Poe visits UPLB as campaign wraps up

LAGUNA, Philippines — Presidential candidate senator Grace Poe visited the University of the Philippines – Los Banos for a student organized forum on Friday, May 6, a day before her campaign wraps up.

“Aaminin ko sa inyo, hindi ko nga alam na dito pala ako mag-la-land sa UP Los Baños eh. Dahil kung alam ko, baka nagpalit ako ng isip,” Poe told the audience.

(I’ll have to admit, I didn’t know I was going to land at UPLB. Had I known, I might have changed my mind.)

According to Poe, UP students are the most critical thinkers and have been known to grill candidates in forums. 

UPLB hosted two other candidates, vice president Jejomar Binay and Davao mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who were warmly welcomed and questioned by students. 

“Alam ko dahil dati akong estudyante ng UP. Lahat sinusuri, lahat ng kandidato. At tama ‘yan,” Poe added.

(I know because I once was a UP student. You scrutinize everything, all the candidates, as you should.)

Team Poe’s original plan was to only do a motorcade around Laguna. They added a stop thanks to UPLB Sa Halalan’s invitation months ago.

“Pero actually dapat last week pa, all the previous months pa. Kaso lang, wala kaming sagot na natanggap. So kagabi lang, tumawag sila na matutuloy sila dito,” said UPLB Sa Halalan representative professor Jong Belano.

(It [forum] should have been last week, or even months ago. But we didn’t get any answer [from Poe’s camp]. Just last night, they called and confirmed their arrival.)

Aside from discussing her plans, Poe also made it a point to emphasize the importance of democracy.

“It’s really sad din kasi akala ko talaga rumors lang. I only heard it last night from the posts of my professors. Good thing I had my spare time today to attend,” said Anton Ilagan, a UPLB student.

(I thought they were just rumors. I only heard about it last night from my professors’ posts. It’s a good thing I had spare time to attend.)

Angelica Andulan, a student, hoped Poe would explain her platform, “Sana maipaliwanag niya nang maayos yung mga plano niya kapag siya yung nanalong pangulo.”  (I hope she explains her plans well especially if she becomes president)

Despite the lack of promotion, several students and faculty members still flocked to the Humanities building for a chance to hear the presidential bet. – Rappler.com

Karla Sambajon is a Mover from Laguna.