Quezon City residents and officials, led by Mayor Joy Belmonte, warmly welcomed senatorial candidate and Makati Mayor Abby Binay during her visit to Quezon City Hall on Monday.

Belmonte encouraged her constituents to support Binay as the top choice for senator, expressing confidence in the Makati mayor’s extensive experience as a lawyer, congresswoman and mayor.

In her message to over 1,500 women participants at the Kababaihan Dance Competition at Quezon City Hall, Binay highlighted the many roles women play, calling them “Superwomen” who can achieve even more than men. She pointed to the challenges faced by women mayors like Belmonte and herself, showing that it is possible to balance both career and family life.

“As women, being mayor is very difficult because, aside from being a mayor, we are also mothers. We are also wives... We still have to buy food when we get home. We need to do the groceries. We need to take care of our husbands,” Binay said in Filipino.

Binay also pledged to advocate for regular salaries for barangay officials and employees, as well as security of tenure for trained barangay health workers.

The Makati mayor was greeted by city officials and approximately 2,000 members of various civil society organizations from Quezon City. She reaffirmed her commitment to providing free maintenance medicines and expanding PhilHealth coverage to include preventive healthcare.

Binay also met with around 1,000 urban farmers, commending the Quezon City Government for its support of urban farming to optimize the city’s agricultural land and strengthen food security.

She reassured the farmers of Makati’s willingness to assist them in any way possible.

“Remember, because we are neighbors, you can always count on us. If you need help, whatever it may be, because we are one family in Metro Manila,” she said.