Vancouver, B.C.
Parties gear up for May 9, 2022 elections
Charmaine Rodriguez Kara
(Ed’s note:) In the unique tradition of Philippine political culture, the official campaign started on February 8, but the campaign has been going on since the last election in 2016. Politicians drive right in after being elected and campaigns until the election.
CELEBRITY endorsers, massive adoring crowds and bright political colours of different election materials marked the start of the campaign period for the Philippine May 9, 2022 elections.
Amid fears of the spread of Covid-19, the presidential and vice presidential candidates still held regular campaign kick-off events last February 8 in known bailiwicks as a show of political power and winnability.
Social media platforms were also utilized, including livestreams on Facebook, Youtube, websites and Tiktok, to maximize their reach of the 67.5 million Filipino voters all over the world.
The candidates are expected to woo the 1.7 million overseas voters in the weeks leading to Election Day.
Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate Senator Kiko Pangilinan gathered with their senatorial candidates on Magsaysay Avenue, Naga City.
Robredo, a widow and the lone female candidate, promised a people-centred government, using the symbol of a slipper (tsinelas) which is reminiscent of her former husband, Jessie’s, brand of governance.
“Isang pamahalaang magmamadaling sumaklolo ‘pag dumaing ka, makikipagpuyatan para mapaginhawa ka, lulusong sa baha para iahon ka. Susuotan natin ng tsinelas ang gobyerno at patatawirin sa mga pilapil papunta sa iyo. Sa ating pamamahala, laylayan ang magiging bagong sentro,” Robredo said during her proclamation rally.
The former dictator’s son, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, held their kick-off event at the Philippine Arena, Santa Maria, Bulacan.
Marcos branded himself as a “unifier” and for unity to be solution for all of the country’s woes.
“Ipagkaisa po natin ang buong Pilipinas. Pagandahin po natin ang ating minamahal na bansang Pilipinas. At tayo ay sama-sama po tayong babangong muli. Maraming maraming salamat po. At mabuhay ang Pilipinas,” Marcos told his supporters.
The Panfilo Lacson-Vicente Sotto III tandem, for their part, were at the Imus Grandstand in Cavite.
In his first 100 days as president, Lacson wants to undertake a massive internal cleansing of the government which will see the removal of “misfits and corrupt government officials”- similar to the reforms he implemented when he was PNP chief, the Philippine Star reported.
Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and his running mate Lito Atienza gathered with their supporters at the Oval Plaza Grand Stand in General Santos City.
Pacquiao also said he will focus on eradicating corruption and greed in government and rally the country towards development.
“Hindi kailangan ng pulitiko sa Pilipinas. Ginagawang kabuhayan ang pagsisilbi sa bansa,” he said. “Sisiguraduhin ko na bawat Pilipino panalo sa laban ni Manny Pacquiao,” he told his supporters. Atienza, who earlier sprained his foot, only delivered his message through Zoom.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and his vice presidential candidate Willie Ong held their proclamation rally at the Kartilya ng Katipunan or Bonifacio Shrine.
Moreno said he aims to accomplish what the 21 years of the Marcos administration and the 18 years of the Aquinos failed to deliver to the Filipinos.
“Totoo po sinasabi nila. Sige na, sabihin na nila nagmamadali tayo. Eh dapat lang. Eh 39 years na kami naghihintay eh,” said Moreno.
The tandem of Leody de Guzman and Walden Bello held their rally at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City.
As labor leaders, they both said their campaign focuses on being the voice of the workers and the poor.
Every time the media would interview me, they always ask me: “Ka Leody, where do you get the guts to run against your big contenders?” De Guzman said in Filipino according to report by inquirer.net. “You know what my answer is? I said, ‘from the workers and poor who are taken advantage of’ They are my inspiration. They are the reason why I keep on fighting,”
A total of 10 candidates have joined the race for the presidency.
With the pandemic seen to further affect voter turnout, each candidate needs to summon enough voters to go out and vote based on the trend in 2019.
Comelec reported a 75-percent voter turnout in the 2019 mid-term elections or where only 46.3 million out of a total of 61.8 million voters participated.
This was down from the 84 percent or over 54 million voters who participated in the 2016 presidential elections.