SENATOR Miriam Defensor-Santiago, presidential candidate of People’s Reform Party, got mobbed by thousands of her supporters, mostly students and young people, during her campus visit Friday at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R) in Bacolod City. When Santiago entered the university’s gymnasium, everybody chanted “Miriam! Miriam! Miriam!” The cheering crowd then stood on their chairs to catch a glimpse of the senator, some went to her to take a selfie, as she was heavily escorted to the stage. The crowd went on to cheer the presidential aspirant while she was being introduced, and her background, credentials, and academic excellence were read on stage. She wowed the young audience with her pick-up lines and witty remarks, which was answered by a cheer, “si Miriam ang sagot! Si Miriam ang sagot! (Miriam is the answer! Miriam is the answer!)” In her speech, she warned her opponents that she is the choice of the youth and that there will be a revolution if there is cheating in the elections. Santiago said she can’t promise she can prevent the youth from protesting, just like in 1992 when she was cheated (in the presidential race), she added. “I cannot promise that I will be able to prevent our youth volunteers from taking to the streets and demanding for justice,” she said. At the end of Santiago’s speech, the young audience went wild after they were called on stage for a photo opportunity. UNO-R is the 10th stop of her campus tour since the campaign period started in February. Santiago, in an ambush interview, said that the crowd in Bacolod City is “very overwhelming.” Should she win, the senator vowed that both Negros and Panay will be first in her priority for infrastructure and agriculture projects. (with reports from MPE, Sun star Bacolod)
The event was co-sponsored by the UNOR Supreme Student Government and the Office of the UNO-R External Affairs. The emcees during the program were SSG Senators Carmen Jesusa Legaspi and Krisha Marie Clauor.