Losing candidates use social media to express thanks

Bro. Eddie Villanueva: We did our part. Photo by Ryan Leagogo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Social media served as the platform for expressing thanks to supporters as independent and minor political party candidates practically conceded defeat in the senatorial race.

“To all who voted, supported, believed in and helped me, thank you very much. The counting has not finished yet but thank you just the same for the causes we have begun and shared,” Greco Belgica of the Democratic Party of the Philippines (DPP) said in a statement posted on his Facebook account.

“We still need to join forces more [to build] a better society for the youth. Let us teach God’s principles in governance, a free society, the lowering of taxes, smaller government, tuition vouchers for students. Funds and resources are handled better by the people rather than by the government. Thank you all!” he added.

Belgica’s fellow DPP candidate, Christian Señeres, posted on his Facebook page: “Thanks to those who helped, supported and vote[d for] me. Let us just continue praying for our country.”

On his first status update since Sunday, Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn simply said: “Let us thank God for another day, for the air we breathe, for the sky above us, for the water, land and trees. All in his creation, and all of the millions who believed this is worth protecting and preserving! God bless!”

On Facebook and Twitter, Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas also praised his supporters, saying, “Thank you, my Brave Hearts—my nameless, faceless supporters across the nation whose sacrifices are too costly …. Thanks to all who support God’s agenda and advocacy for the Senate. Before the eyes of God and history, we did our part,” he said.

To supporters disappointed by his loss, Villanueva said, “To all my beloved volunteers/supporters who fought the good fight of Faith, please don’t be discouraged. All things work together for good! Rejoice! When you know that you are fighting for a good cause, there is no defeat for those who are in Christ Jesus. So rejoice forever more!”

On his official Facebook campaign page, Ang Kapatiran Party’s Marwil Llasos was also profuse with gratitude.

“Thank you very much to those who prayed [for], supported and voted [for] me. I will wholeheartedly regard as a debt of gratitude your cooperation. Thank you for joining me and Ang Kapatiran in this fight. We fought in the name of principles. We may not have achieved victory now, but the fight for a better future for our youth continues,” he said.