AKSYON Demokratiko standard-bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso on Thursday said being at the receiving end of incessant bashing and calls for withdrawal only served to “stoke the fire” in him to fight harder for ordinary Filipinos whose rights and welfare have long been trampled upon by the elitist politics that have lorded over the land for so long.

“Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nagdulot ng pag-alab ng aking damdamin, dito nangyari sa Rizal. Dito ko sinilaban ang laban ng ordinaryong Pilipino. Sobra na ang pambu-bully ng mga ‘yellow-pink’. Masyado nang wala sa lugar. Para lang sila ang mataas, at tayong mga nasa baba na nagsisikap, na iniraraos ang inyong anak sa araw-araw na ginawa ng Diyos, parang hindi na puwedeng umangat sa buhay,” Moreno said in an emotion-filled speech before thousands of leaders and members of various sectoral groups at the Bagumbayan Covered Court in Teresa, Rizal.

“Kaya mga kababayan, yang mga yan, lalo lang pinalakas ang loob ko na ituloy na ituloy ang laban ninyo. Mga kababayan, samahan ninyo ako. Tapusin na natin ang matagal ng away ng ‘pula’ at ‘dilaw’. Kung kayo nakaranas ng pambu-bully, kung kayo nakaranas ng masakit na salita sa mga matataas na tao, sumama kayo sa akin, lalabanan natin sila,” Moreno said to loud cheers from the fired-up crowd from the “silent majority”.

The 47-year-old presidential aspirant asked the people’s understanding if he had been overly emotional in the past few days, saying his emotions are for the ordinary people, who, like him, have suffered oppression from the self-proclaimed “cream of society”.

“Pagpapasensiyahan niyo ako, mapapanood niyo ako sa telebisyon, mapapanood niyo ako sa interview, mararamdaman ninyo yung emosyon ko. Dahil damang-dama ko yung pakiramdam ng mga taong inaapi, inaapakan, minamaliit, pinagsasalitaan ng masakit na salita ng mga nakakataas sa kanila. Tapusin na yan, sobra na, tama na,” he said.

“Galing ako sa wala. Sa basurahan lang ako galing. Pero pinilit ko, sa tulong ng nanay ko, sa tulong ng tatay ko, pinilit kong iangat ang sarili ko. Pinatunayan ko sa mga taga-Tondo, inaral ko ang trabaho, nagpahinog ako. Dahan-dahang akyat, bawat akyat ko may sumisipa sa akin pababa. Pero linampasan ko lahat yun,” Moreno said.

The Manila City mayor said this unending oppression from a handful of vested politicians egged him to seek the presidency to give the ordinary people like him the equal opportunity to better their lives and their children under a fair and honest government.

“Kung gusto niyo ng peace of mind, kapanatagan sa buhay, araw-araw pumanatag ka lang, walang away, available ako mga kababayan. Pagpapantay-pantayin natin ang lahat ng Pilipino. Walang mahirap, walang middle class, walang mayaman. Lahat may equal opportunity, lahat ay pantay,” Moreno said.

If elected president, Moreno has vowed to pursue a “Life and Livelihood” economic policy that aims to address poverty, hunger, unemployment, inequality, and social injustice through the effective, efficient and prudent management of government resources under an open, transparent and inclusive administration, as spelled out under his 10-point “Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda”.

Besides providing the minimum basic needs of the people – quality housing, education and health care, and creating jobs and livelihood opportunities – Moreno also vowed an accelerated infrastructure program that will be focused in areas or provinces with low human development index to bring about a more inclusive economic growth.

“Sa awa ng Diyos, sa tulong ninyo, simpleng gobyerno lang ang ibibigay ko. Ang gagawin ko lang murang bilihin, murang kuryente, murang krudo, trabaho, pabahay, eskwelahan, ospital, tapos na ang usapan. Tao lang, sa tao lang, sa tao lamang,” he said.

“Mararamdaman ninyo, na araw-araw, pag mararanasan ninyo na kayo’y matutumba na, makakakita kayo ng pader na ang tawag ay gobyerno na masasandalan ninyo sa oras na kailangan ninyo.

Yan ang gobyernong ibibigay ko sa inyo,” Moreno said.

Throughout his speech, the young and charismatic presidential candidate was interrupted several times by loud chanting and encouragements of “Isko! Isko! Isko!” and “We love you Yorme!” from his ardent supporters, including senior citizens, transport sector groups, market vendors, and ordinary housewives, among other sectors.

The town hall meeting in Teresa capped a short but very fruitful sortie in Rizal province where the Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate paid courtesy calls to Angono Mayor Jeri Mae Calderon, Tanay Mayor Rex Manuel Tanjuatco, and Teresa Mayor Raul Palino.

Though the campaign sorties started late in the afternoon, thousands of Rizal residents waited patiently, and they mobbed Moreno wherever he went to show their full support for the young and charismatic presidential candidate, who they call their own.