Romualdez tells Lakas-CMD bets: People trust us, but don’t be complacent

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez urged on Friday his party-mates in Lakas-CMD to avoid being complacent and prove that they are worthy of votes — even if voters already trust them. Photo from House of Representatives

MANILA, Philippines  — House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez urged on Friday his party-mates in Lakas-CMD not to be complacent and prove they are worthy of votes — even if voters already trust them.

Romualdez, in his speech during a meeting with fellow candidates from Lakas-CMD in Tacloban City, Leyte, said that the party’s growing membership shows that people trust their party.

This, Romualdez, said, should prompt party members to continue the good things that they were doing.

“Napakalawak ng ating hanay, may Lakas-CMD na handang maglingkod. Iisa ang layunin natin: ang ituloy ang magandang nasimulan para sa ating mga kababayan,” Romualdez, party president, said as the official campaign period for the local elections kicks off.

(Our membership is growing, there is a Lakas-CMD member always ready to serve. We have one goal: to continue the good things that we have started for our people.)

“‘Yan ay patunay ng tiwala ng taumbayan sa Lakas-CMD. Pero hindi ito dahilan para maging kampante. Mas lalo nating dapat patunayan na karapat-dapat tayo sa tiwalang ibinibigay,” he added.  “Ang tagumpay ay hindi lang nasusukat sa dami ng boto. Nasusukat ‘yan sa kalidad ng ating paglilingkod pagkatapos ng halalan. Panalo man o hindi, tuloy ang serbisyo.”

(That is proof that people trust Lakas-CMD. But this is not a reason to be complacent. We should prove even more that we are deserving of this trust given to us. Victory is not just measured by number of votes. It is measured by the quality of service, because after the election season, whether we win or we lose, we continue to serve.)

Romualdez also appealed for a clean and honest election while promising that he would continue working for the good of Leyte.

“Sa lahat ng kasama nating kandidato sa Lakas-CMD – mga kapartido, kaalyado at kaisa sa serbisyo – panahon na para muling ipakita sa taumbayan ang klase ng lideratong tapat, subok at may puso. Tuloy ang ating serbisyo. May God bless our campaign,” he said.

(To all my fellow candidates in Lakas-CMD – party-mates, and those who stand with us in serving the people — it is time to again show the people a brand of leadership that is needed, tested, and caring. We continue serving the people.)

“Sa ating kampanya, proven na hindi salita ang puhunan kundi gawa. Mga proyektong ramdam sa bawat barangay, sa bawat pamayanan, sa bawat pamilya,” he added.  “Ito ang bunga ng paninindigan at tapat na pamumuno – ‘yung ginagawa ang tama dahil ito ang kailangan ng mga tao.”

(In our campaign, it has been proven that we do not just talk. There are projects felt in every area in the barangay, in every community, and every family. This is borne out of our perseverance and honest leadership — that we do the right thing because this is what the people need.)

During the event, Romualdez reiterated his promise that the administration-backed senatorial ticket Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinouldwill win big in Leyte and the entire Eastern Visayas.

“Garantisado po, mananalo sa Leyte at buong Eastern Visayas ang tiket ng Alyansa sa Bagong Pilipinas. Nandito ang suporta ng ating mga kababayan. Buo ang tiwala ng Region 8 sa platapormang pagbabago at pagsusulong ng Bagong Pilipinas,” he said.

(I guarantee, the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas ticket will win here in Leyte and the entire Eastern Visayas. The support of our people is here. The entire Region 8 trusts the platform of change and the push towards a New Philippines.)

Alyansa is a coalition of five political parties, including Lakas-CMD, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, the Nationalist People’s Coalition, the Nacionalista Party, and the National Unity Party.

Last March 14, when Alyansa bets visited Tacloban City, Romualdez said Alyansa would win in Eastern Visayas as residents there consider Marcos as their own.

Marcos’ aunt, former First Lady Imelda Marcos also hails from Leyte, making the province a bailiwick of the administration.

READ: Romualdez vows big win for Alyansa in Leyte

“May God bless our campaign. Magkaisa tayo, magtulungan, at manatiling tapat sa ating layunin – ang pagsilbihan ang ating mga kababayan sa abot ng ating makakaya. Sa Lakas-CMD, tuloy-tuloy ang serbisyong may puso,” Romualdez said.

(Let us unite, help each other, and remain true to our goal — to serve the people to the best of our abilities. With Lakas-CMD, we continue to serve with a heart for the people.)