‘Isigaw mo, Isko’ Manila concert rally lures 80K

MANILA – If crowd support were the gauge, outgoing Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso is at par with his presidential race rivals despite his poor showing in surveys.

The Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer had repeatedly said he is overwhelmed with the support he gets in different parts of the country.

The “Isigaw mo, Isko” concert rally in this city on Sunday did not disappoint as organizers estimated that about 80,000 attended the event held at the corner of Maria Orosa and Kalaw Streets in Ermita district.

In an ambush interview, Domagoso expressed gratitude to the attendees whom he said included not just Manileños but those from other provinces as well.

“Today (Sunday), about 80 percent are from Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Southern Luzon -- volunteers and supporters,” Domagoso said.

“Ang maganda rito wala silang gastos so parang it’s a family day after two years of lockdown, of uncertainty. So parang unwind so this is a refresher in their hearts and minds and as you heard, tinanong ko naman sila, pwede na tayong magpahinga. Sabi nila tuloy ang laban. So nakakatuwa (What’s good here is that they did not spend anything and it has become a family day after two years of lockdown, of uncertainty. It is like unwinding, a refresher. I asked them if can we rest, they said the fight continues. It good to hear), so that is gonna happen in the next 29 days. We will continue what we’re doing, to go directly to the people,” he said.

Domagoso recounted similar experiences in Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Cebu province where they were met by big crowds.

His camp held back-to-back concert-rallies in Lapu-Lapu City on Friday, with about 35,000 trooping to the Mactan Shrine, followed by a free concert at Toledo City Sports Center parking lot the following day, attended by about 20,000.

Domagoso said the Aksyon Demokratiko team is looking forward to visiting more provinces and cities in the country.

“’Yung sa Lapu-Lapu City nga nagulat ako kahit yata karayom pagka-hinulog mo hindi magkakasya, tapos ‘yun umulan na naman sa Toledo, ganun din hindi rin umalis ang tao. So na-o-overwhelm kami (In Lapu-Lapu I was surprised with the crowd, that there’s no space even for a needle. Then it rained in Toledo and it’s the same, the people did not leave. So we are overwhelmed). So, what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna continue to reach as many people as possible and go straight to the people” he said.

During the Manila concert rally, Domagoso introduced his wife, Dynee, and four of his five children -- Patrick, Joacquin, Frances, and Drake.

Another son, Franco, was not around as he was doing school assignments.

Domagoso said the event provided him an opportunity to be with his family so the people can see for themselves how ordinary and normal they are.

Dynee, Frances, and Joaquin are also going around to campaign for the mayor.

“Syempre naman, ikaw bilang mamamayan, at least makilala mo mga anak ko, kung gaano sila ka-normal. Look at them. At importante rin ‘yun na makita ng taumbayan na ;yung mga myembro ng pamilya ko, wala sa gobyerno, hindi opisyal. Kumbaga, for purposes of being sensitive to you being mamamayan na hindi natin aabusuhin yung pagkakataong binigay sa atin na magpakasasa ‘yung pamilya natin, so parang ngayon, officially alam nyo na kung sino ‘yung (Of course, you as a citizen, at least you get to know my children and see how normal they are. It is also important for the people to see that no member of my family is in the government, not an official. Its letting the people know that we will not abuse the opportunity that will be given to us.  Now officially you know who are the) members of the family. I have five kids and one wife,” he said.

Several artists performed pro bono at the concert rally. (PNA)