Strong supporters of noted lawyer Tonton Acharon and his party gather in General Santos City. Acharon is running for mayor in General Santos City where he is popular. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Mark Navales)GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 30, 2010) - It was by far the largest and the biggest political gathering seen in General Santos City’s recent history as 20,000 people converged at the Oval Plaza to witness the kick-off rally of the Bagong Gensan Movement (BGM) under the leadership of noted lawyer Tonton Acharon who is seeking to become the next mayor here after the May 10 elections.
The thousands in attendance who came Saturday from General Santos’ 26 barangays cheered, clapped and mustered unity as Acharon, an Ateneo-trained lawyer, and his party, laid in details their platform of government and wish-list as part of a larger cause to bring about change and better management in the city’s governance.
It can be recalled that the critics recently hit the city’s present leadership for its snail-paced approach to the economic and environmental crisis hounding General Santos, in part brought by the lack of alternative ways to help struggling families hit hard by the said crisis.
With his 12 councilors in tow, Acharon could only thank the mammoth crowd who braved the searing heat if only to hear him and the rest of his party mates speak.
Earlier, before the rally Plaza could start, a 300-car motorcade crisscrossed General Santos major thoroughfare with BGM candidates hopping in their respective floats.
“Ang akong vision para sa Gensan mao nga himuon nato nga usa ka world-class, peaceful and prosperous kini atong syiudad sa 2022,” Acharon boldly declared before an enthusiastic crowd, “kay panahon na nga ang magdumala sa Gensan mao mismo ang mga lumad nga mamumuyo sa Gensan,” he added.
Acharon told the crowd that he was born and raised in General Santos and continues to make a living as a lawyer for the poor and the oppressed in the city.
“Dili pareho sa ubang politiko nga ginahimo lamang ang Gensan nga murag ilang extension office kay didto sila namuyo ug gatrabato sa Metro Manila,” Acharon stressed.
Interest in the form of good serviceFor his part, Ronnel Rivera, an Acharon-ally and a candidate for councilman in General Santos, said: “Wala nako huna-hunaa nga ingon niini man diay kadaghan ang mutambong karong hapona. Nagapasabot lang ni nga nagapangayo na ug pag bag-o ang katawhan sa General Santos.”
Members of the Rivera family are known philanthropist in General Santos and own the RD Group of Companies and RD Foundation, which is active in helping the poor.
“Bilang usa ka negosyante, akong utangon ang inyong mga boto,” Rivera said in his speech. “Ayaw kamog kabalaka kay bayaran ug interesan ko kamo ug maayo ug limpyong pangserbisyo,” Rivera professed.
“Ang gipakitang simpatiya sa mga taga suporta sa Bagong Gensan Movement usa ka tin-aw nga indikasyon nga ang mga taga-General Santos gusto nang bag-uhon ang padagan sa pamolitika sa atong syiudad,” Sannie Sombrio asserted.
Sombrio, a former ABS-CBN reporter, is running for a council seat in General Santos under Acharon’s movement, the BGM.
Festive atmosphere
The rally had a festive atmosphere as food and drinking water came in handy brought by the audience themselves.
The different sectors in the city came in full force, including businessmen, representatives from the academe, students and youth organizations, groups from the urban poor organizations, farmers and fisher folk, Muslim and Lumad groups, senior citizens, among others.
The candidates also released balloons and other symbols signaling the dawn of the “new General Santos City.”
Just to hear Tonton speak
“Ako gikan pa sa Fatima. Ako ug akong lima ka anak naa diri karon para lang makakita kang Tonton Acharon,” resident Bebing Flores said, adding, she had to borrow fare to pay for the jeep to bring her and relatives to listen to Acharon speak during the rally.
“Niundang ko ug pamasada pagkakita nako nga nagdasok ang mga tawo sa Oval Plaza. Akong gipaminawan si Tonton Acharon ug akong naangayan ang iyang gipabutyag nga mga plano para sa syiudad nga usa ka pang-gobyerno nga walay ginapili nga klase sa tawong serbisyohan,” a tricycle driver, Arnold Sanchez, said.
Sanchez vowed to vote and campaign as a volunteer for Acharon and his party mates.
Members of Acharon’s Bagong Gensan Movement slate are Engineers Butch Acharon and Rommel Catolico, lawyers Art Cloma, Rafael Montilla, Abraham Nilong, Juliet Cunanan, Domdom Lagare III, Ed Sunga and Alfredo Toroctocon. (Mark Navales contributed to this report)
The thousands in attendance who came Saturday from General Santos’ 26 barangays cheered, clapped and mustered unity as Acharon, an Ateneo-trained lawyer, and his party, laid in details their platform of government and wish-list as part of a larger cause to bring about change and better management in the city’s governance.
It can be recalled that the critics recently hit the city’s present leadership for its snail-paced approach to the economic and environmental crisis hounding General Santos, in part brought by the lack of alternative ways to help struggling families hit hard by the said crisis.
With his 12 councilors in tow, Acharon could only thank the mammoth crowd who braved the searing heat if only to hear him and the rest of his party mates speak.
Earlier, before the rally Plaza could start, a 300-car motorcade crisscrossed General Santos major thoroughfare with BGM candidates hopping in their respective floats.
“Ang akong vision para sa Gensan mao nga himuon nato nga usa ka world-class, peaceful and prosperous kini atong syiudad sa 2022,” Acharon boldly declared before an enthusiastic crowd, “kay panahon na nga ang magdumala sa Gensan mao mismo ang mga lumad nga mamumuyo sa Gensan,” he added.
Acharon told the crowd that he was born and raised in General Santos and continues to make a living as a lawyer for the poor and the oppressed in the city.
“Dili pareho sa ubang politiko nga ginahimo lamang ang Gensan nga murag ilang extension office kay didto sila namuyo ug gatrabato sa Metro Manila,” Acharon stressed.
Interest in the form of good serviceFor his part, Ronnel Rivera, an Acharon-ally and a candidate for councilman in General Santos, said: “Wala nako huna-hunaa nga ingon niini man diay kadaghan ang mutambong karong hapona. Nagapasabot lang ni nga nagapangayo na ug pag bag-o ang katawhan sa General Santos.”
Members of the Rivera family are known philanthropist in General Santos and own the RD Group of Companies and RD Foundation, which is active in helping the poor.
“Bilang usa ka negosyante, akong utangon ang inyong mga boto,” Rivera said in his speech. “Ayaw kamog kabalaka kay bayaran ug interesan ko kamo ug maayo ug limpyong pangserbisyo,” Rivera professed.
“Ang gipakitang simpatiya sa mga taga suporta sa Bagong Gensan Movement usa ka tin-aw nga indikasyon nga ang mga taga-General Santos gusto nang bag-uhon ang padagan sa pamolitika sa atong syiudad,” Sannie Sombrio asserted.
Sombrio, a former ABS-CBN reporter, is running for a council seat in General Santos under Acharon’s movement, the BGM.
Festive atmosphere
The rally had a festive atmosphere as food and drinking water came in handy brought by the audience themselves.
The different sectors in the city came in full force, including businessmen, representatives from the academe, students and youth organizations, groups from the urban poor organizations, farmers and fisher folk, Muslim and Lumad groups, senior citizens, among others.
The candidates also released balloons and other symbols signaling the dawn of the “new General Santos City.”
Just to hear Tonton speak
“Ako gikan pa sa Fatima. Ako ug akong lima ka anak naa diri karon para lang makakita kang Tonton Acharon,” resident Bebing Flores said, adding, she had to borrow fare to pay for the jeep to bring her and relatives to listen to Acharon speak during the rally.
“Niundang ko ug pamasada pagkakita nako nga nagdasok ang mga tawo sa Oval Plaza. Akong gipaminawan si Tonton Acharon ug akong naangayan ang iyang gipabutyag nga mga plano para sa syiudad nga usa ka pang-gobyerno nga walay ginapili nga klase sa tawong serbisyohan,” a tricycle driver, Arnold Sanchez, said.
Sanchez vowed to vote and campaign as a volunteer for Acharon and his party mates.
Members of Acharon’s Bagong Gensan Movement slate are Engineers Butch Acharon and Rommel Catolico, lawyers Art Cloma, Rafael Montilla, Abraham Nilong, Juliet Cunanan, Domdom Lagare III, Ed Sunga and Alfredo Toroctocon. (Mark Navales contributed to this report)
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