Aspiring vice president Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan went back to the place where he grew up and the district that first elected him to a public office to seek the same support come May 9.
Pangilinan was back to his childhood place to grace the “Leniwanag sa Diliman” street party along the stretch of famed Maginhawa Street in Quezon City on Sunday, April 24, a day after the record-breaking Pasay City grand rally.
During his speech, Pangilinan reminisced his childhood in the same village where the street party was staged. He recalled suffering his first-ever heartbreak in the place which was also the same district that first elected him as a public official—councilor.
As a councilor, he said, he gained the moniker: Gentleman from Diliman.
“Alam n’yo dito ako pinanganak, dito ako lumaki dito sa Teacher’s Village. Labing anim na taon po ako diyan kaya alam na alam ko po dito...Dito po ako lumaki. Dito po akong unang lumigaw at dito rin ako tatlong beses nabasted (You know I was born here, I grew up here in Teacher’s Village. I lived here for 16 years, so, I am very familiar with the place. I grew up here. This is where I first courted, I was also rejected thrice here),” the lawmaker said.
“Dito rin ako naging councilor. Kayo po ang naghalal sa akin dito sa unang pagkakataon (I became a councilor here. You were the ones who elected me for the first time),” he added.
Pangilinan then capped the trip down memory lane with a special song number with his siblings on stage—a rare sight from Pangilinan and runningmate Vice President Leni Robredo’s campaign rallies.
During his speech, the aspiring vice president reminded the voters to vote wisely and not settle for candidates who were involved in corrupt practices.
He rallied the crowd to support him and Robredo, who was not able to attend the rally. He warned them of the consequences if politicians with unclear track record are elected to office.
“Hindi pwede ang pipiliin natin, dahil ang ating buhay ang nakataya, pipiliin natin yung may bahid ng katiwalian. Papayag ba tayo na yung mga kurakot ang uupo sa Mayo 9 (We should not choose those who have record of corruption because our life is what’s at stake here? Must we let the corrupt win on May 9),” Pangilinan told the pink-clad crowd of supporters.
“Kung mahal natin ang ating mga anak, bilang mga magulang, hindi ba ipaglalaban natin sila? Gagawin natin ang lahat para sa ating mga anak. Hindi tayo papayag na mapahamak ang ating mga anak. Lalaban tayo (If we love our children, as parents, we should fight for them. We must do everything for our kids. We won’t let our children suffer. We will continue to fight),” he added.
At the end of the “street party,” members of various community groups and laborers from the fourth District of Quezon City, which has 38 barangays, raised the hands of Pangilinan, signifying their support to his candidacy.
It came after Pangilinan was endorsed by security guards in Cavite on Sunday morning.