Former senator and senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan can’t help but sing his wife’s, Megastar Sharon Cuneta, classic hit “Bituing Walang Ningning” as he brought his anti-hunger and food security platform to General Santos City.

“Balutin mo ako (wrap me)…” he sang to his audience at the Oval Park in General Santos City on Saturday night, May 3, when he told them the importance of bringing down food prices through his Sagip Saka Act.

His reference to his wife’s 1994 hit song “Bituing Walang Ningning” was brought about by explaining where his “Kapag may Kiko, may Sharon (When there’s Kiko, there’s take-home food)” slogan comes from.

“Dahil kapag binigyan natin ng buo at todong suporta ang magsasaka, mangingisda, dadami ang kanilang ani, dadami ang kanilang huli, dadami na ang supply ng pagkain sa palengke. Kapag madami nang supply, bababa na ang presyo ng pagkain (When we give our full support to farmers, fisherfolk, they will have better harvest, more catch, there will be more food supply in the market. When there’s better supply, the prices of food will go down),” he said.

“At kapag mababa na ang presyo ng pagkain, lahat tayo makikinabang, lahat tayo makakabili ng masarap at masustansyang pagkain. Maihahanda na sa hapag-kainan, marami nang handa at kapag marami nang handa, maraming Sharon. Kaya kapag may Kiko, may Sharon (And when food prices are down, we are all going to benefit, we can buy delicious and healthy food. There’s food on the table, and when there is more food on the table, we’ll have leftover to take home. So, if there’s Kiko, there’s take-home food),” Pangilinan added.

The colloquial term “sharon” refers to food that Filipinos usually take home from parties and fiestas. It was born from the same “balutin mo (wrap it)” that’s part of the lyrics of “Bituing Walang Ningning” as Filipinos would often wrap leftover food for guests to take home.

The Sagip Saka Act, a law that passed in 2019, was principally authored by the former senator. It allows national and local governments to buy food directly from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding.

With Election Day nine days away, the former senator asked his supporters to campaign for him in the remaining seven days of the campaign period.

“Ako po si Kiko Pangilinan. Tumatakbo para sa mga Pilipino na naniniwala na meron pang pag-asa ang Pilipinas. Ako po ay tumitindig para sa mga magsasaka, mangingisda, para sa murang pagkain, para wala nang gutom (I am Kiko Pangilinan. I am running for the Filipinos who believe there is hope in the Philippines. I am standing up for the farmers, fisherfolk, for more affordable food, for an end to hunger),” Pangilinan said.

“Tumatakbo para ipakita na maaaring manalo ang lumalaban ng patas at hindi magnanakaw. GenSan, tulungan niyo akong ipanalo natin ang tama (I am running to show that those who fight fair and do not steal can still win. GenSan, help me win what’s right),” he added.