MABALACAT CITY – More than 12,000 attendees of Team MCG’s grand rally were brought to tears after Mabalaqueño cancer patients, who have been receiving various health and financial assistance from the city government, gave Mayor Crisostomo Garbo and Vice Mayor Gerald Aquino some messages of thanks and hope.
“Ito po ang sinasabi natin na kapag ang mga mamamayan ang naging sentro ng serbisyo publiko, hinding-hindi ka magkakamali. Ito na po siguro ang pinakamalaki at pinakamahalagang endorsement na aming natanggap simula nang kami’y naging lingkod-bayan – ang pag-endorso ng mga kababayan natin na matagal nang hindi napapansin at ngayo’y nadugtungan natin ng buhay,” said Mayor Garbo.
The Garbo-Aquino administration has been known for its staunch implementation of various programs on health, education, and social services that have been benchmarks of best practices across the country.
The beneficiaries of the said MCG programs made surprise appearances during the grand rally to affirm Mayor Garbo’s programs and give Team MCG the best endorsements.
“Ipagpepray po namin na manalo po kayo para marami pa po kayong matulungan katulad po namin ni Ricarla. Hingi lang po sa amin kundi pati narin sa mga nagkakasakit po at sana manalo po kayo,” said cancer patient Sophia Toledano.
“Dakal pung salamat pasibayu Mayor keni pung bibiye yung lingap kekami. Nung epu kekayu ining apu ku emi pu balu makananu ming apayari ing kayang pamag-chemo. Pauli yup u meyari pu ing chemo na angga ngeni didinan yu ke pa pung saup,” said Sophia’s grandmother in a video-taped message.
“Nukarin ke pa pung manakit a mayor a kalupa yu? Minsan ke mu pu minta kekayu at tinggap yu kea gad. Eke pu minuling malungkut, atin ke pung saya king kekaming pusu. Pauli yup u, oyni, meibsan pu ing kekaming problemang mabayat nung nukarin ke pu kumang pangangailangan na ning apu ku,” Sophia’s grandmother added.
Erlinda Villanueva, mother of brain tumor patient Ronalyn Villanueva from Barangay San Francisco, also expressed her gratitude to MCG. She said, “Pasalamat ku pung maragul king binye yu pung kalam king anak ku uling ala ke pung talaga. Ikayu mu pu ing balu ming lapitan. Balu ku makabusni ka pusu karing egana-ganang tau at karapatdapat kang maging mayor king tutuki pa uling dakal pang mangailangan karing taung kalupa mi.”
Meanwhile, 10-year-old Stage 3 lymphoma patient Ricarla Reyes, who went viral on social media for receiving assistance from the city government, also expressed her warm appreciation to the incumbent city mayor.
“Sana po ay bigyan po natin siya [Mayor Garbo] ng suporta katulad po ng binibigay niya sa atin. Dahil po sa kanya nadugtungan po yung buhay ko. Maraming-maraming salamat po mayor,” said Ricarla.
Pancreatic cancer patient Annaliza Presco-Perez, who also went viral on social media for sending Mayor Garbo a special letter of gratitude before 2021 ended, underscored the importance of choosing the right leader to helm Mabalacat City to greater heights.
“Yaku sinabi ku naman eku pu talaga bobotu kasi anyang masikan ku pa sabi da pin agyang ninu namung lumput, pero ali na ngeni. Nyang aranasan kung mika-sakit, nung ala kang kayantabe, pamilya, komunidad o kaluguran, asna pung kasakit,” said Perez.
“I mayor ali mu pu ayuda ing binye na kanaku, pag-asa pu. Ena man talaga kailangan magsalita kasi akit mu naman talaga ing pamagbayu. Dakal a dakal a salamat pu, Mayor,” Perez added.
If given a fresh mandate, Team MCG vows to expand all its services to reach more Mabalaqueños needing health and social attention.
