'Tama na!': Sarah Geronimo delivers strong anti-corruption message at UAAP opening
Sarah Geronimo took a stand against corruption during her performance at the opening ceremony of UAAP Season 88.
Taking place at the University of Santo Tomas on Sept. 19, the event ended on a high note with the singer performing her smash hits such as Kilometro, Tala, and Dati-Dati.
Before she belted out Ikot-ikot, the local star drew parallels between the song’s lyrics and corruption in the government amid the ongoing investigations into anomalous flood control projects.
"Parang panloloko sa bansa natin—pinaikot-ikot lang tayo. Tama na!" she said, earning her cheers from the rain-drenched crowd.
After her performance, Geronimo expounded her thoughts on the issues happening in the Philippines in recent weeks.
"'Di naman po lingid sa kalaman natin na napakaraming nangyayaring kabuluhan, kasinungalingan, panloloko na ginagawa sa ating bansa. Let us all be reminded na kayo—I don't want to put the pressure on you, ang ating mga kabataan—kayo ang pag-asa ng ating bansa, ng ating bayan," she told the audience.
"One day, kayo ang magbabago ng bulok na sistema ng bansang ito. Huwag tayo mawalan ng pag-asa, kumapit tayo sa hope at magtiwala, patuloy na magtiwala, na balang araw, mababago din ang bulok na sistema na yan," she added.
She went on to say that she hopes there will come a time when Filipinos no longer have to look for better opportunities abroad.
"Patuloy natin ipagdasal ang ating bansa," she stressed.
Geronimo now joins the growing list of celebrities using their platforms to speak out on political and social issues. Others who have previously denounced corruption include Anne Curtis, Nadine Lustre, Vice Ganda, and more.
The controversy involving the government's flood control projects began in July as the rains triggered massive flooding in the metro.
Hearings at the House of Representatives and the Senate revealed billions of pesos lost to corruption, which prompted the formation of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure that will specifically investigate irregularities in flood control projects in the last 10 years.
On Sept. 11, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon filed criminal complaints against officials of the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office and four private contractors linked to such anomalies.
The government has also frozen the bank accounts of the contractors and DPWH officials with alleged involvement in the issue.