JE C.C.
In a rare show of force for the city Mayor, who is also gunning for a seat at the Malacañang, Isko Domagoso’s blue-clad supporters flocked to Ma. Orosa corner Kalaw Avenue on April 10.
The crowd we saw through the drone shots of Ma. Orosa cor Kalaw Avenue is sparse. That said, one can not deny that the flock the Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer was able to muster in his stronghold, last night, is a rare sight in his ongoing presidential campaign.
In his interviews, the presidentiable has many times reiterated that he would rather be with a small listening crowd, than a colossal one whose audiences are only present to enjoy performances from guest artists.
“Election ito…hindi naman concert. I would rather be with nasa tao, 500, yung 3,000, wag lang yung kausap ko rin ngayon. Niloloko mo sarili mo (This is election, not a concert. I’d rather be with people…500, even 3,000, as long as they’re not the same everyday. That’s like fooling yourself),” he said in one interview.
But during his handsomely-staged people’s rally in Manila, the former sexy actor-turned-politician, and now presidential aspirant, banked on more than a dozen of names from showbiz, to keep his audiences entertained.
Present in Isigaw Mo, Isko! are OPM bands This Band, Shamrock, and South Border as well as solo artists including Nina, Luke Mejares, Jason Fernandez, and Wendell Ramos. Social media personalities and known-Duterte supporters Mocha Uson, Banat By, Jimmy Bondoc, and Vivian Velez also graced the star-studded event.
On twitter, Domagoso proudly shared aerial shots of the massive crowd he was able to muster.
“Don’t panic, it’s organic!” he chanted to the crowd, who promptly echoed his words in unison. Joaquin Domagoso, who proudly introduced his dad, declared the Manila Mayor the next president of the republic.
In his speech, Isko thanked the crowd for gracing the event.
“Dati rati pulitiko ang mga gumagastos, ngayon botanbte na (Before, it’s the politician who spends money for voters, but now, it’s the other way around)” he said, noting that most of his audience came from various places just to see him speak.
“Hangga’t hindi kayo sumusuko, itutuloy ko ang laban hanggang dulo (As long as each one of you does not give up, I will continue this fight until the end),” he promised the crowd with a vivacious energy, one most people may not expect from someone who has been losing points in the opinion polls.
“Tulungan n’yo ako na palambutin ang bulalo (Help me tenderize the beef marrow for stew)” he asked the crowd; it’s a plea that he has repeatedly made in his past campaigns. Bulalo has been the mayor’s metaphor for non-Isko voters, whom he fully intends to flip to his side.
“Tulungan n’yo akong kumbinsihin sila (help me convince them” he pleaded.
Domagoso‘s presidential campaign had a very rare show of force by supporters in the province of Batangas last March. The official crowd estimate for the ‘Isigaw Mo, Isko!’ is reportedly 80,000 according to local organizers.
