Sen. Mar Roxas has confirmed that he will play second fiddle to Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Noynoy Aquino to whom he gave way some weeks back.

In a press conference today, Roxas formally accepted the invitation to be Aquino’s runningmate and made the following remarks:

Maraming maraming salamat po. Magandang tanghali po. Maayong udto ka inyong tanan. Eid dun said, happy holidays to our Muslim brothers. Maraming salamat po.

Salamat Noynoy sa tiwalang pinagkaloob mo sa akin. Salamat sa napakalaking karangalan na maging kasama mo sa paglilingkod sa bayan. Thank you for this opportunity to work with you as we raise the banner of reform. Thank you for the privilege of joining you and all our kababayans in the fight for decency and integrity in public service, and for a government that puts the people’s interest first.

Taos-puso ko pong tinatanggap ang hamon na isulong ang tunay na reporma sa ating bansa.

Taos puso ko pong tinatanggap ang responsibilidad na maging kabalikat ni Noynoy sa kanyang laban para sa pagbabago.

Taos-puso at buong pakumbaba ko pong tinatanggap ang maging katambal ni Noynoy Aquino.

But this fight is not just about Noynoy and me. Its bigger than the two of us. Its bigger than the Liberal Party. Its the bigger than every single one of us. Its about our collective thirst for change. Its about our finally overcoming those who want to continue the tayo-tayo system, the horsetrading, the greed, the self-interest, the transactional politics that has been the biggest roadblock to progress and prosperity for all. Tungkol ito, tungkol ito sa matuwid laban sa baluktot, tungkol ito sa tapat laban tiwali, tungkol ito sa tama laban sa mali.

Noy, you have raised the banner. Ito ang bandila ng reporma at pag-asa. Ito ang maglalagay ng pagkain sa mesa dahil hindi na nanakawin ang pondo ng magsasaka. Ito ang magbibigay ng trabaho sa taumbayan dahil di na kokotongan ang mga namumuhunan. Ito ang magpapaabot-kaya sa gamot, dahil di na makikipagsabwatan sa mga abusadong pharmaceutical companies.

But, but, but my friends, this is going to be a tough battle. We should not lulled into complacency. We are up against forces who will fight tooth and nail, fair and unfair, legal and illegal against us.

Sa kanila yata, tuloy ang ligaya. Sa atin naman, tuloy ang laban.

Kailangan nating isulong ang bandila ni Noy at ng reporma. Mahirap ang laban na ito pero nasa kamay natin ang ating kapalaran. Kung bawat araw, ang bawat isa sa atin ay makahimok ng isa pang kasangga natin, tiyak ang ating tagumpay.

Our opponents will exhaust all avenues in all too win. They have been robbing us for so long and they want to continue robbing us. Pero di tayo papayag na manakaw din nila ang ating pag-asa.

Taglay ni Noynoy ang susi ng pagbabago. Matapat na puso, malasakit sa kapwa, at pinakamahalaga, pagmamahal sa bayan. Buong loob kong isinusulong si Noynoy. I am honored to join him in this field of battle.

To all of us, to all of us here in this hall and all across our great nation, to all of us who are fighting alongside him, make no mistake about it: We will not back down from this fight. Not now, not ever.

The fog of cynicism has been lifted from our hearts. Ngayon, pwede na muling mangarap.

Sama-sama tayo, hindi namin kayo pababayaan, lalaban tayo.

Click here for Aquino’s announcement of his choice of Roxas.