Manila’s mayoral hopeful Sam Verzosa officially kicks off his campaign
Sam Verzosa has moved from the boardroom to the city streets, seeking to translate his business success into political influence as a candidate for Manila’s mayoral position. The transition raises the question: how does a chief executive officer prepare for the demanding nature of a political campaign?
“I believe my entire life has been a preparation by God. Everything that has happened in my life, I think, He has prepared me for this. For this day, this fight, my current abilities, the Lord has prepared me, I believe this is my destiny,” states Sam Verzosa in a mix of Tagalog and English at his campaign rally kickoff. Even prior to his political aspirations, Verzosa established a history of public assistance through his corporate endeavors and philanthropic foundation. Having experienced hardship, he prioritizes community support, garnering a base of devoted advocates who support his goals for Manila City residents.
The Campaign’s Reality
Regarding the nature of his current campaign against experienced former Manila City Mayors, Verzosa offers a view on his campaign. “Now, the race is very close, especially the real surveys, which you can see in the daily visits I make in Manila, where thousands of people attend, live, unedited. It’s all raw, live. From the moment I walk from the back to the front, there are so many people, a commotion even. Thousands, genuine. My speech, you don’t just hear it; you feel it. That’s what I want to show my fellow citizens, my authenticity, my sincerity to them. And hopefully, in the nearly ten months of touring Manila, I have met many people, talked to many, and many have heard and felt my message of hope and change.”
Plans for Manila City
Verzosa outlines his principal objectives should he be elected. “Our initial focus will be on health, and secondly, on the education of our youth, as poverty is a significant problem. These issues stem from poverty, preventing access to medical care and education, coupled with unemployment. It’s a chain reaction. If you ask me, what is the core problem? It is poverty. So, what’s the answer to alleviate poverty? I will concentrate on the three ‘K’s’. These three ‘K’s’ allowed me to escape my own poverty. That is Health (Kalusugan), Knowledge or Education (Kaalaman), and Livelihood (Kabuhayan). If I can provide them with these three, they will possess the tools to improve their own situations.” He then goes on to state. “If we fail to address the root cause of the problem, which is poverty, we will fail to solve it. We cannot apply band-aid solutions; we must address the root problem. Once we empower our constituents with the three ‘K’s,’ we can put an end to or at least minimize poverty in Manila.”
