The award-winning Kapamilya and theater actor urges the Filipino voters to examine their qualifications in choosing their leader[s].
“Tayong lahat po ang pinakamakapangyarihan sa darating na eleksyon sa Mayo. Tayo po ang pinakamakapangyarihan sapagkat tayo ang maglalagay ng taong maglilingkod sa atin (We are the most powerful in the coming May election. We are the most powerfu,l for we are the ones who will put the right servant leaders in position),” John Arcilla exhorted the audience of the recently concluded birthday-People’s Rally of TROPAng Angat led by VP Leni Robredo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan.
Arcilla, whom fans are fond to address as ‘Heneral’, may not be the center of attraction during the historic Leni-Kiko sortie, but the words he uttered that night, are sure to last longer than any other guest who set foot on the stage. The multi-awarded dramatic actor, commanded the attention of 420,000 Kakampinks when he delivered an impassioned speech and articulated why the Filipino people should vote for Leni Robredo as President and Kiko Pangilinan as Vice President.
He opened his rousing speech by asking the crowd to choose: “Bayan, pumili ka! (Philippines, choose!,” he said after citing pairs of opposing qualities of a leader.
The actor amusingly did not make his appeal all about Robredo, as he pounded more on the Filipino people’s responsibility and power to elect the right leaders.
“Ang pagpuna ay ating tungkulin bilang nagbabayad ng buwis. Ang pagpuna sa Gobyerno ay hindi pagrerebelde o hindi pagrereklamo. Ang pagpuna sa Gobyerno ay pagmamahal at bahagi ng ating karapatan bilang mamamayang Pilipino (It is our rights to criticize politicians, as we all pay our taxes. Calling out the government is not a form of revolt nor protest. It is merely our expression of love and part of our duty as Filipino citizens).
“Lagi nating tinatanong, ‘bakit ba bayan na lamang lagi ang mauuna? Bakit hindi ang aking pamilya?’ Pag pinili mo ang bayan, kasama na doon ang iyong pamilya, kasama na roon ang iyong sarili, sapagkat pag ang bayan natin ay umunlad, uunlad tayong lahat. Pag ang bayan natin ay bumagsak, babagsak tayong lahat (We always wonder: why is it necessary to [ut the nation first. Why is it not our family? When you choose your country first, you are also choosing your family, yourself…because when a country thrives, we also thrive. When our country falls, all of us also do) he warned.
On twitter, Arcilla’s fervent words sent waves of emotion and inspiration, with many netizens commenting on how powerful his delivery was.
Richard Bolisay has these words to say: “Still can’t get over. I know there are only a few weeks left, but Team Angat should get John Arcilla to speak in all the remaining rallies. Every second of his speech…nothing wasted.”
https://twitter.com/richardbolisay/status/1517845481246044160
Jake Ejercito, a Leni-Kiko people’s rally regular, posted a brief one-liner, that seems to sum up his admiration for the actor’s emotional speech. “The John Arcilla. That’s the tweet”
The John Arcilla. That’s the tweet#PasayIsPink #ArawNa10To
— jake ejercito (@unoemilio) April 23, 2022
Borahae, meanwhile, pleaded to his fellow Kakampinks to make the actor’s speech go viral.
”John Arcilla’s speech is very poignant. Heneral Luna ka nga!!! Lets make his speech viral Kakampinks!” his caption reads.
https://twitter.com/alliswellguys/status/1517836164870279168
The amount of respect and attention Arcilla has earned that night may not be surprising. His eloquence got fervor that any political candidate will probably die to have his public speaking skill.
He may not be the only speaker who sure made a mark that night, but there is no doubt that what he imparted to the crowd will linger for a longer time.
