Last push: Where 2019 senatorial candidates close their campaigns

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Senatorial candidates wrapped up their campaigns after 90 days on the campaign trail. On Monday, May 13, the country’s estimated 60 million voters will troop to the polls to decide their fates.

Many senatorial hopefuls gave their campaigns one last push on the final days, May 10 and 11. Here’s where they made their final rounds to press the flesh and meet constituents.

Grace Poe: Tondo, Manila

Reelectionist and independent candidate Grace Poe held a star-studded miting de avance in Tondo district in Manila on May 10. Philippine movie icon Susan Roces was all out for her daughter, along with celebrities Coco Martin, Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan, and singer Imelda Papin.

Poe said she chose to hold her major campaign rallies in Tondo to pay tribute to her late father, the “King of Philippine Cinema” Fernando Poe Jr. She said he always loved the people of Tondo. 

“Ang Tondo talaga, nandito lahat. Kaya dito ang ating umpisa, dito na rin magtatapos sapagkat minahal ng tatay ko ang Tondo. Dahil lahat ng tagadito ay totoong tao. Kaya maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyo,” Poe told her supporters.

(In Tondo, everybody is here.  I started my campaign here and I’m ending the campaign here because my father loved Tondo. Everyone here are real people. Thank you so much for your support.)

Nancy Binay: Tondo, Manila

On May 11, reelectionist Nancy Binay spent her final campaign day in Parañaque City to visit the barangays of BF Homes, San Isidro, La Huerta, Dongalo, and Baclaran.

She also visited a public market along Sucat Road with Representative Gus Tambunting.

Mar Roxas: Passi City

True to form, Otso Diretso bet Mar Roxas visited a public market on his last campaign day. He chose the one in Passi City, Iloilo.

“Dito tayo sa palengke dahil dito nakikita, yung tunay na Pilipinas (We’re here here at the market because this is where you can see the real Philippines),” he told reporters.

“Nandito yung tunay na Pilipinas at dito mo talaga makikita at madidinig at madadama yung mga problema na dapat naman talagang atupagin ng gobyerno,” he added.

(This is where the real Philippines is, and this is where you’ll really see and hear and feel the problems that the government really needs to work on.)

Bam Aquino: Quezon City

Reelectionist Bam Aquino chose to be in Quezon City to visit houses in Barangay Kaingin 2.

He said the campaign had been challenging not because of the physical demands of going around the country, but because of “misleading information” that his critics have spread about him. He said he found strength in the dedication of his supporters.

“Tiwala po tayo na pipiliin ng ating mga kababayan ang mga lider na may maninidigan at may puso para tulungan ang pamilyang Pilipino (Let’s trust that our countrymen will choose leaders with the determination and the heart to help Filipino families),” Aquino said.

Chel Diokno: Batangas

Neophyte senatorial candidate Chel Diokno closed his campaign in his home province Batangas. He had a motorcade with his volunteers and went around the province. He started in Lipa City and made his way to San Jose and Batangas City. 

He’s set to cap off his busy last day joining the miting de avance of Taal Mayor Pong Mercado at Plaza ng Taal.

Diokno acknowledged his handicap in the campaign “Hindi naman ako kilala noong sinimulan natin ang kampanya sa Taal. Wala rin akong makinarya o political dynasty, kaya malayo na rin ang narating natin ngayon (I wasn’t known when we started this campaign at Taal. I also wasn’t part of any machine or political dynasty, so we’ve come a long way since then),” he said.

He thanked his supporters, particularly the celebrities and the youth who have been vocal about Diokno on social media. “Kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa ating CHELebrities na kusang nag-endorso kahit walang bayad, sa lahat ng sumuporta online, at lalong-lalo na sa kabataan. Sa tulong niyo, sisiguruhin nating patas ang batas para sa lahat. Sisiguruhin natin na mayaman man o mahirap, pag may sala, may parusa.”

(I’m grateful to our “CHELebrities” who endorsed me on their own even though I have no money to pay them; to everyone who supported me online, especially the youth. Through your help, we will make sure that the law is fair to everyone. We’ll make sure that, rich or poor, whoever commits a crime is punished.)

Administration bets: Pasig City

At least 11 administration-endorsed candidates were at the miting de avance of ruling party PDP-Laban at the Philippine Sports Arena in Pasig City. President Rodrigo Duterte will also be in attendance.

PDP-Laban’s 5 senatorial bets are present: Bato dela Rosa, Bong Go, Dong Mangudadatu, Koko Pimentel, and Francis Tolentino.

Other candidates in the miting de avance were Raffy Alunan, Sonny Angara, Freddie Aguilar, JV Ejercito, Imee Marcos, and Cynthia Villar.

Erin Tañada: Metro Manila and Laguna

Former Quezon representative Erin Tañada celebrated Mother’s Day in advance.

He offered flowers to some mothers at Smokey Mountain in Manila, then met with women vendors in Navotas City and with women workers in Caloocan City. He later went to Cabuyao City in Laguna, and to sorties in Taguig City.

Samira Gutoc: Cubao, Quezon City

On Saturday night, Samira Gutoc will gather her volunteers for a “Peace Jam ni Sam” event at the Liberal Party headquarters in Quezon City “to express her gratitude to all who selflessly extended their support for Team Sam campaign.”

Jiggy Manicad: Luzon

Former reporter Jiggy Manicad visited 5 churches in Luzon as thanksgiving to God for his senatorial campaign.

“I started the campaign praying. Best way to end this is pray to thank God,” he told Rappler.

He offered prayers at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Lipa, Carmelite Monastery in San Pablo City, Manaoag Church in Pangasinan, Baclaran Church in Parañaque, and Quiapo Church in Manila. – Rappler.com