ITO ANG SIMULA! Read the speeches of SEN. PING M. LACSON and SENATE PRESIDENT TITO C. SOTTO III at the announcement of their candidacies on Sept. 8, 2021.

PROCLAMATION SPEECH of SEN. PING LACSON:

In his 6th and final State of the Nation Address last July 26, President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that he was wrong to think that leading the country is as simple and easy as leading Davao City.

Walang debate sa katotohanan. Hindi natin dapat payagan ang maling akala para sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa.
[There is no debating the truth. We cannot allow wrong assumptions to affect our nation’s future]

Sa gitna ng pandemya:
[In the midst of the pandemic:]

Baon sa utang ang bansa; marami ang nawalan ng trabaho dahil nagsara ang maraming negosyo; nadagdagan ang bilang ng mahihirap; lalo pang dumami ang mga kumakalam ang sikmura; talamak ang korapsyon; laganap pa rin ang ilegal na droga; unti-unti, nawawala ang ilang bahagi ng ating teritoryo sa West Philippine Sea.
[The country is drowning in debt; many lost their jobs because of business closures; the number of poor Filipinos has increased and so has the sector of people who have gone hungry; corruption is rampant; illegal drugs are still prevalent; some parts of our territory in the West Philippines Sea are gradually disappearing.]

Ilan lamang ito sa malalaking problemang nagdudulot ng kawalan ng pag-asa ng mga Pilipino.
[These are just some of the biggest problems which cause despair among Filipinos.]

Hindi biro-biro ang mga pagsubok na haharapin ng susunod na administrasyon.
[Truly, the challenges that the next administration will face are no joking matter.]

Between me and Senate President Sotto are more than 80 years of honest, dedicated, and competent public service.
[Between me and Tito Sotto are more than 80 years of honest, dedicated, and competent public service.]

Mayroon kaming sapat na Kakayahan, Katapatan, at Katapangan upang pamunuan ang ating bansa at upang muling bumangon sa ating pagkakalugmok.
[We have the proven Competence, Integrity, and Courage to lead the country so we can rise from the rut we are in.]

Malaking hamon subali’t kailangang maibalik ang tiwala ng ating mamamayan sa gobyerno at sa mga namumuno.
[It is a great challenge but we need to restore the trust of our people in the government and in the leaders of the country.]

I could not stress it enough — ang tamang pamumuno ay dapat pangunahan ng “Leadership by example” — hindi sa salita kundi sa gawa. No leader can succeed if he cannot practice what he preaches.
[…The right leaders must exemplify “Leadership by example” — not by words, but by actions…]

Kailangan natin ng lider na ang tama ay ipaglalaban at ang mali ay lalabanan. Kaya naman magiging una sa ating prayoridad ang mas maigting na pagtugon sa pandemya. Marapat lamang na punan ang mga kakulangan at ituwid ang mga kamalian.
[We need a leader who will fight for what is right and will fight what is wrong. Hence, the first of our priorities is a stronger response to the pandemic. We have to fill the gaps and correct the wrongdoing.]

We have to prepare for sustainable recovery from this health crisis. I have no doubt that with a united citizenry, we will soon see the day that COVID-19 will no longer be a scare.

Kailangan ang mahigpit na disiplina sa paggastos ng kaban ng bayan. Walang mangungurakot at magsasamantala, malapit mang kaibigan o hindi kilala. Dapat isa lamang ang pamantayan na susundin at ipapatupad ng lahat, para sa lahat. Walang sisinuhin sa mga ganid na ginagawang negosyo ang gobyerno.
[We need strict discipline in the management of public coffers. There will no longer be swindlers and exploiters, whether close friends or strangers. There should be only one standard for everyone to follow and enforce. There are no sacred cows among those who will profit from the government.]

Dapat maikalat at maibahagi sa iba’t-ibang sulok ng kapuluan ang mas malaking resources ng bansa. Local government units must be given bigger roles and responsibilities and more autonomy in nation-building, but with greater accountability. The National Government will be their Big Brother watching over their shoulders. Hindi lamang upang tulungan at gabayan na paunlarin ang kani-kanilang mga komunidad, kundi papanagutin ang sinumang magkukulang o magmamalabis.
[We should distribute the resources to the various parts of the archipelago. Local government units must be given bigger roles and responsibilities and more autonomy in nation-building, but with greater accountability. The National Government will be their Big Brother watching over their shoulders not only to help and guide them towards development, but also to make accountable those who will have shortcomings or excesses.]

Kaunting tiis na lang, malapit na, makakaahon na tayo.
[English translation: There is no debating the truth.]

As we speak, we are in the process of drawing up a roadmap or a master plan that will serve as our platform of government that we intend to present to our people. After all, sa takdang panahon, kayo ang magdedesisyon kung karapat-dapat ba kaming pagkatiwalaan na mamuno sa ating bayan.
[As we speak, we are in the process of drawing up a roadmap or a master plan that will serve as our platform of government that we intend to present to our people. After all, at the proper time, it is you who will decide if we are worthy of your trust in leading our nation.]

We are nearing the crossroads of our nation’s modern history — and we cannot afford to choose the wrong direction in charting the course of our nation in the next six years.

Having said all that, with all your help and cooperation, this is where Tito Sotto and I intend to steer our country:

FROM DESPAIR TO HOPE…
FROM APATHY TO EMPATHY…
FROM FEAR TO TRUST…
FROM POVERTY TO PROSPERITY…
FROM SELF-PITY TO DIGNITY…

THE FILIPINO DESERVES NO LESS.

*****

PROCLAMATION SPEECH of SENATE PRESIDENT TITO SOTTO:

Mga minamahal kong kababayan,
[My beloved fellow Filipinos,]

Ang inyo pong lingkod ay naririto upang harapin ang hamon sa tamang panahon na maging kandidato ninyo sa pagka-Pangalawang Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas.
[I am here today, as your public servant, to face the challenges of our time as your candidate for Vice President of the country.]

Nguni’t higit sa lahat, ako po ay humaharap sa inyo upang hingiin ang inyong tiwala. Tiwala na babangon muli ang bansa. Tiwala na magkakaroon muli ng pag-asa. Ang inyong matibay na paniniwala na, sama-sama ay kakayanin nating ipanumbalik ang tiwala natin sa ating mahal na bansang Pilipinas.
[But most of all, I come to you to ask for your trust: trust that our nation will rise again, trust that there will be hope again; your firm belief that together, we will be able to restore our trust in our country, the Philippines.]

Humaharap po tayo sa mga matitinding suliranin:
[We face serious problems:]

Bagsak na ekonomiya;
Pagkalat at pagtaas ng mga kaso ng COVID-19 sa buong bansa;
Laganap na korapsyon;
Paghihirap ng mga Pilipino.
[A failed economy; Prevalence and increase of COVID-19 cases nationwide; Widespread corruption; Suffering of Filipinos.]

At gaya ng dati, ang mga ordinaryong tao, ang mga salat sa karangyaan, ang mga dukha, ang mga mahihirap ang nakakaranas ng matinding pagdurusa.
[And as always, the ordinary people, the destitute, the poor, and those who are experiencing great hardships.]

Nguni’t ang mas malubhang problema ay ang kawalan ng pag-asa. Huwag na huwag yan ang mawawala.
[But the more serious problem is the loss of hope. Hope is something we should never ever lose.]

Marami sa atin ay hindi alam kung kanino na magtitiwala, o kung ano ang paniniwalaan.
[Many of us do not know whom to trust, or what to believe anymore.]

Marahil, dumating na tayo sa punto na hindi na natin kayang ipagsawalang bahala na lamang ang mga nangyayari – sa ating gobyerno, sa ekonomiya.
[Perhaps, we have come to the point where we can no longer ignore what is happening – to our government, to our economy.]

Tama na!
Kailangan na nating tumugon!
Kailangan na nating umaksyon!
Kailangan na natin magsanib pwersa upang mapigilan at maitama ang mali.
Ito na ang simula.
[Enough! We need to respond! We need to take action! We need to work together to prevent and correct mistakes. This is the beginning.]

Kami po ay naririto sa inyong harapan dahil sa pagmamahal namin sa ating lupang sinilangan.
[We are here before you because of our love for our native land.]

Dahil naniniwala kami sa inyo, aming mga kababayan;
Dahil ninanais namin na magtanim at magbigay ng pag-asa sa puso at kaisipan ng bawa’t Pilipino;
Dahil alam namin na ito na ang aming huling pagkakataon para gawin ang nararapat upang maisalba ang kinabukasan ng henerasyon ngayon at ng mga susunod pa;
Subali’t higit pa sa aking mga nabanggit, naririto kami dahil kami ay naniniwala na sa ating pagtutulungan, tayo ay magtatagumpay.
[Because we believe in you, our countrymen; Because we want to sow the seeds of hope to the heart and mind of every Filipino; Because we know that this is our last chance to do what is right to save the future of today’s generation and the generations to come. But more than that, we are here because we believe that if we work together, we will succeed.]

Pinapangako namin na hindi kami titigil sa laban na ito hanggang hindi nanunumbalik ang kaayusan ng ating bansa. Pangako iyan!
[We promise that we will not stop this fight until the order of our country is restored. That’s a promise!]

At kapag kami ang nangako, hindi mapapako!
[And when we make a promise, we will never break it!]

Ito po ay hindi tungkol kay Lacson at Sotto. Ito ay tungkol sa inyo!
[This is not about Lacson and Sotto. It’s about you.]

Kayo ang nais naming pagsilbihan. Ang mga nananahimik. Ang mga simple at ordinaryong mamamayan.
Si Senador Lacson at ako ay naririto para sa magandang kinabukasang karapat-dapat para sa inyo.
Sa pamamaraan na hindi dadaan sa korapsyon, bagkus ay pagbuwag ng korapsyon!
Pamamaraan na hindi nandaraya sa batas at kaayusan, bagkus ay nakabatay sa batas at disiplina!
[You are the ones whom we want to serve. The ones who keep mum. The simple and ordinary citizens. Senator Lacson and I are here for the bright future you truly deserve. In a way that will not go through corruption, but will eradicate corruption! In a manner that will not transgress the law and order, but is based on law and discipline!]

Ito ang kadahilanan kaya kami ay nakasentro sa tiwala.
[This is the reason why we are centered on trust.]

Ang isang lipunan ay lalago lamang kung mayroong tiwala:
Tiwala sa kanilang institusyon.
Tiwala sa Hukom.
Tiwala sa Kapulisan.
Tiwala sa gobyerno.
Tiwala sa mga namumuno.
Tiwala sa mga mamamayan. Tiwala sa isa’t-isa.
Hindi tiwali.
[Only when there is trust will a society flourish. Trust in their institutions. Trust in the Judiciary. Trust in the Police. Trust in Government. Trust in the leaders. Trust in citizens. Trust in each other. Not corrupt.]

Ito po ang aming hinahain! Ito ang aming laban!
Ang baguhin ang sistema!
[This is what we are serving. This is our battle: To change the system!]

Kailangan natin ng bansang may pagpapahalaga sa moralidad.
[We need a nation that values ​​morality.]

Pagod na ang taumbayan. Pagod nang mamuhay sa kadiliman – sa buhay na di matanaw ang inaasam na magandang kinabukasan para sa sarili at sa bansa.
[The people are tired of living in darkness – in a life without a vision of a good future they aspire for themselves and for the country.]

Mayroon pong kasabihang, “pinakamadilim bago magbukang liwayway.” Sa tulong at patnubay ng Diyos Ama, ang mahal na Panginoon, at sa sama-sama nating pagsisikap, hindi magtatagal, sisikatan din ng liwanag ang ating minamahal na Pilipinas.
[There is a saying, “it is darkest before dawn.” With the help and guidance of God the Father, our dear Lord, and through our collective efforts, our beloved Philippines will soon see the light.]

Maraming salamat po at Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
[Thank you very much! Long live the Philippines!]

*****