An estimated 60,000 people packed a venue here for the rally of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, but a young supporter reiterating the youth’s clamor for change stole the show.
The rally, held at Cebu City Sports Center, was a show of force of sorts for the LP which is being supported by the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), a local party.
Leaders from various sectors—youth, senior citizens, vendors and urban poor—took turns declaring their support for Aquino.
Youth leader Erwin Andaya, chair of the Federation of the Supreme Student Councils of Cebu City, emerged to be the rally’s hit.
“I want to express the voice of the Cebuano youth, the voice that increasingly clamors for change and hope,” Andaya said, addressing Aquino and other LP leaders.
Andaya said Aquino should ignore survey results showing another candidate, apparently referring to Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Senator Manuel Villar, to be gaining ground.
“Remember, these numbers can be manipulated,” said Andaya. “I would like you to see these people gathered here tonight. Believe in them, believe in the numbers of the people who convened here tonight. This speaks for the truth.”
Ricky Ballesteros, who manages Cebu City Sports Center, said the crowd reached over 60,000, with the 15,000-capacity grandstand and the entire ground surrounding the stage fully occupied.
BOPK is the local party founded by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
Osmeña himself is not running for any position but has endorsed the mayoral candidacy of his vice mayor, Michael Rama. The mayor’s wife, Margot, is running for councilor under BOPK.
When it was Aquino’s turn to speak, he reiterated his promise to remain true to the legacy of his parents, slain Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and his late mother President Corazon Aquino, for an honest and corruption-free governance.
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