She took a pause while trying to hold back her tears during an emotionally charged speech on Monday in front of thousand of residents of Makati City who are still supporting their family.
“Sana po patuloy ninyong suportahan ang tatay ng Makati, dahil ni minsan hindi kayo nawala sa kanyang puso at isipan. Sana po bigyan nyo po ako ng pagkakataon na mahalin din kayo, na paglingkuran din kayo, gaya ng ginawa ng tatay ko. Isang malaking karangalan po para sa akin na maging susunod na mayor,” Rep. Abby Binay said in her speech on the launch of her candidacy for mayor of the city.
The younger Binay spoke while her father, then mayor and now incumbent Vice-President Jejomar Binay, was seated behind her. “Lumaki kami na kahati ang Makati sa pagmamahal mo, natutunan namin na ang Makati ay hindi lang isang siyudad kundi isang pamilya na nagtutulungan,” said the younger Binay.
Her father was appointed in 1986 as an officer-in-charge of Makati after the People’s Power uprising and the Corazon Aquino administration came into power. Since then, the Binays have ruled Makati, a city that grew for the next three decades.
Abby made special mention of her father, whom she said raised Makati to its present state. “Siya ang ama ng yellow card at dahil sa kanya meron tayong Ospital ng Makati,” she said.
She added that under the “Serbisyong tunay, serbisyong Binay” slogan, their city had University of Makati.
She said that despite allegations of corruption and controversies, their father still loves Makati.
“Kinararangal ko po na maging anak ni Jojo Binay, dahil siya ang sandigan ng serbisyong tunay” Abby said. She urged the people of Makati to support their campaign and bring back “Serbisyong tunay, serbisyong Binay.”
The lawmaker also took a swipe against the ‘Bagong Makati’ slogan of Mayor Kid Peña. “Hindi bagong Makati ang ating nakikita, kundi isang bigong Makati na biktima ng bulok na pumumulitika.” She claimed that the elderly and some residents were refused treatment at Ospital ng Makati because they are supporters of Binays.
The younger Binay said she is now looking to the extension of Makati yellow card program, which will be renewed every three years. The present system requires an annual renewal.
She said she will also push for the inclusion of all students in a scholarship program. She promised to remove the minimum average grade requirement and will accept even those with poor grades into the scholarship program. She likewise promised jobs in barangays.
Abby said running for mayor was contrary to her initial plans. She said she would have wanted to retire, take care of her kid and do private practice as a lawyer. But she said the turn of events last year compelled her to seek the highest post in the city. She admitted that it will be challenging this time, since this is also the first time in three decades that a Binay is running for mayor while no Binay is seated in the city hall. “Siguro for the first time, hindi kami nakaupo sa city hall. Pero sa tingin ko, I’m very confident, it would be difficult, but not a deterrent for me to win.”
She also took offense on insinuations that people who attended their launch were paid. “Eh di magtanong kayo kung binayaran, that’s for him (Mayor Kid Pena) to prove it,” the younger Binay said.
While Abby’s candidacy was launched in Makati, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada endorsed Senator Grace Poe’ candidacy for President.
Estrada and now VP Binay ran as a tandem in 2010. The Erap-Binay tandem also supported Fernando Poe, Jr.’s presidential bid in 2004.
The younger Binay said it’s Estrada’s right to endorse anyone. “Sa tingin naman namin, sa tagal ng pinagsamahan namin ng pamilya Estrada, hindi ito magiging rason para hindi kami maging magkaibigan muli.” Jorge Carino
This story first appeared on ABS-CBN News and is reprinted with permission.
