Bacolod supporters to Roxas: ‘When you win, don’t abandon us’

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines— “To, kung magdaog ka, indi mo guid kami pagpabay-an (When you win, don’t abandon us).”

This was the remark from a supporter that drew the attention of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Tuesday, April 26, at the Bacolod Capitol Lagoon in Negros Occidental. 

The plea came from Corazon, Spanish for “heart.”  Corazon, a simple Bacolodnon who does not have a regular, stable job, is one of the thousands who came in droves to the LP campaign rally to support Roxas and his running mate, Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Leni Robredo.  

Roxas requests a woman named Corazon (meaning ‘heart’) to come up the stage. #PHVote #MovePh pic.twitter.com/ymgtgkPj83

— Claudia Gancayco ϟ (@claudiaphrodite) April 26, 2016

“Let’s think about it, her name could be Shiela, Rebecca. Out of so many names, out of thousands of people here, there is one person in the audience named Corazon – ‘Heart.’ It’s like a miracle, Corazon….The reason why I can’t forget what Corazon whispered to me is because she told me: ‘To, kung magdaog ka, indi mo guid kami pagpabay-an.’ I felt the trust she is giving,” Roxas said in Hiligaynon as he called Corazon to join him on stage.  

LP supporters, who called themselves on social media as “The Silent Majority.” warmly greeted Roxas and Robredo in Bacolod.

“Hindi ko nga alam paano ko ipapaliwanag ang mga marka ng lipstick kay Korina (I  don’t know how to explain my lipstick marks to my wife, Korina),” Roxas joked when he reached the stage The atmosphere got more cordial as Roxas addressed the crowd in their native Hiligaynon. 

The sea of yellow crowd loudly chanted amid the merry-making, vowing to stay silent no more. 

“Actually, earlier, I cried to Mar Roxas because I was touched [because] he hasn’t forgotten the poor because of Corazon,” Amela Flor, one of the LP supporters at the rally, shared in Hiligaynon. Flor added that she will do her best to campaign for Roxas. 

The province is a known “Mar Country” as Roxas’ mother, Judy Araneta-Roxas, traces her roots in Bago City. During the 2010 elections, Roxas won over then vice presidential bet Jejomar Binay in Negros Occidental with more than 570,000 votes. Binay, who eventually won, received about 177,000 votes from the province. 

Senator Grace Poe, however, also relates well to the community as her adoptive mother, actress Susan Roces, is from Bacolod City.  Negros Occidental Third District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez earlier said that the province will go for Poe. Roxas, however, shrugged this off.  

Negros Occidental is the fifth most vote-rich province in the country with 1.6 million registered voters. LP supporters in Negros Occidental said they have lined up a series of activities for the “silent majority” in order to drive support for both Roxas and Robredo. 

According to the latest Pulse Asia survey, Roxas remains the top choice in the Visayas. The administration bet said was confident that “the Visayas vote will remain with Daang Matuwid” till election day. – Rappler.com 

Claudia Gancayco, a student from the University of St La Salle, is Rappler’s Mover in Bacolod City.