Wrapping up a viciously fought presidential contest, survey front-runner Benigno Aquino III Sunday appealed to Filipinos to guard their votes, Nacionalista Party candidate Manny Villar vowed to make the “biggest comeback in history,” while former President Joseph Estrada narrowed the battle down to a fight between the “Erap Magic vs Cory Magic.”
Former Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. skipped making political statements, telling the media after hearing Mass on a Sunday that fell on Mother’s Day that he went to church to give thanks to all mothers.
Leading his rivals by at least 22 percentage points in the last survey by Social Weather Stations, Aquino, the Liberal Party candidate, expressed confidence of victory on the eve of the first automated national elections in the Philippines.
The lone son of martyred opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and the late former President Corazon Aquino mused that he would likely be the last of his generation in the family to seek public office.
“None of my sisters will probably run for any public office. The next generation, perhaps,” Noynoy Aquino said in an interview prior to his self-imposed isolation from media due to security reasons.
Aquino has four sisters—Ballsy, Pinky, Viel, and Kris. Only Kris has hinted about jumping into politics after building a name in show biz.
Be vigilant
Aquino speculated that it could be next to impossible to beat him, considering that his advantage in the surveys would translate to more than 8 million votes, assuming an 80 percent voters’ turnout.
“Where will they get the 8 million votes? If the people will be allowed to vote and their votes are counted properly I think I will win. But I have to correct that, I think the Filipino people will win,” he said.
But Aquino remained wary of being robbed of a victory and called on voters to remain vigilant.
Aquino ended his campaign where he began it, in his home province of Tarlac, where he will vote.
Manny’s pledge
Villar said he would leave his fate up to the 50 million voters whose support he had vigorously courted for 90 days. He said he did not even plan to monitor Monday’s events, leaving the task up to his staff and supporters.
He pledged to make the “biggest comeback in Philippine history.”
“Nobody knows what is on the minds of the Filipino voters. We can’t do anything else except to wait for the results,” Villar told reporters while visiting his 86-year-old mother at her Las Piñas City house on Mother’s Day.
Villar will vote at 10 a.m. at BF Resort Village in Las Piñas. He said he would spend the rest of the day with his family.
The former Senate president took it easy on the eve of the elections. He attended Mass with his wife, Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Aguilar-Villar, and their children at their parish church.
As Villar made his way out of the church, shaking hands with churchgoers, the Las Piñas band Banda San Jose struck up “Mabuhay ang Pangulo,” a marching hymn normally played for the nation’s President.
“Actually, I didn’t pray about the elections. What I prayed for was for my mother’s health,” Villar said. Villar’s mother is blind and wheelchair-bound.
Described in the media as the biggest spender during the campaign, Villar said whatever amount he poured into his presidential bid was well spent because it was in pursuit of a dream.
“The important thing is you had a dream. I offered myself and it’s up to the people. I’ve given it my best shot and I’ve done my best,” he said.
However, despite his rigorous campaign, “one thing is very clear, it’s difficult if you’re up against a (television) station,” he said.
“I see myself as a victim of the media. Now, look at them (his opponents). They’ve also spent a lot … (But) they are focused on me,” Villar said.
Almost gave up
Estrada has the presidential contest all figured out. To his mind, it will be “Erap Magic vs Cory Magic.”
Estrada said he was expecting a “neck-and-neck” battle with Aquino who, he claimed, was a survey front-runner “only because of the ‘Cory Magic.’”
“Before, he was not even being considered for vice president,” he told the Inquirer.
Estrada admitted that about two weeks ago, he almost considered quitting the race because of surveys supposedly placing him behind Aquino and Villar.
“I was really at a lost. I thought I’d give up,” he said, citing also the Iglesia ni Cristo sect’s endorsement of Aquino.
But he said all changed when Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile came out with a commissioned survey showing him leading the presidential derby. He said he was also encouraged by other surveys showing him at second place.
If defeated, he said he would not be bitter. “As long as it’s a clean and honest election, no problem with me.”
A tribute to mothers
Teodoro, of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, heard a thanksgiving Mass at St. Alphonsus Marie de Liguori Church in Magallanes, Makati City.
“I’m here to give thanks especially to our mothers,” said Teodoro, who had kept his campaign free of mudslinging up to the last day of the election season.
Teodoro spent Sunday with his family, away from the prying eyes of the media.
“I will just take a rest and have a quiet time … all the things that have to be said have already been said,” he told reporters. “But I will have many things to say after the elections,” he added, with a smile.
In his signature green-striped polo and denim jeans, Teodoro was accompanied by his wife, Tarlac Rep. Monica “Nikki” Prieto-Teodoro, and their son Jaime.
Almost 200 supporters—mostly belonging to the well-heeled group—showed up, bearing green candles which they lit up in the end while saying a prayer for the victory of their man.
Teary-eyed Gordon
In Olongapo City, Sen. Richard Gordon’s voice cracked and tears fell from his eyes when he spoke before some 6,000 people in his final campaign rally on Saturday night.
Gordon, of Bagumbayan party, said he was not afraid of losing in the presidential race and that he was praying that the people—by choosing the right candidates—would not lose in Monday’s elections.
In an interview, he lamented that this year’s election campaign failed to make people think. “I grieve for the people. They were not given the correct information. The people did not become any wiser in this election.”
Jamby’s miracles
Independent presidential candidate Sen. Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal told the Inquirer she had been fasting and praying hard for “twin miracles.” She was referring to “very clean and honest elections” and winning the presidential race.
She said she had other personal wishes: “May the Divine Light guide us in choosing our next president.”
Madrigal is casting her vote at St. Paul University on Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City.
Perlas’ call
Before a crowd of 200 at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, independent candidate Nicanor Perlas ended his campaign on Saturday with a call on Filipinos to make May 10 an occasion to “change Philippine society.”
Not once did Perlas, a tail-ender in most surveys, ask the crowd for their vote. Instead, he asked them to use the power of democracy to make the elections historic. “Let’s bring back the government to the people,” he said.
Then, as though to acknowledge perceptions that he stood no chance of winning, Perlas said the road doesn’t end after May 10. “Our revolution has not ended, as long as we do not lose heart,” he said.
On the eve of election day, Ang Kapatiran Party candidate John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes refused to accept criticisms that mere ideas do not ensure victory and that the party’s crusade for “principled politics” should be pursued in a field other than the ballot.
“We are definitely idealistic … The highest form of realism is and will always be idealism,” De los Reyes said in a text message from Olongapo, where he will vote.
“I waged this campaign with men and women who may have not been winnable from the very start if traditional politics is the gauge … But they are definitely worthy and honorable,” he said.
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