Team DailyPedia
On May 5, Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares held a press conference at the Milky Way Cafe in Makati City vowing that she will not bow out from the presidential race. She also sent an appeal to voters, asking them to carefully discern the options given to them by candidates.
When news of the press conference first broke, speculations were rife about what the senator was going to announce, there were even rumors of her withdrawing her candidacy in favor of another candidate. “Sa mga nagkakalat ng kwento na akoy sumusuko, (To those spreading rumors that I am conceding),” she said, “isipin po ninyo ang pinagdaanan nating lahat, hindi lamang ng pinagdaanan ko. (think about what everyone is enduring, not just what I am enduring.)”
Poe also shared that she herself had been receiving text messages asking if she were truly bowing out of the race. Apparently, the press conference was held to address these very rumors. She emphatically explained that “hindi ako pinalaki ng tatay ko at nanay ko na umurong sa laban… Di tayo sindikato na makikipagayusan kahit kanino para mawalan ng opsyon ang ating kababayan. (My father and mother did not raise me to back out of a fight… We are not a syndicate that will compromise with just anyone, just to deprive people of other options.)”
She then went on to say that what the country needs is not a sell-out, but rather, a leader who would serve as an inspiration. “Ang paninindigan ay mahalaga, manalo man o matalo. (A person’s resolve is important, whether he wins or loses.)” She also said that Filipinos want a government they can be proud of.
Poe, in full fighting form, then took pot-shots at her fellow candidates. “…ang ating pagpili ay di dapat limitado sa isang gobyernong walang pakiramdam, korupt at berdugo… ang hinahanap nating lider ay yung masasandalan at maiaahon tayo sa kahirapan. (Our choices shouldn’t only be limited to the unfeeling, corrupt, and to murderers… The leader we are looking for is one who will lift us up from poverty.)”
However, she also appealed for cooperation and unity after elections. “Pula, puti, asul ka man, pagtapos ng election mag tulong tulong tayo. (Regardless if you’re red, white, or blue, after the elections, let’s all help one another.)”
