"Kakaririn (career) natin."
This was Pangasinan 4th district Rep. Christopher V.P. de Venecia's promise Saturday, Feb. 19 to his partymate, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, whom he vowed to deliver votes for come May 9, 2022.
"What we have to ensure bilang ako ay isang kapartido ni Ma'am Inday Sara Duterte, at siya ang aming standard-bearer, na dapat at makapag-deliver din ang Pangasinan kay ma'am Inday (as a party-mate of Ma'am Inday Sara Duterte, as she is our standard-bearer, is to deliver votes from Pangasinan for her)," he said.
"So yan ang i-eensure natin, ang kakaririn (career) natin (I will ensure that and make a career out of it)," said the chairman of the House Committee on Creative Industy and Performing Arts.
Presidential daughter Duterte-Carpio chairs the Lakas-CMD, which is a party closely identified with De Venecia's father, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.
The younger De Venecia said he feels "very honored" to have the lady mayor as party chairperson. "Talagang namamangha tayo sa kanya, especially napaka-magaling na mayor ng Davao (We're really impressed with her, being a great mayor of Davao)."
Duterte-Carpio is the running mate of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer, former senator Bongbong Marcos.
As for Marcos, De Venecia believes that vote-rich Pangasinan--which has an estimated two million registered voters--will back him just like it did in 2016 when he sought the vice presidency.
"Very clear that Pangasinan is the third most vote-rich province in the Philippines and Pangasinan is in Region I so maituturing itong parang parte ng tinatawag na 'Solid North (so it can be considered as part of 'Solid North')'.
"Nung 2016 talagang napakalaki ng lamang ni former senator Bongbong Marcos sa Pangasinan (In 2016, former senator Bongbong Marcos had a huge lead in Pangasinan) even in my district sa (in the) 4th district ng (of) Pangasinan," the House leader said.
The Davao mayor was in Pangasinan Saturday to meet and touch base with local officials and supporters.
Aside from De Venecia, former Pangasinan 3rd district Rep. Rachel Arenas also joined the festivities.
"I'm very happy to say that for our vice president, Inday Sara Duterte, Pangasinan is united for her. Natutuwa po ako (I'm happy) to see all parties gathering together to support Mayor Inday Sara. And I'm proud to be here, not just as a supporter but a friend of Inday Sara Duterte," said Arenas, who is also a Lakas-CMD stalwart.