Akbayan Partylist and the Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros have joined forces with volunteers and supporters in campaigning for senatorial aspirants Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan.
Senator Risa Hontiveros campaigns for the Akbayan Partylist and Kiko-Bam tandem in Tondo, Manila. She is joined by Akbayan Partylist first nominee Chel Diokno. (Photo from Sen. Risa Hontiveros Facebook page)
The group conducted a “ricorida,” the postering and leafleting activities in various parts of the country during the first day of the 90-day campaign season on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
The volunteers found themselves organizing motorcades, distributing leaflets in residential areas and public markets, and postering in key areas to amplify awareness about Aquino’s and Pangilinan’s candidacies.
“Taos-puso akong nagpapasalamat sa ating mga volunteer at supporters, sa tanggapan ni Senadora Risa Hontiveros at sa Akbayan sa kanilang walang pagod na suporta sa ating kandidatura at sa paniniwala nila sa ating adbokasiya sa edukasyon at siguradong trabaho para sa mga Pilipino (I wholeheartedly thank our volunteers and supporters, the Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros, and Akbayan for their tireless support to our candidacy and their belief in our advocacy for education and jobs for Filipinos),” Aquino said in a statement.
The activities were conducted in Pangasinan, Isabela, La Union, Cagayan, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Mindoro, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Guimaras, Capiz, Dumaguete, Bacolod, and Siquijor.
Volunteers from Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Zamboanga City, Pagadian City, Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, Bukidnon, General Santos City, South Cotabato, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Sur also did similar postering and leafleting activities for Aquino and Pangilinan, both running as independents.
Akbayan Partylist nominees Chel Diokno and Percival Cendaña, on the other hand, were seen attending the Mass with Aquino, Pangilinan, and former vice president Leni Robredo at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.
They were also present during the Senate bets’ proclamation rally at the Dasmariñas Arena in Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Tuesday.
Alongside him was Mamamayang Liberal Partylist first nominee Leila de Lima and co-nominees Teddy Baguilat and Erin Tañada, who are also gunning for a congressional seat.
In seeking another term in the Senate, Aquino emphasized the need to expand the Free College Law as he advocates for education and guaranteed employment for Filipinos.
He also expressed confidence that his numbers in pre-election surveys will pick up once the campaign season begins and their volunteers go to various parts of the country.
“Naniniwala kami na gaya rin nang dati, gaya noong 2022, nagsimula noong kampanya, pasimula pa lang but by the end of the campaign nayanig iyong buong pundasyon ng politika sa Pilipinas (We believe that, like in 2022, when the campaign started, it was just starting, but by the end of the campaign, it shook the foundation of politics in the Philippines),” he said, referring to Robredo’s pink rallies in 2022.
“Iyon rin ang makikita po natin. Mula ngayon for the next 90 days lalabas ang mga tao at makikita nila na maganda tayong alternatibo (That’s what we’re going to see. From now for the next 90 days, people will come out and they will see we are good alternatives),” he assured.
A Pulse Asia survey conducted from Jan. 18 to 25, showed Pangilinan at the 15th to 16th place, while Aquino at the 15th to 18th place, with a 29.1 and 27.4 percent, respectively, of respondents voting for them.