Manilans hail Razon's bid for change

MANILA, Philippines - The genuine alternative change being espoused by former PNP chief and Manila mayoralty bet Sonny Razon has gained wide acceptance and support among many Manileños, especially the poor, as evidenced by the warm welcome that he received while campaigning in various parts of the city since Friday, the first day of the official 45-day campaign period for local candidates.

Razon’s speech at the proclamation rally of his team Friday night at the Plaza Moriones in Tondo was interrupted several times by applause from an estimated crowd of about 10,000 who turned up during the event. The audience erupted in cheers as Razon wound up his speech by declaring “alternatibong pagbabago para sa Manilenyo, ngayon na!” (alternative change for Manilans, now!), after lambasting how the city government for the past 18 years seemed to have become insensitive to the plight of the city’s residents, especially the poor.

Over the past several months, Razon’s assertion that Manileños should be empowered by recognizing their right to be actively involved in determining the path their city would take and participate in running the city government has resonated with a growing number of the city’s residents, especially the poor, who feel that their voices are not being heard.

The discontent over how the city government is being run, which has been lying below the surface, is now openly expressed by those who have grown tired of enduring what they feel is the seeming inability of successive administrations to provide efficient and effective basic services.

Interviewed after the proclamation rally, Razon said that he has observed such discontent when he started going to various parts of the city. “When i started going around, people were reluctant to openly voice out their complaints but have become increasingly vocal especially after hearing our take on the current dismal condition of the cityand our advocacy for genuine alternative change.”