Loren overwhelmed by rousing reception in Pangasinan

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE LOREN LEGARDA, DESPITE HER CONSISTENTLY HIGH BATTING AVERAGE IN PAST ELECTIONS, WAS STILL OVERWHELMED BY THE ROUSING WELCOME SHE AND THE REST OF THE NACIONALISTA PARTY BETS GOT IN ROSALES, PANGASINAN, ON SATURDAY MORNING.
On landing at the local airfield, Legarda was welcomed by swarms of children who chanted, “Loren, Loren, Loren!”
Thousands of Pangasinan residents, a lot of them women and children, ignored the midday El Nino heat to shake hands, kiss, and even just get a glimpse of the NP slate led by Legarda and running-mate Manny Villar.
The crowd at the Tent City, a temporary shelter for the victims of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, sang and danced to the candidates’ campaign jingles and applauded their speeches.
After the speeches, Legarda bought a whole pail full of ice candy to cool herself as she mingled with the crowd.
“Kahit ganito tayo – walang mga hacienda at malaking pamana – simple at disenteng buhay ang hangad namin para sa mga Pilipino,” she said. “Itataas natin ang antas ng buhay natin at tatapusin ang kahirapan. Ito ang tagumpay na tinamasa namin at ito ang tagumpay na ipapamahagi natin sa ating mga anak.”
[Even if we don’t have large landholdings or an enormous inheritance, we want a simple and decent life for Filipinos. We will lift the quality of our lives and end poverty. This is the success that we achieved and this is the success that we will share with our children.]
Villar and Legarda met with local leaders to discuss the following:
1. Ways to improve tourism and infrastructure, including sea ports and an airport
2. Reforms in regional agricultural, education, and health
Legarda then had breakfast with local leaders before proceeding to a press conference.