‘The best is yet to come,’ Roxas says in final campaign speech

“The best is yet to come” was administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II’s promise to the estimated crowd of 75,000 that had gathered at the Quezon Memorial Circle for the Liberal Party’s (LP) miting de avance Saturday night.

Roxas said that electing him president would mean supporting another six years of honest and clean government, much like what the Aquino administration has started.

“Alam n’yo, itong nakaraang anim na taon, pundasyon pa lang ito. Kung magpatuloy po tayo--anim na taon pa ng tapat, ng malinis, ng maayos na pamamahala. Mas malayo pa ang mararating natin, at totoo, the best is yet to come,” Roxas said.

“This is the good fight. This is the fight of our lives. This is the fight that defines us as a generation. This is the fight that brings us to a better future,” he added.

Mar Roxas at the LP miting de avance: This is the fight that brings us to a better future. pic.twitter.com/OM8l0cneuI

— Kaecee Alvarez (@kaeceealvarez) May 7, 2016

Roxas ran his 90-day presidential campaign on a promise of continuity. He kicked off his bid for the presidency in Capiz, his hometown, where he also served as congressman.

Saturday's miting de avance was held in Quezon City, where most of the incumbent officials are his political allies. Roxas is also a resident of Cubao, the same commercial area where the LP headquarters is located.

Roxas also thanked the so-called “Silent Majority” - his supporters who feared the alternative leadership offered by his opponents.

“Nakikita natin, kabastusan, kawalang-takot sa Diyos, walang plano, pang-iinsulto, puro soundbite lang, komunismo, marahas na kamay, wala na ang rule of law,” he said in reference to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the frontrunner in pre-election surveys.

“Ang ating mga katunggali, gusto nila na makalimutan natin ‘yung ating mga napagtagumpayan na. Gusto nilang makalimutan natin kung sino tayo bilang mga Pilipino," Roxas said.

"Gusto nila na mag-U-turn tayo, bumalik tayo sa zero. Susunugin nila, sisirain nila lahat ng mga pinaghirapan natin nitong nakaraang anim na taon na ito,” he added.

Leni ready

Meanwhile, Roxas’ running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo said she was ready to be the “mother” of the Filipino nation.

“Three and a half years ago, nanay lang ako ng aking tatlong anak. Ngayong gabi po, handa na ako maging nanay ng ating inang bayan,” Robredo said.

Robredo is in a tight race with the son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., for the vice presidency.

Among those present in the LP miting de avance were Roxas and Robredo’s families and friends, and several Cabinet members.

Performers Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla, Maricel Soriano, and Gary Valenciano were also present during the event to entertain the crowd, who were mostly dressed in the yellow LP color.

A fireworks display capped the night after the Roxas-Robredo tandem and LP stalwarts, including President Benigno Aquino III, sang the national anthem onstage. — DVM, GMA News