Aquino is first presidential bet to visit Batanes

When Liberal Party standard-bearer, Senator Benigno Aquino III, set foot on this northernmost Luzon province on Saturday, 76-year-old resident Aurora Ponce felt that the Ivatans were important.

"This was the first time that a presidential candidate visited the province during the campaign period," said Ponce, who joined those who welcomed Aquino and his running mate, Senator Manuel Roxas II, at the Basco Airport and later at the Aquino grandstand in this capital town.

It was exactly 21 years ago, on April 24, 1989, when Aquino's mother, the late former President Corazon Aquino, visited Batanes when she switched on electric power in the island province.

"With only 10,000 voters, a candidate can just skip the province and concentrate on campaigning in the big cities and provinces. But they gave importance to our province, which shows that Noynoy and Mar are sincere in reaching out even to the smallest province in the country," said Ponce.

Asked by the Inquirer if she would vote for Aquino and Roxas, she said: "With all my heart, yes. A dot on top of the map of the Philippines (referring to Batanes) represents a crown, which means Noynoy and Mar will become the next leaders in our country."

Older Ivatans observed that Aquino stood on the same spot where his mother stood at the Aquino grandstand when she addressed them 21 years ago.

Malou Cayco, president of the Batanes Chamber of Commerce, said the visit showed that Aquino and Roxas were sincere about the plight of Ivatans.

"Malaking bagay sa ating mga Ivatan ang pagpunta nila dito dahil nakita at naramdaman natin na sincere sila sa kanilang sinasabi dahil kahit maliit lang ang boto na makukuha niya dito, pinuntahan tayo (This visit is important for us, Ivatans, because we saw and felt their sincerity even though the province can deliver only a few votes)," she said.

Aquino told his audience how much his mother loved the Ivatans.

He related an incident when his mother bought damaged garlic grown by Ivatans because she wanted to help them.

He said despite his hectic campaign schedule, he made sure to reach the farthest province in Northern Luzon because he wanted to thank the Ivatans.