Akbayan Partylist officially launched its 90-day election campaign today (Feb. 11), assuring voters that it will work for the welfare of the Filipino people and advocate for equal protection of the law
“Para maging patas ang batas, dapat tapat ang ating mambabatas. Kami sa Akbayan Partylist, siguradong matapat, at siguradong babantayan namin at isusulong ang inyong kapakanan,” Akbayan First Nominee, Atty. Chel Diokno, assured supporters during the launch.
Diokno pointed out that the public is at the losing end of the ongoing rift between the country’s top officials, leaving the people with nowhere to turn.
“Naisantabi na ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipino dahil sa kanilang bangayan. Dehado na naman ang taumbayan,” he said, adding that the Filipinos’ welfare has been put on the backburner with the 2025 national budget prioritizing programs for political allies rather than providing adequate funds for education, health, and other vital social services.
Diokno was joined by Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña. The launch, held at UP Diliman, started off with a Zumba exercise led by “working nanays” from various Quezon City communities, urging voters to exercise their right to vote for candidates committed to progressive reforms.
Cendaña echoed this, vowing to reignite the “Filipino spirit” that energized millions in the 2022 elections.
“Ang kampanya natin ay pagpapatuloy ng mga laban natin noong nakaraang halalan at sa Kongreso nitong mga nakaraang buwan. We will reignite that spirit; we will amplify its energy, embrace more voices, and paint this election with even more vibrant colors as we win big for the people,” Cendaña said.
Akbayan’s campaign, anchored on the theme ”‘Pag Mahal Mo, Akbayan Mo,” highlights the importance of solidarity and collective action as ultimate expressions of love for the country and. The Filipino people.
After the event, Akbayan’s first and second nominees attended a mass at the UP Parish Church alongside former Vice President Leni Robredo, Akbayan Sen. Risa Hontiveros, senatorial candidates Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, and former Sen. Leila De Lima. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to fight for a just and democratic Philippines.
Later today, Hontiveros and Diokno will go house-to-house in Tondo, Manila, while Cendaña will lead a similar campaign in Quezon City. They are also expected to attend the opposition rally in Cavite, headlined by Pangilinan and Aquino.
Beyond Metro Manila, Akbayan also held kick-off events in Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Cebu, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Zamboanga. In Zamboanga, Akbayan’s third nominee, Dadah Kiram Ismula, led a fluvial parade joined by Moro and Indigenous communities, marking the campaign launch with a vibrant display of unity and cultural pride.