Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday urged voters of Taguig City to dream bigger for their own families and their home city.
“Lahat ng nagawa natin sa nakalipas na 12 years ay pundasyon pa lang, hindi pa po yun y’ung palasyo,” Cayetano said at the proclamation rally on March 25 for his wife and incumbent Taguig 2nd District Rep. Lani Cayetano, who is running for the mayoralty post of the city.
(Everything we have done in the last 12 years is just the foundation, that’s not yet the palace.)
Speaking to an overflow crowd of 13,000 at the Lakeshore Tent, the former Speaker said the fiscal reforms and social services that were implemented since 2010 when Rep. Lani Cayetano was first elected mayor and which she continued through three terms until 2019 will propel the city and its people to prosperity and progress.
Senator Francis Tolentino, described by the former Speaker as “a true friend of the people of Taguig,” also spoke during the proclamation rally, giving Rep. Lani Cayetano a resounding endorsement.
“Nakasama ko po siya noong ako ay MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority) Chairman pa, napakagaling, very creative sa pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa mga kababaihan, sa mga kooperatiba, hindi po siya mapapantayan,” Tolentino said.
“Karapat-dapat na maging mayor ulit si Mayor Lani Cayetano,” he added.
(I worked with her when I was the MMDA Chairman. She’s very intelligent, very creative in terms of helping our people, especially women and our cooperatives. She simply can’t be matched. Mayor Lani Cayetano deserves to be elected as mayor again.)
Present in Friday’s proclamation rally were Taguig Vice Mayor Ricardo Cruz Jr, who is running for a Congress seat in the first district of Taguig-Pateros, and Councilor Amparo Maria Zamora, who is gunning for the representative post for the second district of Taguig-Pateros.
These posts were previously held by the Cayetanos before moving to other elective positions.
Also present were vice mayoralty bet Arvin Ian Alit; 1st district councilor bets Raul Aquino, Baby Gloria De Mesa, Jaime Labampa, Lamberto Manosca, Rodil Marcelino, Carlito Ogalinola, Famella Panga-Cruz and Gamaliel San Pedro; and 2nd district councilor bets Marisse Balina-Eron, Jaime Garcia, Yasser Pangandaman, Edgar Victor Baptista, Alexander Penolio, Eduardo Prado, Jomil Bryan Serna and Nicky Supan.
Collaboration with LGUs
Earlier that day in Muntinlupa City, the former Speaker vowed to collaborate with its local government in the delivery of services should he be elected as senator in the May elections.
Speaking before an audience of thousands at the One Muntinlupa Proclamation Rally held in the Muntinlupa Sports Complex, Cayetano thanked the supporters of his family in the city for their love and support, saying he hopes to return it soon through the delivery of services in the next few years.
“Sana po ay makabawi din po ako by also helping in the next few years, maging sa Sampung Libong Pag-asa, sa Sari-saring Pag-asa, sa scholarships, at kung ano pa man,” he said.
(I hope to return the favor soon by helping in the next few years, whether in Sampung Libong Pag-asa, in Sari-saring Pag-asa, in scholarships, and in other needs.)
“I know you have more than enough money for your infra projects or your social services, pero sa dami po talagang naghirap, lalo po y’ung transport, ‘di ba, at lalong nawalan ng trabaho, iba na y’ung magtutulungan,” he added.
(I know you have more than enough money for your infrastructure projects or your social services, but with the number of impoverished people, especially those in the transport sector and those who lost their jobs, helping one another can make a difference.)
Vote for good leaders
At a separate proclamation rally of Muntinlupa City’s District 2 candidates in Lakefront, Sucat, Cayetano emphasized the importance of having “good leaders” who will serve as the navigators of the local governments amid the country’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Leadership is important,” he said.
One such leader was Cayetano’s father, the late Senator Renato “Compañero” Cayetano, who served as assemblyman of the Lone District of Taguig-Pateros-Muntinlupa from 1984 to 1986.
“I’m so happy po na ang Taguig at Muntinlupa na minahal po talaga ng aking ama kaya ang aking ama po ay naging assemblyman niyo… Noong 1984, ang Taguig, Pateros, Muntinlupa ay magkasama dahil nung Spanish time po, iisa po ang Taguig, Pateros, [at] Muntinlupa, naiiba lang kung saan po [ang] sentro,” Cayetano said.
(I am so happy with Taguig and Muntinlupa, which my father loved so much he served as its assemblyman… In 1984, Taguig, Pateros, and Muntinlupa were grouped together because during the Spanish time, they were also grouped together and only the town center differed.)
Cayetano was joined in Muntinlupa City by Mayor Jimmy Fresnedi who is running for the lone congressional seat; mayoralty bet Ruffy Biazon, who is currently the lone representative of the city in Congress; re-electionist Vice Mayor Temy Simundac; District 1 incumbent councilors Alexson Diaz, Raul Corro, Valentino Niefes, Paty Katy Boncayao Barreto, Allan Rey Camilon, Ivee Rhia Arciaga-Tadefa and candidates Rachel Arciaga and Jedi Fresnedi; and District 2 incumbent councilors Mark Lester Baes, Francis Ian Bagatsing, Arlene Hilapo, Cornelio Eliot Martinez, Marissa Rongavilla, Mamerto Sevilla, and candidates Luvi Constantino and Dado Moldez.####