CITY OF SAN FERNANDO– Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) kicked-off its campaign for its chosen senatorial bets at the Capitol grounds here on Tuesday to the warm welcome of some 23,000 Kapampangans.
Kapampangan leaders led by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Gov. Lilia G. Pineda as well as the whole Kambilan party slate of the provincial administration party were present during the start of the first day of the 90-day campaign for candidates seeking national positions.
“Matula tamu megumpisa ya ing Hugpong keng kampanya da keni king Pampanga uling kanitang 2016 ing peka maragul nang landslide ng Duterte kilwal balwarte na, keni king Pampanga (We are happy that the Hugpong started its campaign here in Pampanga because the biggest landslide (President) Duterte had outside his bailiwick in the 2016 elections was here in Pampanga),” Arroyo told the crowd who packed the Capitol grounds.
Pampanga is the bailiwick of Arroyo who also urged Kapampangans to vote straight for the HNP candidates.
Mayor Duterte was visibly overwhelmed by the show of support by Kapampangans and their leaders as she continued to exchange pleasantries with almost everyone she met.
For her part, Pineda bannered each candidates’ accomplishments as she welcomed them to Pampanga and urged Kapampangans to support them.
“We are happy that they held it here in Pampanga. It is an honor for us and also a sign of respect,” Pineda said.
She said Kapampangans are now able to see the HNP candidates personally and see for themselves what kind of advocacies they have for the benefit of the people.
During the program, a mascot of HNP candidate Cristopher “Bong” Go was seen doing the rounds taking selfies with the crowd.
Former national police chief, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa rendered a song on stage to the delight of the crowd.
HNP candidate, Rep. Pia Cayetano, went to the Capitol on her bicycle. A group of bikers accompanied Cayetano from the Vista Mall.
When it as his turn on the rostrum, Senator JV Ejercito was joined by his brother, Jinggoy Estrada who raised his hand to the surprise of everyone.
Master of ceremony, Board Member Rosve Henson immediately took notice and announced that this was the first time that the two publicly greeted each other.
But the biggest applause was accorded to Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. The crowd went berserk every time his name was mentioned so that by the time it was his turn to speak, everyone was jockeying for position to take a photo or selfie with him in the background.
Overwhelmed by the show of support, Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla was emotional. “Ako po ay lubusang nagpapasalamat sa suporta sa init ng pagtangap kay Senator Bong dito sa Pampanga. Hindi pa rin po nawawala ang suporta. Mabait ang Panginoon,” she said.
An exchange of commitment of support between HNP and Pampanga’s ruling party Kapanalig at Kambilan ning Memalen Pampanga (Kambilan) led by Gov. Pineda was also made.
Later in the afternoon, the HNP caravan kickoff at the ASEAN Convention Center at the Clark Freeport where another huge crowd welcomed them.
Thirteen senatorial candidates, or one more than the 12 Senate seats up for grabs, attended the campaign: former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Go, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dela Rosa, former presidential adviser Francis Tolentino, Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, former Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Maguindanao Rep. Zajid “Dong” Mangudadatu, former journalist Jiggy Manicad, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, former Sen. Revilla Jr., and Sen. Cynthia Villar.
