Coco Martin, famously known as Cardo Dalisay on-screen, is making rounds all over as he debuts his endorsement not of the partylist with the same name as his show, but of a new party-list – AP Partylist #AkoyPilipino on Friday, February 25.
“Anuman ang hirap na ating pinagdadaanan, may kakampi na tayo…” Martin introduced his new party-list group with first nominee Rep. Ronnie Ong in-action in the background in the partylist’s video now circulating online. He continues, “Ang AP Partylist ang tutulong magbigay ng trabaho at kabuhayan sa mga manggagawang Pilipino.”
Rep. Ronnie Ong is Coco Martin’s long-time friend and is nicknamed by PeopleAsia as the “frontliner Congressman.” Ong is known for his various out-of-the-box COVID-19 Bayanihan projects since the first lockdown, such as his #LibrengSakay program for healthworkers, #LibrengGulay program for community kitchens, #LibrengTablets and E-skwela Hub e-learning centers for students and teachers.
Before the pandemic, Ong also supported senior citizens looking for employment through his Tulong Pangkabuhayan program, deploying various able-bodied and willing-to-work seniors at airports, public universities and government agencies. During the pandemic, he also helped out-of-work transport workers such as UV Express or FX drivers by employing them as #LibrengSakay drivers, as well as some laid-off ABS-CBN employees who found alternative work as contact tracers.
More than just Coco Martin, the all-star cast of Ang Probinsyano forming the famed “Task Force Agila,” has also expressed their support for AP Partylist on their social media pages, sharing the various advocacies of AP Partylist closest to them. “Mula po noong umpisa nakasama na namin si Cong. Ronnie, at kita namin na nagtrabaho talaga siya, naglingkod talaga siya. Kaya ngayon, ang #164 AP Partylist na kasama siya ang sinusuportahan na namin. Sana po ay suportahan niyo rin,” Coco Martin said.
Aside from the endorsement video, AP Partylist also collaborated with OPM artists Bassilyo, Sisa and Smugglaz with their “Ako’y Pilipino,” anthem that sings of the pride, perseverance, and hardwork of Filipinos. They sing, “Ikaw ay magtiwala, magtiwalang may magagawa. Ito na ang panahon, ang tamang pagkakataon, sa bawat daing mo’y magtutugon. Ako’y Pilipinong lumalaban, tumatapang, lalo kung nasusugatan, anumang pagsubok ang daanan, haharapin nang may kagitingan. Itaas mo ang noo, isigaw mo sa buong mundo, ako’y Pilipino.” Both videos are available on Youtube and on AP Party-list’s official social media pages.
Coco Martin calls on the audience to join him on his new journey with his new partylist, “Dito na tayo sa biyaheng aasenso ang lahat ng Pilipino… AP Partylist #AkoyPilipino, number 164 sa balota.”