Mar Roxas, the pride of Ilonggos
ROXAS CITY/NAGA CITY — For senior citizen Manuel Antonino, the 2016 presidential elections on May 9 is not about Daang Matuwid, whatever that means, but a fight to bring back the glory of the Capizeños by sending one of their own, once more, to Malacañang.
That’s why he woke up early Tuesday to have a good seat inside the Capiz gym to cheer the one who would realize their dream to have another Ilonggo President — Mar Roxas.
“He is our pride. He is the reason now why Capiz is becoming popular again,” Antonino told the Manila Bulletin.
He has all the reasons to be excited about having a Capizeño president. The last time they had that privilege was during the post-war period when Mar’s grandfather, Manuel Acuna Roxas became the 5th president of the Philippines who served from 1946 to 1948.
The Capizeños were so proud of this fete that they renamed the province’s capital from Capiz to Roxas City, in honor of the late president.
In front of the Capiz gym, 44-year old Rowena Desena was patiently waiting for the gymnasium to open. She and her neighbors were among the first to arrive to take a glimpse of a politically star -studded campaign kick- off.
“This is the first time that we will experience this, of having a presidential candidate talking in Ilonggo, of having an Ilonggo bringing not only the President here but also a lot of people whom I only see in television,” said the star-struck Desena.
But more than seeing political personalities in the flesh, Desena said it is her obligation to join Capizeños in a show of force for Roxas because having one of their own in the top government posts somehow assure them of attention and support from the national government which controls the budget and all the kinds of assistance for the poor.
Rare chance For instance, she attributed her inclusion in the Conditional Cash Transfer (or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) to Roxas who made sure that a lot of Capizeño will benefit from the poverty assistance program.
“I was able to send my eldest son to TESDA. Now, he is just awaiting for the interview because of the policy that 4Ps beneficiary must be a priority for hiring in the local call center here,” said Desena.
But the excitement and hope is not only limited to Capizeños.
In front of thousands of Iloilo City residents, Gov. Art Defensor told his province mates of their obligation being Ilonggos to throw full support for one of their own.
Giving a brief lecture on history about their first Ilonggo president, Defensor said that Ilonggos are now again being given the rare chance to shine in national politics.
He cited instances when Western Visayas was least in the priority when it comes to infrastructure simply because the President is not their kasimanwa.
“Let us not waste this opportunity. Let us give our 100 percent support to Mar Roxas,” Defensor told the cheering crowd.
LP in Bicol From Panay Island considered as Mar Roxas country, administration candidates will have the second leg of their provincial grand rally in Bicol region today, considered the bailiwick of his running mate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.
“We are very happy and very proud because of Ma’am Leni. We want her to win because we believe that like her husband (Jesse), she can do a lot for the country,” said driver Bonifacio Cular, Jr.
What made Cular even more proud is the fact that President Aquino will be here today to personally campaign for Robredo.
The Bicol leg starts with the full force of Daang Matuwid coalition attending an event in Ragay town in Camarines Sur this morning.
It will be followed by a motorcade in Iriga City where another miting de avance is expected to be held. Iriga City is the hometown of another LP senatorial candidate, former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
After the Iriga City event, another motorcade will be held towards Naga City for a grand rally in the evening.
Naga City, on the other hand, is the hometown of Robredo whose husband, Jesse, served as mayor before he was appointed Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary.
The entire Camarines Sur has more than one million registered voters but while the support is guaranteed for Robredo, it will be a different scenario for the presidential candidate since the major political clans here in the province are divided between Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Grace Poe.