MANILA, Philippines — Former lawmaker Trisha Bonoan-David seeks to embody a Bible verse as a guiding principle in her leadership if she wins as representative of the City of Manila’s 4th district in the 2025 national and local elections.
She filed her certificate of candidacy on Saturday and is running as an independent candidate.
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“I’m running because of a Bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11, may plano ang Diyos para sa ating lahat,” she told reporters in an interview.
(I’m running because of a Bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11—God has a plan for all of us.)
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“Ang plano niya ang magkaroon tayo ng maunlad na pamumuhay at ayaw niya tayong mahirapan at nagugutom. At sinabi Niya…nais Niya…na tayo ay magkaroon ng pag-asa—punong-puno ng pag-asa—at darating din ang magandang kinabukasan,” she said.
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(His plan is for us to live prosperous lives, and He doesn’t want us to struggle or go hungry. He said… He wants us to have hope—full of hope—and a bright future will come.)
Bonoan-David further said her “mission” is to live by what the Bible verse said through her term.
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“Ang misyon ko ay magbigay ng katotohanan dito sa Bible verse na ito na totoo…totoo na may plano ang Diyos, pero ang plano na ‘yun, mayroong budget, mayroong pondo,” she said, referring to congressional funds.
(My mission is to share the truth in this Bible verse—that it is true… that God has a plan, but that plan comes with a budget and funding.)
She said she plans on utilizing the funds for livelihood, education, and housing projects.
“Imbis sa road projects, give it to the people. The programs will be in accordance with what the Bible says, which is para mapaunlad ‘yung buhay ng tao,” said Bonoan-David.
(Instead of road projects, let’s give it to the people. The programs will align with what the Bible says, which is to improve people’s lives.)
Bonoan-David served in Congress from 2007 to 2016 and as councilor from 1998 to 2007.