthalmologist and longtime public health advocate is seeking a Senate seat to push for much needed reforms in the healthcare sector compounded by the adverse multisectoral impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sotto, meanwhile, played on the nickname of his running mate ‘Ping’ when he endorsed his presidential bid. He said this is the same sound that some weapons make—like guns and arrows—when trying to hit a particular target.

Like those weapons, Sotto relayed, Lacson will work to address the most pressing concerns facing our nation today from massive corruption, the illegal drug trade, ailing economy to the negative effects of the ongoing pandemic, among others.

“In our history in the Philippines now, we need the right man in the right place at the right time who can change history,” Sotto said in his speech, referring to Lacson as the man who is offering the best solutions to the problems besetting our country.

The post Festive vibes, warmest smiles greet Lacson-Sotto in ‘The Land of Sweet Surprises’ first appeared on .

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)

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