Antique unites in grand kick-off rally for Congressman AA Legarda’s reelection bid

In a powerful show of unity and support, Antiqueños gathered for the grand kick-off rally of Congressman Antonio Agapito “AA” Legarda as he officially launched his reelection campaign for a second term as Representative of the Lone District of the Province of Antique. Themed “Serbisyo Diretso sa Tawo”, the back-to-back events in Pandan and Patnongon drew supporters and leaders from all over the province.

The event saw the full backing of local leaders at the barangay, municipal, provincial, and regional levels, signaling the broad-based support behind Congressman Legarda’s continued representation of Antique. Also gracing the event was four-term Senator Loren Legarda, who expressed a strong endorsement of her brother’s candidacy and reaffirmed the Legarda family’s longstanding commitment to public service.

“Cong. AA’s first term speaks for itself. Together, we’ve secured historic projects that have transformed Antique’s landscape: major roads, bridges, hospitals, health centers, schools, and livelihood centers. These are not promises, these are realities Antiqueños can see, use, and benefit from every single day,” Senator Legarda said. “But beyond these, I have seen AA’s heart for service as he focuses on education, livelihood, healthcare, and programs that reach even our most remote barangays. This is the kind of leadership Antique deserves, and this is the leadership we must continue.”

For his part, Congressman AA Legarda vowed to continue delivering tangible results anchored on the values of “Serbisyo Diretso sa Tawo,” a brand of public service the Antiqueños have come to know in his first term.

“Our next mission is clear, and that is to ensure every Antiqueño feels the gains of progress. We will expand the programs that we have started, strengthen livelihood projects, and most importantly, reach our farthest communities,” Congressman Legarda declared.

The Legarda siblings have pushed for transformative infrastructure projects in the province, notable of which are the near-completion of the new Antique Airport in San Jose de Buenavista, the Antique Convention Center, and critical infrastructure like the Paliwan and Nasuli-Vilvar Bridges. Strategic road projects, such as the Pandan Ecotourism Road and Panay East-West Road, have significantly enhanced provincial connectivity and tourism potential.

Equally important, the Legarda siblings have prioritized social infrastructure to expand access to livelihood and skills training, leading initiatives such as the establishment of Food Terminal Projects in Pandan, San Jose, and Sibalom, developing public amenities across municipalities, restoring historic Gabaldon buildings, building an esplanade in San Jose, and establishing TESDA training centers province-wide.

Investments in youth development, sports, and tourism have gained strong momentum under Congressman Legarda’s leadership. Key facilities such as a swimming pool, track oval, and padel courts in Tibiao and Sibalom have been established, complemented by the province-wide distribution of modern sports equipment to support grassroots athletics. The Antique Athletic League Seasons 1 and 2, featuring province-wide basketball and other sports tournaments, have further energized local communities and provided a platform for young athletes to showcase their talents. At the same time, initiatives like the Advocacy Trail Run and Kruhay! Dive Fest 2024 have helped position Antique as a rising destination for outdoor adventure and marine tourism, with new dive sites being explored and promoted. To ensure sustainable and inclusive growth, capacity-building programs for local tourism workers have also been rolled out, equipping communities with vital skills in tour guiding, marketing, and heritage conservation.

The rally’s underlying narrative centers on the Legarda siblings working in tandem to bring national government resources directly to the people of Antique, especially its most marginalized communities. As the campaign season officially kicks off, Congressman AA Legarda vows to build on this momentum, championing a brand of leadership rooted in action, accessibility, and results, proving once again that in Antique, public service runs deep in the Legarda legacy. (30)