Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said the incessant bashing and calls for withdrawal have stoked the fire in him to fight harder for ordinary Filipinos whose rights and welfare have long been trampled upon by the elitist politics that have lorded over the land for so long.
Domagoso, in his speech on Thursday in front of thousands of leaders and members of various sectoral groups at the Bagumbayan Covered Court in Teresa, Rizal province, said it is this unending oppression from a handful of vested politicians that egged him to seek the presidency in order to give the ordinary people like him the equal opportunity to better their lives and their children under a fair and honest government.
“Kung gusto niyo ng peace of mind, kapanatagan sa buhay, araw-araw pumanatag ka lang, walang away, available ako mga kababayan. Pagpapantay-pantayin natin ang lahat ng Pilipino. Walang mahirap, walang middle class, walang mayaman. Lahat may equal opportunity, lahat ay pantay (If you want peace of mind, contentment in life, just calm down, no more fighting. I am available my compatriots. Let us make all Filipinos equal. No poor, no middle class, no rich. Everyone has equal opportunity, everyone is equal),” he said.
“Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nagdulot ng pag-alab ng aking damdamin, dito nangyari sa Rizal. Dito ko sinilaban ang laban ng ordinaryong Pilipino. Sobra na ang pambu-bully ng mga yellow-pink. Masyado ng wala sa lugar. Para lang sila ang mataas, at tayong mga nasa baba na nagsisikap, na iniraraos ang inyong anak sa araw-araw na ginawa ng Diyos, parang hindi na puwedeng umangat sa buhay (I don’t know what ignited my emotions, it happened in Rizal. Here, I have fought the battle of the ordinary Filipino. The bullying of the yellow pinks is too much. Too out of place. They seem to be on a pedestal, and we who are at the bottom, who are trying to raise your children everyday, seem to be unable to have a better life),” he said in an emotion-filled speech.
Having said that, the 47-year-old presidential aspirant asked the people’s understanding if he had been overly emotional in the past few days, saying his emotions are for the ordinary people, who, like him, have suffered oppression from the self-proclaimed cream of society.
“Kaya mga kababayan, ‘yang mga yan, lalo lang pinalakas ang loob ko na ituloy ang laban ninyo. Mga kababayan, samahan ninyo ako. Tapusin na natin ang matagal ng away ng pula at dilaw. Kung kayo nakaranas ng pambu-bully, kung kayo (ay) nakaranas ng masakit na salita sa mga matataas na tao, sumama kayo sa akin, lalabanan natin sila (To my countrymen, I am even more encouraged to continue your fight. Join me, let’s end the long animosity between the red and yellow. If you have experienced bullying, if you have experienced hurtful words from those people, come with me, we will fight them),” said Moreno, who got resounding applause and loud cheers from the fired-up crowd.
If elected president, he vowed to pursue a “life and livelihood” economic policy to address poverty, hunger, unemployment, inequality, and social injustice through effective, efficient, and prudent management of government resources under an open, transparent and inclusive administration, as spelled out under his 10-point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda.
Besides providing the minimum basic needs of the people — quality housing, education and health care, and creating jobs and livelihood opportunities — Moreno also vowed an accelerated infrastructure program that will be focused on areas or provinces with low human development index to bring about a more inclusive economic growth.
“Mararamdaman ninyo, na araw-araw, pag mararanasan ninyo na kayo’y matutumba na, makakakita kayo ng pader na ang tawag ay gobyerno na masasandalan ninyo sa oras na kailangan ninyo. Yan ang gobyernong ibibigay ko sa inyo (You will feel, that every day, when you experience that you are about to fall, you will see a wall that is called a government that you can lean on when you need it. That is the government I will give you),” he said.
Throughout his speech, the young and charismatic presidential candidate was interrupted several times by loud chanting and encouragements of “Isko! Isko! Isko!” and “We love you Yorme!” from ardent supporters that include senior citizens, transport sector groups, market vendors, and ordinary housewives, among others.
The town hall meeting in Teresa town capped a short but very fruitful sortie in Rizal province where the Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate paid courtesy calls to Angono Mayor Jeri Mae Calderon, Tanay Mayor Rex Manuel Tanjuatco, and Teresa Mayor Raul Palino. (PNA)
