CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The provincial government extending a warm welcome to presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan prior to their gargantuan “Manalakaran” Pampanga grand rally on April 9 was in keeping with the governor’s express policy to “welcome with respect and listen to all candidates” holding campaign sorties in the province.
“Nung ninu man pu lungub king Pampanga, tanggapan ta la. Eta la pu babastusan, buri ta la man o ali (Whoever enters Pampanga, let’s accept them. Do not be discourteous to them, whether we like them or not).” First uttered by Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda in December 2021 and video streamed in social media, the declaration has become a recurrent reminder in the campaign sorties of the governor himself.
“Nung ating maka-Ping Lacson, still, respetuan ta la. Ating maka-Manny Pacquiao, ating maka-Isko Moreno, we respect them. Epu kailangan na itamung Kapampangan mipate-pate tamu pu pauli ra reng kandidatung areni (If there are pro-Ping Lacson, pro-Manny Pacquiao or pro-Isko Moreno, we respect them. We Kapampangans do not have to fight over these candidates),” Pineda said then.
Moreno paid a courtesy call on the governor on Ash Wednesday. Pacquiao shortly thereafter. Both were treated to a merienda of Kapampangan delicacies at the Capitol’s legislative building.
Former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos was a guest at the birthday party of Vice Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda in Lubao last February 21.
Though Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson conducted his own sorties in a number of towns in the province, he did not make any official courtesy call at the Capitol.
Along with the governor and the vice governor to welcome the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem were 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales and former 4th District Rep. Ana York Bondoc-Sagum who is seeking to reclaim her post currently held by her brother Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc, provincial board members, most of the mayors led by Pampanga Mayors League president Edgar Flores of MInalin, the officers of the association of barangay captains led by Renato Mutuc of Apalit, the Pampanga Councilors League led by Venancio Macapagal of San Luis, the sangguniang kabataan federation led by Gabriel Moshe Lacson of Magalang, and the Capitol’s department heads led by provincial administrator Atty. Charlie Chua who all engaged in group photo opportunities with the national candidates after partaking of signature Kapampangan food too.
Even as the governor’s campaign posters and showboats displayed Marcos-Duterte collaterals showing the candidates he endorses, he has, time and again, said he would not impose his choices on the electorate.
“You are free to vote for those you like. You don’t have to follow my decision. I will respect your decision to pick candidates of your choice),” Pineda said.
