NATIONAL leaders and officers of the international fraternity and sorority group Alpha Kappa Rho (AKRHO) formally endorsed the candidacy of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno as the next president of the country.
Dr. Joseph De Guzman, the fraternity’s Luzon Grand Skeptron, led some 300 AKRHO members in expressing their support for the Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate during a gathering held at the Isko Moreno for President Movement Headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.
In his speech, Dr. De Guzman cited some of the reasons why AKRHO is endorsing Moreno: being pious or God-centered person; being patriotic and always looking after the welfare of poor families through the building of housing projects and modern hospitals.
“So, ating President Yorme nakita naman natin sa ating hierarchy of priorities services: ang AKRHO dapat maka-Diyos. Nakita po natin kay Yorme yan, God first. Pangalawa po ang ating priority ay makabayan at ginawa po nya yan sa Maynila. Pangatlo po ay para sa pamilyang Pilipino. Binigyan nya po ang pamilya ng magandang tirahan at ospital sa Maynila,” De Guzman said.
The AKRHO fraternity, which was established in 1973, has about 3 million members nationwide. The fraternity was originally established to promote loyalty, unity, and pride in the fraternity among its members. It is now registered as an International Humanitarian Service Fraternity and Sorority which encourages members to be involved in humanitarian projects and service to others wherever it exists.
Aside from De Guzman, 29 other AKRHO leaders were also present including senatorial candidate Shariff Ibrahim Albani who is running under the Labor Party Philippines; Dr. Edwin Trapal, Luzon treasurer; Sonny Genoviz, Luzon Sergeant-at- Arms; Victor Euqenio, Pasig chairman;; Edu Garcia, Batangas Provincial Council Grand Skeptron, and Bhing Lapeña and Myke Velasquez, both Manila chairmen.
During the program, the AKRHO leaders presented Mayor Isko, being their fraternity brother, a number of souvenir items including a baseball cap and a T-shirt with the colors and symbol of the fraternity. A fiberglass “paddle” was also given to Moreno.
“I would like to thank each and every one of you coming all the way from different parts of the country. Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyo mga kapatid. At maraming salamat din sa mainit ninyong pagtanggap sa akin bilang kasapi ng Alpha Kappa Rho at sa ating mga opisyales na andirito sa inyong harapan. At sana, sana mabasa kayo ng ulan. Dumami tayo,” Moreno said.
Moreno assured AKRHO members that he will see to it that their request to have their own lot for the building of their national headquarters will be realized if he wins the presidency.
“Pero ito para pumanatag na kayo, mukhang matagal nyo ng pangarap eto. Yung nire-request ninyo na magkaroon kayo ng lote man lang na kung saan maitatayo ninyo ang inyong national headquarters, magkaroon na kayo ng tahanan, diba? Manalangin kayo manalo ako yung pangarap nyo matutupad yun,” Moreno said amid the applause and cheering of the AKRHO members.
Moreno continued: “Alam nyo ako, modesty aside, wala akong stiff neck. Lahat ng tumulong sa akin nililingon ko, kayo pa lalo pa, kasama nyo na ako. Mano pa masuklian ko ang kabutihang loob na ibibigay nyo sa akin. Kayo, magsisikap umikot, magsisikap makipag-usap, magsisikap dumami, magsisikap mag-kumbinse, yun naman susuklian ko yun pagdating ng araw pag pinalad tayo. Pumanatag kayo dun sa request ninyo.”
Moreno vowed that if elected president, his administration will pursue a “Life and Livelihood” economic policy that aims to address poverty, hunger, unemployment, inequality and social injustice through an inclusive and equitable infrastructure development program as spelled out under his 10-point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda.
To achieve this, the Moreno administration will continue the Build, Build Build program of President Rodrigo Duterte, with a focus on building more public housing, more public schools, and more public hospitals across the country to create more jobs and opportunities for our people.
“Kaya patuloy tayong makikisuyo, hihingin ang tulong sa lahat man ng ating mga kababayan sa bawat sulok ng ating bansa. Yung pagsisikap ninyo na ipagtagumpay yung laban natin ay susuklian ko naman ng masipag, walang pagod, although nakakapado, but hindi tayo susuko na mapagtagumpayan natin ang laban ng sama-sama,” Moreno said.
“Sa lahat, please extend my regards to each and every member of AKRHO from Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon and the other parts of the world dahil marami rin tayong mga kapatid ng OFWs and immigrant sa buong mundo,” he said.
