Despite rivals touting large turnouts for their grand rallies, Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso said he is not panicking, saying the “lean and mean” rallies that he conducted the past weeks where tens of thousands of “real supporters” gathered to show their full support.
Be it a few thousands or tens of thousands, Moreno said he takes pride that the turnout in his rallies comprised the “silent majority,” which he believes will ultimately be the game-changer in his quest for the presidency.
“Don’t panic, it’s organic!” Moreno said, when asked of the crowd turnout in his rallies – which were always huge in the first place – referring to the natural warmth and sincere support the people exude wherever he went.
The Manila city mayor’s confidence is further bolstered by the tens of thousands of screaming and adoring supporters who warmly welcome him with open arms as they jostle for position during motorcades and town hall meetings, all trying to shake or just touch the hands of the former basurero who became councilor, vice mayor, mayor and now a presidential candidate.
Moreno said his preferred mode of “retail” style of campaigning in town halls and out-of-the-way places may be tedious, but it fosters intimacy and unity more than the large but staged rallies like what other candidates are doing.
“Because I don’t like ‘motor-paid.’ ‘Motor-paid’ is expensive. Isn’t it, I mean, why would I drive myself crazy with 40,000 people but I paid them five hundred each just to rah-rah,” he said.
Moreno’s views were echoed by Team Isko chief campaign strategist Lito Banayo who pointed out that the ground reception for Moreno is far different from what poll surveys say, and quite different from what his rivals might imply through their “very large rallies.”
“I think many of you have covered our field sorties. And you’ve seen the warmth. These are organic. We do not bring people to our rallies. In fact, we do not have big rallies, for that matter because we don’t consider that to be cost-effective. I mean, it costs a lot of money but the correlation between voting and presence in campaign rallies where you have bigtime entertainers does not correlate on a one-on-one basis,” Banayo told reporters in Angono, Rizal.
On Thursday, for instance, residents of Angono went to the streets once news about Moreno and his Aksyon Demokratiko candidates led by his running mate Dr. Willie Ong were at the Angono municipal hall and before holding a motorcade going to Teresa town.
“These were spontaneous crowd who were excited to see the charismatic and very accommodating Mayor Isko. It’s all organic, no hakot crowd,” Banayo said.
In Tagbilaran City, tens of thousands of Boholanos came out in force Wednesday evening to show their support for Moreno in a grand concert-rally at the Old Tagbilaran City Airport.
The crowd, which was estimated to reach more than 40,000 at its peak and composed mostly of youth supporters and ordinary people, packed the venue despite the absence of famous local artists and personalities just to hear the young and charismatic Moreno, who is from their own ranks.
The 47-year-old presidential aspirant acknowledged the resilience of Boholanons who, like him, triumphed through all the hardships that fate had thrown their way.
“I am very much in love with you. Congratulations Bohol. You, destroyed by the earthquake, fell down, stood up. You, tossed about by the storm, fell down and stood up. Today, all the youth of Bohol are standing. That’s how good the Boholanos are,” Moreno said to wild cheering from the fired-up crowd.
In Butuan City, more than 10,000 ordinary people, mostly coming from the so-called “silent majority,” turned up Monday evening at the “Ishagit Mo, Isko!” (Isigaw Mo, Isko) grand concert-rally in Guingona Park to show their full support for Moreno, vice presidential bet Willie Ong and senatorial candidates Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc, Jopet Sison and John Castriciones.
The absence of famous local artists and the threat of a downpour did not dampen the spirits of the ordinary folks as they patiently waited for the arrival of their real star – the young and charismatic Mayor Isko who they embrace as one of their own.
Moreno’s “ground support” was in full view in recent rallies in Cebu and in Manila before the Holy Week break.
Last April 8, the force of nature could not contain the outpouring of support for the 47-year-old presidential candidate as 20,000 Cebuanos braved the rains spawned by Tropical Depression Agaton to show their full love and support for Mayor Isko in a grand rally in Toledo City.
“So I am very brave here in Cebu, my second day here in Cebu, I have been to Cebu six times, we will continue to love Cebuanos. To the Cebuanos, please answer me. Because if you help me, I hope it will come true that when we get wet in the rain, we will increase,” shouted Moreno through the din of the rain and the cheering crowd.