Miriam calls on the youth to win the presidential election for her

Presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Saturday night made her final appeal to young voters and asked them to turn the tide of the elections in her favor or else put up with a corrupt government for the next six years.

“You represent 20 million young voters or 40 percent of the total 54 million voters on May 9. United, our numbers are enough to bring us to Malacañang,” Santiago said before about a thousand young supporters who attended a street party in Barangay West Triangle in Quezon City.

The street party was organized by the Youth for Miriam, a volunteer movement which has been at the forefront of the senator's sorties and other campaign activities since the campaign period began on February 9.

Festive mood here at West Triangle QC. Youth for Miriam volunteers doing a flash mob #Eleksyon2016 pic.twitter.com/nyNSKbATbs

— Elizabeth T. Marcelo (@marcelo_beth) May 7, 2016

Just like in her previous speeches, Santiago argued that academic, professional and moral excellence were the important qualifications voters must look for in a candidate.

“We need leaders who will fight corruption, conquer poverty, and act decisively. We need leaders who will offer their lives for the nation,” Santiago said.

She added that her four fellow candidates not only lack these three qualifications, but also lacked the ability to instill in Filipinos a sense of “shared destiny” or acting together to achieve a common good.

Street party for @senmiriam @bongbongmarcos ongoing #Eleksyon2016 pic.twitter.com/DFstNUmLvx

— Elizabeth T. Marcelo (@marcelo_beth) May 7, 2016

‘Magsisisi kayo dyan’

Santiago also said the youth possessed the power to prevent the country from the looming disaster of having a corrupt president.

“Sige pabayaan ko kayo mag boto ng corrupt, tapos sa susunod na anim na taon, magsisisi kayo dyan,” said Santiago to the cheers of the crowd.

And despite not having the campaign machinery her opponents possessed, she was confident that the youth's support would win her the presidency.

“Ngayon tinatapos natin ang ating tatlong buwang kampanya nang walang ninakaw na pera… Konti lang tayo ngayon kumpara dun sa Quezon Circle. Pero nakita ko ang inyong walang sawang suporta,” Santiago said, referring to the Liberal Party's (LP's) miting de avance at the Quezon City Memorial Circle.

The crowd responded with the chant, “Hindi kami bayad!”

Members of Youth for Miriam movement having a blast at @senmiriam street party to the song Tatsulok #Eleksyon2016 pic.twitter.com/5atNUuGqrw

— Elizabeth T. Marcelo (@marcelo_beth) May 7, 2016

Santiago had earlier said that she was eschew a miting de avance. “A Miting de avance or the supposed show of force is useless as those who attend have been bought by the candidate,” she had explained.

Meanwhile, Santiago also called on the youth to be vigilant during Monday's elections due to supposed possibility of massive cheating.

“[B]antayan natin ng mahigpit pagkatapos ng Lunes ang ating balota. Dahil maaaring Bongbong and I might win in the voting but we might lose in the counting,” Santiago said.

Bongbong

Santiago’s running mate, vice presidential candidate and son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., made a surprise appearance during the event despite a declared plan to be in his bailiwick of Ilocos Norte on Saturday afternoon.

In his speech, Marcos called on the youth not to believe their opponents’ propaganda, particularly the rumor that Santiago was withdrawing at the last minute from the presidential race.

“Talagang desperado na ang mga kalaban natin… Si Miriam ang sagot sa problema ng Pilipinas. Huwag po kayong maniwala sa mga paninira,” Marcos said.

Marcos added that with the strong support of the youth, he was confident of their tandem’s victory.

“Sa pag iikot namin, napaka init ng naging pagtanggap sa ating mensahe.  A message of putting excellence back in government,” Marcos said. — DVM, GMA News