Actress Vivian Velez led a coalition that pushed for the tandem of Isko Moreno-Sara Duterte for the 2022 national elections.
During a press conference held at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan last March 10, Velez launched ISAng Pilipinas, an acronym for the first names of Moreno and Duterte. She said that the endorsement is a private initiative by groups and people who believe in the tandem of the two personalities.
"Kami ang ISAng Plipinas, o Isko-Sara ng PIlipinas. Nagbigkis kami ngayon upang ilatag sa samabayanang Plipino ang aming pananaw at paninindigan, bilang tugon sa nagbabagong sitwasyong pampulitika at lumalaking hamon ng mundo," said Velez in a statement.
The unofficial tandem has been recognized by the camp of Moreno, whose original running tandem is Doc Willie Ong. On the other hand, Sara's original running partner is Bongbong Marcos.
Edith Fidel, who produced the biopic of Moreno recently, said: "Naniniwala kami na ang husay medikal at katapatan ni Doc Willie Ong ay lubos na mapakikinabangan ng bansa matapos nating matiyak ang tagumpay ng Isko-Sara tandem. Dahil kung silang dalawa ang magiging kapitan ng bansa, tiyak na non-stop ang pagbabago at express ang pag-asenso ng bansa."
John Rana, one of the convenors, said: "Sariling kapasyahan namin ang magbuklod sa ilalim ng bandila ng ISAng Pilipinas. Kaya hindi kami humihingi ng simpatya o kaya anumang ayuda o gantimpala sa huli, sa aming naging desisyon. At alam namin na masalimuot ang aming naging kapasyahan pero nakahanda kami sa anumang batikos ng mga kalaban ni Isko at Sara. Dahil naniniwala kami na ito ay mas makakabuti sa ating bansa."
Popular talent manager Wowie Roxas, known in entertainment circle as Daddie Wowie, former manager of Mayor Isko, also acknowledged the unofficial tandem of Isko-Sara. He said Mayor Isko would make a good president.
Moreno, now 47, was about 18 when he dreamed of joining politics, Roxas recalled.
“Isko was one of the guest performers for the Metro Manila Film Festival at the Luneta Grandstand in 1993. Former Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim was there. Bumulong sa akin si Isko. Sabi niya, ‘Daddie, balang araw, babalik ako rito para manumpa, (He whispered to me and said, “Daddie, someday, I’ll come back here to take my oath)” he recalled.
Roxas said at the time he did not take those words seriously.
“Napa-huh na lang ako. Sabi ko na lang, anak gutom lang yan (I just said huh? Then I told him my child, you are just hungry). But look at him now. It’s his destiny to become a mayor.
”As fate would have it, Isko became the Vice-Mayor of Alfredo S. Lim. And the rest is history.