MANILA Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso’s campaign sortie on Saturday got a very warm reception in Quezon City with no less than Mayor Joy Belmonte personally welcoming the Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer and his vice presidential bet Dr. Willie Ong.

Mayor Belmonte was holding a caucus with local leaders and residents at a covered basketball court in Barangay Commonwealth when the “Team Isko-Doc Willie” motorcade made a brief stop-over and upon seeing each other, the two mayors briefly embraced before exchanging pleasantries.

“Maraming, maraming salamat sa ating minamahal na punong lungsod Mayor Joy Belmonte at atin pong mga konsehal na nandito lalong-lalo na sa ating mga kaibigan na tinulungan kaming umikot dito sa lugar ninyo. Maraming, maraming salamat,” Moreno said while being cheered by the people attending the meeting.

“At sabihin ninyo sa inyong mga kamag-anak na sumalubong sa amin dito sa inyong barangay, maraming salamat sa mainit ninyong pagtanggap. Amoy na amoy ko kayo. I love you,” Moreno said.

Belmonte said she was happy that Moreno, whom she considers as a long-time friend, included Quezon City in his campaign sortie.

“Syempre masayang masaya kami, matagal na kaming magkaibigan ni Isko. Sakto nadaan yung motorcade nya dito (sa caucus venue) kaya inaya ko na sya. Matagal na kami magkasama niyan,” the 51-year-old Belmonte who is seeking a second term as city mayor, told reporters.

Moreno’s brief speech was cut a few times by the people on hand who showed their genuine love for the 47-year-old presidential candidate by shouting: “We love you mayor!” eliciting a smile from the former “basurero” who became Manila councilor at age 23, Manila vice mayor at age 32 and Manila mayor at age 44.

Aside from thanking the crowd who showed up during their motorcade, Moreno also took the opportunity to ask for the people’s help in the coming May 9 elections as the battle for the presidential and vice-presidential race will be a tough one.

“Sana po mga kababayan, kailangan-kailangan namin ang tulong ninyo ni Doc Willie. Sana tulungan ninyo kami. Tandaan po ninyo mga kababayan laban natin ito. Eto ay tungkol sa anak niyo, tungkol sa kinabukasan nila. Nakasalalay sa mga puso’t, isipan ninyo at desisyon ninyo, Walongput araw mahigit ang nananatiling araw kaya’t isipin nating maigi… dun ba tayo sa uso, o doon tayo sa kumikilos? Dun ba tayo sa kwento na walang kwenta o yung may kwenta na at may resibo pa? Nasasa-inyo po ang karapatang pumili,” Moreno said.

Last Saturday’s motorcade brought the Team Isko-Doc Willie to Districts 2 and 3 in Quezon City. Just like what happened in the motorcades in Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Navatos and Malabon, tens of thousands of residents came out of their homes to cheer and express their full support for Moreno and Ong as the motorcade meandered its way through Barangays Holy Spirit, Pasong Tamo, Culiat, Batasan and Commonwealth.

Joining Moreno and Ong in the motorcade are Aksyon senatorial candidates Dr. Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc and Jopet Sison, Quezon City 4th District Councilor Irene Belmonte and Dave Valmocina who is running for councilor in the 2nd district of the city.

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