Pro-administration lawmakers on Wednesday, July 20 launched a movement that would heed the call of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for a country united toward progress and the improvement of Filipino lives.
San Jose Del Monte City lone district Rep. Rida Robes, one of the convenors, cited the chief executive’s “clarion call of unity” during the latter's proclamation last June 30 as the basis for the movement’s launch.
“Ito po ang ating tugon sa panawagan ng Pangulo. Ang magbuo ng isang kilusan (This is our answer to the President’s call. To create a movement),” she said during the Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) launch at EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City.
“We are inclusive and united in our pursuit of a better Philippines - regardless of creed, aspirations and dispositions. We are singularly supportive of the vision of this administration of a democratic, free and progressive country; a proud nation, with sovereignty and independence at the hands of its people, recognized by other states as a strategic partner for mutual cooperation and growth,” Robes added.
She thanked her co-convenors—Reps. Divine Yu of Zamboanga del Sur 1st district, Luisa Cuaresma of the lone district of Nueva Vizcaya, Richard Gomez of Leyte 4th district, Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur 2nd district, Toby Tiangco of the lone district of Navotas, and Ria Vergara of Nueva Ecija 3rd district—for joining the KNP and encouraged them to work in growing the movement.
The convenors took their oath before former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. They each received a KNP pin.
They also unveiled the KNP pledge, which identified the members’ vision for a united and nationalistic Philippines and improved lives for all Filipinos.
“Ako ay kikilos, makikiisa, at makikilahok sa patuloy na pagbabago tungo sa kaunlaran at pagkakaisa (I will act, work together, and participate in the continuous change toward progress and unity),” part of the pledge read.
“The future is on hand for we have a new leadership that is vision-driven, professional, and inspirational. We are once again ripe to develop our culture towards nationalism, self-determination and sense of nation,” Robes said.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. , the keynote speaker of the event, assured that they will use the movement “as a platform for engaging our citizens and empowering sectors of society regardless of aspirations and political dispositions".
He promised that they will “make this movement a platform to articulate all voices".
“We shall seek not scorn dialogue, listen respectfully to contrary views, and be open to suggestions,” Abalos said.
“In short, makikinig tayo. Maski may halong masakit, makikinig tayo at gagawa tayo (we will listen. Even if there’s a mix of pain, we will listen and we will act),” he added.
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Although revealing that the President himself will lead the movement, Gomez insisted the KNP is not a political party as evidenced by the presence of members who come from different political spectrums.
“Kalimutan muna natin iyong nakaraang eleksyon. Gawin natin magkaisa tayo. Buuin natin iyong minimithi natin (Let us forget the past elections. Let us unite. Let’s build what we aim for), which is development, which is progress para sa ating lahat (for everyone),” he said in a media interview.
He commended those who came to the launch for “listening” to the President’s call for unity, saying that it was a “very good showing” to see “a full house coming from different regions, provinces.”
Aside from the convenors, Abalos, and Sotto, also in the launch were Mandaluyong Maypr Benjamin Abalos Sr., Palawan 3rd District Rep. Edward Hagedorn, Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo, and other mayors and governors.