MNPR, a testament to people’s support
DAVAO CITY – LAKAS-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has capped her 28-day “Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride” (MNPR) that took her to at least 34 provinces around the country where she personally experienced the love, warmth, and support of Filipinos.
“I will never forget the warmth of the Filipino people we met along the way, and I will always remember the courage, strength, and the resiliency they’ve shown as we passed by rain or shine,” Duterte said in a press conference Sunday night after her return in Davao City.
Duterte also thanked her campaign managers, House Majority Leader and Lakas-CMD President Martin G. Romualdez and Davao Occidental Governor and Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) President Claude Bautista, and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco for their support during her grueling and non-stop visit of the country’s provinces.
In most of the provinces she visited, Romualdez was there to welcome and accompany her.
“And of course, my eternal thanks to the president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, and of course, especially, special mention to the president of Hukbong ng Pagbabago Governor Claude Bautista,” Duterte said.
The Davao City Mayor said her ride, which took her from the southern part up to the northern portion of the country, gave her a personal glimpse of the varying situations and conditions of the places and provinces that she visited.
“Sa ating biyahe mula Mindanao mula noong February 1 hanggang sa pagbalik natin ngayong araw (Sunday), nakita natin ang mga realidad at sitwasyon sa mga komunidad na ating nadaanan. May mga parte sa pilipinas na nangangailangan ng tulong dahil sa naranasan nilang paghihirap, may mga lugar din na progresibo,” Duterte said.
Despite the realities on the ground, the Davao City mayor could not help but admire the spirits, characters, and resilience of Filipinos, which she witnessed and experienced during her ride.
“Pero sa kabila ng mga realidad at pagkakaiba ng mga sitwasyon, nakita natin ang pagiging masayahin ng mga Pilipino. Naranasan din natin ang pagiging likas na mapagbigay sa kapwa natin,” Duterte said.
One of the core platforms of Duterte and her presidential tandem former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is the equitable development of barangays, including equity in the delivery of basic services, jobs generation, and economic development.
While the MNPR has been a success, apart from it did not encounter any hitches and Duterte has returned safely to Davao City, it will not be the last ride for the Lakas-CMD vice presidential candidate.
“Ang Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas ay simula palang ng ating biyahe, mahaba pa ito. We still have March and April and the first week of May… sa patuloy ninyong pagsama sa akin ay malayo ang ating mararating,” Duterte said.
