Filipinos from all over the world will be glued to their television screens and online as the highly anticipated second leg of the Presidential debates 2016 will take place live from the University of the Philippines- Cebu Campus on Sunday March 20.
Unlike the first leg in Mindanao, the “Cebu-face-off” will only feature the four presidential candidates namely Vice President Jejomar Binay, Liberal Party’s Mar Roxas, Senators Grace Poe and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago meanwhile, has to go a medical treatment to treat her cancer, thus, can’t attend the debate.
Before we see them speak again to prove themselves worthy of being the president of the country, let us have a throwback in their powerful statements from the first leg of #PilipinasDebates2016. Here are the top ten.
1. On womanizing.
“Kung hiwalay ka sa asawa, anong gawin mo sa sarili mo? E, anong gawin ko karga-karga ko, hindi ko mapagbili ito, hindi ko masangla, e. Gamitin mo dapat kundi mamatay ka.”
2. On being a bad example for the youth.
“Lahat naman ito sa kuwarto yan. You don’t front it on public. And I said if you have to do it, I said I’m separated from my wife, yung isang asawa nasa Amerika, yung nurse. So far and wide in between those years… It’s biology, actually it is biology.”
3. On Roxas accusations of neglecting the victims of Yolanda.
“E siya, nasaan ho siya? Pagkatapos ho nung lumindol, at mangyari yung sa Leyte, nawala na ho siya, kaya naman ho grabe ang galit sa kanya ng mga taga-Leyte, dahil ho sa kapalpakan niya sa problema ni Yolanda.”
4. On why he does not want to limit politicial dynasties.
“Bakit naman ho magkakaroon ng batas para pagbawalan yung gustong magtrabaho? Qualified naman at mahahalal sa isang malinis at marangal na halalan. Hindi naman ho guarantee na porke kamag-anak e mananalo. Ang Maynila tadtad ng anak, asawa, lahat ho natatalo.”
5. On Poe’s qualifications.
“Ang pagiging Pangulo ay hindi OJT. Kinabukasan, buhay, kaunlaran ng isandaang milyong Pilipino ang nakasalalay dito. Kaya may tamang panahon para sa lahat. Para sa akin, yung karanasan ay isa sa pinakamahalagang katangian para sa pagiging Pangulo.”
6. On calling out Binay for allegedly lying about Makati’s progress.
“Nabanggit ni Vice President Binay ang Makati. Hindi ba ang totoo, dalawa ang Makati? Makati ng mga Ayala na maunlad, maraming trabaho, at Makati ng mga Binay na mahirap pa rin. Comembo, Rembo. Nandiyan pa rin ang mga mahihirap.”
7. On her belief that being new to government is a positive quality.
“Siguro napapanahon na para magkaroon ng bagong perspektibo. Marami diyan ang namuno na noon bilang Pangulo, o matagal na sila sa gobyerno. Marahil hindi na sila nag-iisip ng ibang paraan para makatulong sa ating bayan at sa ating ekonomiya.”
8. On her advice to Duterte to act respectable around women.
“Kahit na papano sa tingin ko, kung ikaw ay malakas ang appeal sa mga babae, konting pigil sapagkat siyempre malay mo yung mga lumalapit may asawa, may boyfriend o kung ano pa man. Sa mata ng bata, ang mali ay nagiging tama kung ginagawa ng matanda.”
9. On her desire to serve the country until her last breath.
“My only purpose is to serve out the rest of my life. I’m only 70 years old. Plus six-year term as President, I would have served my country until 76. I do not want to spend the next six years lying in bed, feeling sorry for myself.”
10. On downplaying the platforms of the other candidates.
“As I said, these are all promises way up in the sky. Promises in the sky is a program of government of many officials running for public office. Saan natin kukunin ang pera? Yung ang tinatanong ko, saan? Sinong magbibigay, magdo-donate? Mga mayayaman ba? Dadagdagan natin dahil sa mayaman sila? Malaking problema yang where to source the funds.”