IM Pilipinas launched in Ecija
TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija – Ikaw Muna (IM) Pilipinas, a newly-formed multi-sectoral group, was formally launched in Nueva Ecija on Tuesday to push Manila Mayor Isko Moreno to run for president in next year’s national polls.
Led by provincial convenor Dr. Reymund “Doc Rey” Sarmiento, IM Pilipinas was officially launched in the province through virtual and face-to-face meetings with the participation of national convenors – former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority general manager and ex-Department of Transportation Usec. Thomas “Tim” Orbos, Parent Enabling Parents president Philip “Dobol P” Piccio, Bong Mangahas and Elmer Argano, secretary-general.
During the IM movement’s launching, they were joined by local convenors, and new affiliates from the province who are members of farmer-irrigators and labor sectors, tricycle drivers and operator groups, business sector, professionals, healthcare workers, women and youth sectors and the LGBTQ community.
In pushing for Moreno to run for the presidency, Sarmiento said IM Pilipinas is composed of leaders and men who are united in one common belief that the country needs a true leader like the Manila mayor, who has the “heart and soul” for every Filipino.
In their manifest of support, the group said: “Ito na ang tamang panahon upang ibangon ang dignidad ng mga Pilipino, maibalik ang dangal ng gobyerno at itayo ang bandila ng bansa, ang katangian na kailangan ng bansa sa ngayon ay ang katulad ng huwarang pinuno at lingkod-bayan na kagaya ni Isko Moreno.”
Also among those present to lend support to the newly-formed group were Rudy Bernardo Antonio, president of Talavera Modern Farmers Association; Dominciano Laureno, senior citizen president of Science City of Muñoz; Division 5 Irrigators Association president Dante Lazatin of Guimba; Bryan Gregorio Cadang of the LGBTQ group; and Rudy Palapal of the Consumers Cooperative of Zaragosa.
Another highlight of the IM Pilipinas launching was the formal swearing-in of the new local convenors and new members via virtual-face-to-face mode which was led by Argano.
Its launching in the province came two days after Moreno was elected Thursday as party president of Aksyon Demokratiko, which was founded by the late Senator Raul Roco.
