Award-winning actor John Arcilla on Saturday channeled his most famous role as "Heneral Luna" as he endorsed Vice Leni Robredo for president in the May 9 elections, urging the public to choose the nation before themselves.
His voice booming before an estimated crowd of 412,000 in Pasay City, Arcilla called on the attendees to choose between a corrupt or honest leadership, and between one who is willing to face difficult situations head on and one who is not.
"Korap o tapat? Kurakot o lingkod? Umiiwas o humaharap? Sumusugod o umaatras? Masipag o tamad? Trapo o tropa? Bayan, pumili ka!" he said.
ALSO READ: Robredo's Pasay Rally Draws Record Crowd, Superstar Endorsers
Arcilla said that while hundreds of thousands turned up at Robredo's biggest campaign rally so far, which also happened to take place on her 57th birthday, it didn't mean that they were worshipping the vice president.
"Hindi natin sinasamba si Leni Robredo, hindi po namin sinasamba si Leni Robredo. Siya ay aming sinasamahan sapagkat sinasamahan niya ang sambayanang Pilipino," he said.
"Hindi natin sinasanto o sinasanta si Leni Robredo. Hindi namin sinasanto o sinasanta si Leni Robredo. Siya ay aming sinisinta dahil iniibig niya ang ating bayan. Dahil siya ay totoong tao," he added.
Arcilla also reminded the public that expressing grievances towards the government is not rebellion, and that the people have the power to choose their leaders in the May 9 elections.
"Ang eleksyon ay tungkol sa ating bayan at hindi tungkol sa ating sarili," he said.
Like a good son to his parents, Arcilla said he understands where Robredo's chief rival Bongbong Marcos is coming from. But it does not automatically make a person qualified for president, so do physical appearance, or even acquaintanceship.
"Ang tatlong pamantayan po na iyan ay maaari ko ring gamitin kay Leni Robredo... Isang totoong tao. At yun ang mga dahilan kung bakit siya ang pinipili natin," he said.
"At higit sa lahat, ginagawa ito ni Leni Robredo hindi para sa kaniyang sarili kung hindi para sa bayan.... Kapag pinili mo ang bayan, kasama na roon ang iyong pamilya, kasama na roon ang iyong sarili sapagkat pag ang bayan natin ay umunlad, uunlad tayong lahat," he added.
Apart from Arcilla, other celebrities who turned up at Robredo’s Pasay rally include Angel Locsin, Sharon Cuneta, Maricel Soriano, and Vice Ganda, who formally endorsed the vice president.
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