It was a night filled with fun, laughter, singing, and dancing.
This was how the Liberal Party, led by its chairman President Benigno S. Aquino III, celebrated their thanksgiving party held at the LP headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City on Wednesday night.
At 7 p.m., President Aquino, in yellow polo, arrived at the event, which was attended by supporters of administration bets Manuel Roxas II and Vice President-elect Leni Robredo.
Prior to the party, a mass was held at 5 p.m. where several LP members and Cabinet officials were present.
Roxas and Robredo took the stage and expressed gratitude for the continued support of their supporters.
“Alam niyo po noong patapos na ‘yung kampanya, nag-uusap po kami ni Secretary Mar, sabi po namin siguro sawa na kayo sa amin, palagi niyo po kaming napapanood. Pero ngayong gabi po, matabang-mataba po ang aming puso na kahit po tapos na ang eleksyon, ‘yung pagmamahal niyo po sa amin buong-buo pa din,” Robredo said to cheers and applause from the crowd.
“Nakikita po namin ang mga expression ng inyong pagmamahal at suporta sa Facebook, sa Twitter, sa Instagram, maraming-maraming salamat po dahil iyan po ang nagpapalakas ng aming loob,” she added.
“Sa ngalan po ng aking pamilya, siyempre po pati ni Secretary Mar, gusto po naming paabutan kayo ng aming buong-pusong pasasalamat at hindi niyo po kami iniwan sa laban mula noon hanggang ngayon at sana, pati na po sa darating na panahon,” she said.
Robredo’s three daughters, Aika, Tricia and Jillian, were also present at the party.
In his speech, Roxas lauded his supporters for continuously wearing a yellow shirt and flashing the “Laban” sign.
“Itong dilaw, itong ‘Laban’ sign, hindi ko pag-aari, hindi kay Leni, hindi kay Noynoy. Ito ay pag-aari ninyong lahat, ng sambayanang Pilipino,” he said.
“Kaya natutuwa ako na sini-celebrate ninyo ang pagsuot ng dilaw, at ang ‘Laban’ sign dahil ibig sabihin engaged kayo, may malasakit kayo sa ating bansa, sa ating mga kababayan, sa ating mga komunidad, sa ating kapwa. Hindi lang pansarili, hindi lang ako, pero sa lahat,” he added.
President Aquino, meanwhile, showed his gratitude to LP supporters by serenading them.
He joined Roxas and several members of his Cabinet on stage, belting out their favorite videoke songs, among them “Can’t Smile Without You”, “Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko”, “September”, “Buttercup”, and “Always Something There To Remind Me.”
The President also sang “The Impossible Dream”, the signature song of his late father, Ninoy Aquino.
The crowd turned emotional when the song “Bayan Ko” was played.
Among the Cabinet members present were Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Interior Secretary Mel Sarmiento, and former justice secretary, now Senator-elect Leila de Lima. PND (jb)
