Fighting for 'Soul of a Nation', Pangilinan Hopes Last Man Standing is a Farmer
Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Saturday made one final push for voters to pick him as vice president, saying he would uplift Filipinos from poverty while fighting moves to rewrite the country's history.
Pangilinan, a last-minute draft for Leni Robredo's running mate, said he hoped that after May 9, "The last man standing is a farmer."
For the campaign, Pangilinan drafted his wife "Megastar" Sharon Cuneta, and showbiz nieces and nephews including heartthrob of the moment Donny Pangilinan. He faced twin hurdles of improving his third-place showing in the surveys and battling endorsements from politicians who pair Robredo with Sara Duterte.
On the miting de avance stage, the senator said the Robredo campaign could be described as the Philippines' "third social upheaval" after the 1896 revolution against Spain and the 1986 People Power that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.
"Sa inyo lahat na mala-kabataan din ang energy, proud na proud ako na kasama kayo sa laban na 'to. It has been an honor, it has been a privilege to help lead this campaign, this battle for the soul of the nation. It has been a privilege and an honor to fight alongside you our kababayans"
"Anuman ang resulta ng eleksyon, sa inyo pa lang panalo na tayo," he said.
"We will not forget the painful lessons of history. The abuses under martial law, fellow Filipinos who were disappeared or killed and we will vigorously oppose anyone who dares to rewrite our history," he said.
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"Hindi matatapos ang ating kampanaya sa Mayo a-nuwebe. Hindi matatapos ang ating paglalakbay hanggang hindi lahat ng Pilipino ay mabibigyan ng pagpapahalaga, aruga at kaligtasan mula sa kapahamamakan, kahirapan at kalamaidad," he said. "Pagkatapos ng May 9 hindi lang sana all, kundi dapat all aangat ang buhay."
"Ganyan natin pinaglalaban ang mga mahal natin kaya ayaw natin sa mga kandidato na nagdudulot sa atin ng pinsaha at kapahamakan," he added.