THE FIRST DAY of motorcade conducted by Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and Congressman Yul Servo, who are running for mayor and vice mayor, respectively, had to be halted momentarily.
This was when they decided to get down and attend to a wheelchair-bound epileptic man whom they thought was having an attack as their float approached an area in Tondo.
The man, who was in the company of a family member, began jerking aggressively while seated on his wheelchair, as the float approached the area where he was.
Lacuna noticed the man from afar and when he began reacting more and more aggressively as their float neared, the lady would-be mayor expressed much worry: “Inaatake ba?” and then had the float halted.
She then hurriedly got down to attend to the person with disability (PWD), with Servo right behind her.
A lady doctor too, Lacuna held the man’s arms while she and Servo calmed him down. The two were then told that the PWD merely got excited and wanted a T-shirt.
Immediately, Lacuna got one and then put it on the PWD’s chest, as she and Servo told him to calm down and that they would have their picture together taken.
The family members of the said man and the residents who waited for their float to pass by then took advantage of the opportunity, as they swarmed around Lacuna and Servo for selfies and to have fistbumps with them.
When the man was already sober and all smiles, the two then went back to the float and resumed their motorcade.
It was clear that the duo had taken Tondo by storm. In all of the streets that their motorcade passed through, the residents welcomed them with banners, confetti and even gifts. They jostled to get a handshake and selfies and kept on assuring them that they have the votes of Tondo.
Lacuna and Servo, who are running for mayor and vice mayor respectively under the Asenso Manileno party, vowed to continue all the benefits that Manilans currently enjoy as begun by the administration of Mayor Isko Moreno, who is now gunning for the Presidency in the hope of bringing such benefits on a nationwide level.
These benefits include those that fall under the social amelioration program which provides monthly financial aid for PWDs, senior citizens, solo parents and university students.
The benefits also include the provision of tablets and internet load for online education and laptops for the teaching personnel as well as the food security program wherein 700,000 families receive food boxes containing rice, coffee and 16 pieces of canned goods.
During an ambush interview before the motorcade, Lacuna said they will never engage in negative campaigning no matter how hard their opponents try, by launching incessant black propaganda.
Lacuna merely gave a wide grin and advised the public to just do the necessary fact-checking to know that their accusers are spreading fake news and lies.
After hearing mass with family members, Lacuna and Servo held a motorcade wherein residents filled up the streets under the scorching heat of the sun to declare support and a landslide victory for them.
Especially on Velasquez and Vitas Streets in Tondo, banner-waving residents did not only go out in throngs, they also blocked the float of Lacuna and Servo to shake their hand, get their autographs or have some picture-taking.
The residents also had bands playing as confetti rained and crackers were exploded as a way of welcoming the motorcade.
I was there in person and have seen first-hand that indeed, Lacuna and Servo are headed for a win, judging from the residents’ warmth reception.
Jokjok from Maryanne Vergara of Leveriza, Malate, Manila
Juan: Tay, ano po ba ang ibig sabihin ng birdflu? Kasi maraming nabibiktima ng birdflu.
Pedro: Kaya nga kita pinag-aaral para matuto ka eh.
Ang birdflu ay past tense ng birdfly. Sus!!
DIRECT HIT entertains comments, suggestions or complaints. Please have them emailed to [email protected] or text 0917-3132168.
Para sa reaksyon o komento at tanong mag-email sa [email protected]
