Mar Roxas: Hard work begins

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Administration candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II cast his vote in Roxas City around 8:30 am Monday, May 9, where he was accompanied by wife Korina Sanchez, mother Judy Araneta-Roxas and his son Paolo.

“The hard work begins after today,” Roxas told reporters after voting, as he expressed confidence he will win in the presidential race. (WATCH: Live coverage: 2016 Philippine elections)

The campaign period showed the Philippines’ “vibrant democracy,” Roxas said in Filipino. He added that Filipinos are now looking forward to building a better world. 

The ruling Liberal Party said it’s confident that Roxas, despite trailing behind Rodrigo Duterte and Grace Poe, would top the presidential election. 

“The wind is at Mar’s back. The ground has shifted and perceptively, and actually in the ground, you see a lot of people moving to us. We have the silent majority, those people who used to be silent… and those who are still silent and leading towards Mar,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told Rappler in an interview on Sunday, May 8.

Roxas told reporters Monday: “I’m very very serene, optimistic, tahimik ang kalooban ko.” He said his team has done everything to persuade voters to choose him over the rest.

Only last Friday, May 6, Roxas called on rival Senator Grace Poe for alliance talks, after President Benigno Aquino III himself made a final plea for candidates to unite against Duterte. Many saw this as a desperate move by the ruling party. 

On the eve of the elections, however, Aquino issued a statement asking Filipinos to accept whoever will win the race.   

“Let me stress: In a democracy, everyone can decide. In the end, after the elections, hopefully the bickering will end. Let us respect and understand any decision borne out of the collective voice of the majority,” Aquino said. – Rappler.com