As singer April Boy Regino belted out a ballad onstage, Humperdinck Fausto, a teenager who had found a foothold in the audience of 200,000, could not hold back his tears.
But it was not the heartbreaking song that made him weep. Rather, it was a sense of self-pity that overtook him amid the festivities of a concert-rally staged by a billionaire candidate in the May presidential election.
Fausto said he went to the open-air show hoping to receive financial help from Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar, who brought his cash-rich machinery here along with a bevy of entertainers on Sunday night.
Like many spectators who came, Fausto, 17, really wanted to see if the Villar ads were true.
“He said in the commercials that he was pro-poor, that he himself will end our poverty. That’s why all of us here are counting on him to help us one way or another,” he said in Filipino, his voice practically drowned by Regino’s singing.
But Fausto, who said he needed money for his father’s kidney stones, apparently could not wait till Villar gets elected. “We came here hoping to get some cash or any form of assistance,” he said.
When he heard that the NP stalwart was coming to town, Fausto feverishly raised P300 for the round-trip fare from Talugtog town to Cabanatuan by doing errands for a neighbor, like sewing curtains and carrying sacks of rice.
Fausto arrived around noon on a vast field inside the Kapitan Pepe Subdivision where the concert was to be held, and positioned himself near a dirt road where the convoy of the NP candidates would pass, some 50 meters from the stage.
Medical prescriptions
Fausto was not alone. Right next to him, several others jockeyed for the best line of sight, some brandishing medical prescriptions to better make their case when they meet the candidates.
Sarah de la Cruz brought along her daughter Tara Mae who was suffering from primary complex, a respiratory condition. She said she would personally ask Villar to help her with the little girl’s medication.
Lorna Pridella, 50, said she also came because her teenage daughter needed to undergo surgery for a congenital defect.
Others with similar medical concerns wondered if the Inquirer could list down their names, thinking the list would somehow reach Villar.
Teary-eyed, Tessie Rosales said she needed medication after her appendectomy and hoped “President Manny Villar” would be able to help her.
Told that many in the crowd have gone to the concert not really to enjoy the show but to seek his help, Villar said: “Pwede rin. Kasama na rin yan (It’s OK, that’s part of the affair.)
“The poor are really like that,” Villar said in Filipino. “When you are offering them help, they really like you for it.”
Willie’s show
“We are not just poor (as a country). We are poorly managed,” the candidate added.
Villar, his running mate Sen. Loren Legarda and the NP’s senatorial candidates graced “Wowowillie Meets Rockatropa,” a concert top-billed by TV game show host and Villar celebrity endorser Willie Revillame.
The show also featured rapper Andrew E, singer Randy Santiago, actor John Estrada, Wowowie dancers and various bands.
Held in a 4-hectare estate near City Hall, the show was also advertised as a “homecoming” of sorts for Revillame, who was born in Nueva Ecija.
Similar concerts have been staged to spice up Villar’s political rallies in Calamba, Laguna, and in Mandaue City.
The Cabanatuan audience on Sunday included not only Nueva Ecija residents but also groups from the neighboring provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Aurora, Pangasinan, Isabela and Cagayan.
‘200,000’ in attendance
Supt. Manuel Cornel of the Nueva Ecija police, the designated ground commander, placed the size of the crowd at 200,000.
Revillame would later report the huge attendance on his TV show on Monday.
Villar and the other members of NP ticket were given 10 minutes each to speak onstage. They included senatorial candidates Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, Gwen Pimentel, Susan “Toots” Ople, Ferdinand “ Marcos Jr., Adel Tamano, Gilbert Remulla and Martin Loon, who spoke on behalf of his detained stepfather, Col. Ariel Querubin.
The candidates later helped give away Revillame merchandise to the audience, like T-shirts, jackets and a fragrance named after the TV host.
After his speech, Villar played along and lip-synched a Revillame song, “Ikaw Na Nga.”
Showing posts with label Campaign Period. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Campaign Period. Show all posts
Monday, March 15, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Transformer Gordon Bayani Campaign in Cavite
Sen. Richard Gordon Tuesday retraced the steps of his great-grandfather at the start of his campaign for president in the May 10 election, hoping to replicate his ancestor’s heroism in the war against Spain in 1896.
Gordon and his running mate Bayani Fernando took a three-hour trip around Cavite province in a 10-wheel truck designed to look like “Optimus Prime” of movies where the vehicle is turned into a robot that becomes a “Transformer,” the term used to describe the candidates.
The 100-vehicle convoy of the Bagumbayan party included a cement mixer and ambulances of the Philippine National Red Cross to show the incarnations of Gordon as Olongapo City mayor, administrator of Subic Bay Freeport and Red Cross chief, and Fernando as Marikina City mayor and chair of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
It set off from a gasoline station along the Southern Luzon Expressway where Gordon, who was delayed for one hour, unsheathed a replica of the sword that he said his great-grandfather Jose Tagle seized from the Spaniards.
“If we are united, we can overcome all our enemies. Today we begin the first victory of the country,” he exclaimed.
Gordon chose Imus town in Cavite as the venue of their kick-off rally late afternoon Tuesday because it was there where Tagle led a motley group that raided the friar’s camarin and seized 30 rifles and a Montana cannon.
His effort so pleased Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo that he declared Tagle capitan municipal of Imus.
Gordon said the incident, known as the Battle of Imus, was regarded as “the first major victory of the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish conquerors.”
“The battle sparked similar mutinies in other parts of the country and eventually led to the downfall of the Spanish regime and the establishment of the Philippine republic,” he said.
Freedom from surveys
Just as his ancestor fought for freedom, Gordon said the challenge now was to free Filipinos from the shackles of popularity and surveys.
“We should not be prisoners of popularity. We should be transformational leaders. We do not give a spark. We bring enlightenment,” he said.
The senator took another dig at surveys showing him lagging behind at least four rivals in the presidential race.
“Surveys only reflect the current climate. Moses did not take a survey among the Israelites before crossing the Red Sea. Jesus did not conduct a survey before he was nailed to the cross. We cannot be hostages to surveys because we do not need them,” he said.
“We need to have leaders chosen based on right, not popularity; honesty, not buying the presidency; work ethic, not inheritance,” Gordon added.
Poverty as campaign trick
Gordon criticized Sen. Manny Villar, the Nacionalista Party presidential candidate, for using poverty as a campaign strategy. He said his mother was actually poorer than Villar’s but he was not injecting her in the campaign.
“I stand on my own strengths,” Gordon said.
Gordon said his mother also went around streets to sell native cakes, “but I don’t use my mother in my campaign.” He added that while Villar went to a private Catholic school, he was a public school student.
He said that coming from a poor family did not mean a politician would work to help the poor. This campaign strategy, he said, was “out of fashion (panis).”
He asked: “Who among the candidates have really spent time to help the poor?”
Unlike the other candidates, he said he chose not to trumpet his work with the Red Cross, where he had helped build houses for the poor and provided the organization with more ambulances and equipment.
Will expenses be recouped?
Referring to reports that Villar had spent huge sums for his political ads, Gordon asked: “Who believes that Villar will not recoup his expenses if he wins?”
Gordon said he and Fernando had the funds to buy ads, but would stay away from this. “We want to start a vision,” he said.
Gordon and Fernando first got into the truck before transferring to a red pickup.
In the evening, the two gathered in front of Nuestra Señora Del Pilar Cathedral in Imus for a rally attended by some 5,000 people clad in red shirts. Fernando opened the rally singing “Pitong Gatang” and dancing to the delight of the crowd.
Painted blue, red and silver, the tandem’s “Optimus Prime” aimed to “transform the hearts and minds of our people,” Fernando said.
In the popular animated series that has spawned blockbuster movies, “Optimus Prime,” a truck that transforms into a robot, is the leader of the “Autobots,” a group waging a battle against the evil forces of the “Decepticons.”
Fernando, a mechanical engineer, spent nights working on the truck’s design, his campaign staff said. He also reportedly spent more than P20,000 buying “Optimus Prime” toy trucks just to perfect the design using recycled materials.
The 10-wheel Isuzu prime-mover truck is adorned with what looked like a silver robot that “speaks” and repeatedly mentions the names of “Gordon” and “Bayani.” It is also equipped with a retractable light post that could be used during night rallies.
CDs sound great in CRs
Fernando distributed copies of his soon-to-be-released CD featuring all original Filipino songs to voters.
“Try playing it in the toilet. It’s great! The sound is really smooth,” Fernando told a kibitzer in the gasoline station where he gave away the CDs.
Fernando became a champion of “Celebrity Duets: Season Two,” a singing contest aired by GMA 7, last year.
“I tried my best to become a celebrity so we won’t have to pay for one to endorse us,” Fernando said in Pilipino. “The only thing left is for me to eat broken glass to attract attention.”
Gordon and his running mate Bayani Fernando took a three-hour trip around Cavite province in a 10-wheel truck designed to look like “Optimus Prime” of movies where the vehicle is turned into a robot that becomes a “Transformer,” the term used to describe the candidates.
The 100-vehicle convoy of the Bagumbayan party included a cement mixer and ambulances of the Philippine National Red Cross to show the incarnations of Gordon as Olongapo City mayor, administrator of Subic Bay Freeport and Red Cross chief, and Fernando as Marikina City mayor and chair of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
It set off from a gasoline station along the Southern Luzon Expressway where Gordon, who was delayed for one hour, unsheathed a replica of the sword that he said his great-grandfather Jose Tagle seized from the Spaniards.
“If we are united, we can overcome all our enemies. Today we begin the first victory of the country,” he exclaimed.
Gordon chose Imus town in Cavite as the venue of their kick-off rally late afternoon Tuesday because it was there where Tagle led a motley group that raided the friar’s camarin and seized 30 rifles and a Montana cannon.
His effort so pleased Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo that he declared Tagle capitan municipal of Imus.
Gordon said the incident, known as the Battle of Imus, was regarded as “the first major victory of the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish conquerors.”
“The battle sparked similar mutinies in other parts of the country and eventually led to the downfall of the Spanish regime and the establishment of the Philippine republic,” he said.
Freedom from surveys
Just as his ancestor fought for freedom, Gordon said the challenge now was to free Filipinos from the shackles of popularity and surveys.
“We should not be prisoners of popularity. We should be transformational leaders. We do not give a spark. We bring enlightenment,” he said.
The senator took another dig at surveys showing him lagging behind at least four rivals in the presidential race.
“Surveys only reflect the current climate. Moses did not take a survey among the Israelites before crossing the Red Sea. Jesus did not conduct a survey before he was nailed to the cross. We cannot be hostages to surveys because we do not need them,” he said.
“We need to have leaders chosen based on right, not popularity; honesty, not buying the presidency; work ethic, not inheritance,” Gordon added.
Poverty as campaign trick
Gordon criticized Sen. Manny Villar, the Nacionalista Party presidential candidate, for using poverty as a campaign strategy. He said his mother was actually poorer than Villar’s but he was not injecting her in the campaign.
“I stand on my own strengths,” Gordon said.
Gordon said his mother also went around streets to sell native cakes, “but I don’t use my mother in my campaign.” He added that while Villar went to a private Catholic school, he was a public school student.
He said that coming from a poor family did not mean a politician would work to help the poor. This campaign strategy, he said, was “out of fashion (panis).”
He asked: “Who among the candidates have really spent time to help the poor?”
Unlike the other candidates, he said he chose not to trumpet his work with the Red Cross, where he had helped build houses for the poor and provided the organization with more ambulances and equipment.
Will expenses be recouped?
Referring to reports that Villar had spent huge sums for his political ads, Gordon asked: “Who believes that Villar will not recoup his expenses if he wins?”
Gordon said he and Fernando had the funds to buy ads, but would stay away from this. “We want to start a vision,” he said.
Gordon and Fernando first got into the truck before transferring to a red pickup.
In the evening, the two gathered in front of Nuestra Señora Del Pilar Cathedral in Imus for a rally attended by some 5,000 people clad in red shirts. Fernando opened the rally singing “Pitong Gatang” and dancing to the delight of the crowd.
Painted blue, red and silver, the tandem’s “Optimus Prime” aimed to “transform the hearts and minds of our people,” Fernando said.
In the popular animated series that has spawned blockbuster movies, “Optimus Prime,” a truck that transforms into a robot, is the leader of the “Autobots,” a group waging a battle against the evil forces of the “Decepticons.”
Fernando, a mechanical engineer, spent nights working on the truck’s design, his campaign staff said. He also reportedly spent more than P20,000 buying “Optimus Prime” toy trucks just to perfect the design using recycled materials.
The 10-wheel Isuzu prime-mover truck is adorned with what looked like a silver robot that “speaks” and repeatedly mentions the names of “Gordon” and “Bayani.” It is also equipped with a retractable light post that could be used during night rallies.
CDs sound great in CRs
Fernando distributed copies of his soon-to-be-released CD featuring all original Filipino songs to voters.
“Try playing it in the toilet. It’s great! The sound is really smooth,” Fernando told a kibitzer in the gasoline station where he gave away the CDs.
Fernando became a champion of “Celebrity Duets: Season Two,” a singing contest aired by GMA 7, last year.
“I tried my best to become a celebrity so we won’t have to pay for one to endorse us,” Fernando said in Pilipino. “The only thing left is for me to eat broken glass to attract attention.”
JC de los Reyes opened his campaign with a Mass at St. Josephs School in Olongapo.
One of the least known presidential candidates started his campaign in Olongapo City doing one thing that he might need to do a lot in his bid for the presidency—pray.
There was no hype nor hoopla when Councilor John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes, standard-bearer of the Ang Kapatiran Party (AKP), opened his campaign with a Mass at St. Joseph’s School in Olongapo.
After praying, he walked with a small group of party mates, supporters and some of his senatorial candidates to a market nearby where he shook hands, waved to people and introduced himself as a presidential candidate.
De los Reyes, a member of the Gordon political clan and the only Kapatiran candidate who won in the 2007 elections as a councilor in Olongapo, is running against his uncle, Sen. Richard Gordon, and eight other candidates.
Accompanying De los Reyes at the start of his campaign was his Brazilian wife, Dunia Valenzuela, who believes her husband could win because he has “a pure heart” and “true compassion.”
“After he’s been talking to people, he brings their problems home to us, his family, and shows us what it’s like for them so we can understand. He wants to change things for the better,” she said.
“People say that he’s young. I know him more than anyone. He is full of passion and he is very determined. And who but God knows about what is right or wrong for this country?” she added.
Donated property
The group also visited Jubilee Village, a low-cost housing community in Olongapo that rose from property donated by De los Reyes’ family to house more than 40 poor families.
A woman living there told Inquirer the villagers would vote for De los Reyes.
“But even if we are not living here, we will still vote for him. If people knew him, they would, too,” she said.
De los Reyes moved around the city with a convoy of only a few vehicles. In some areas, like the villages of Barrio Barreto and New Cabalan, he went out of his vehicle unattended by bodyguards. He has none.
Among Kapatiran’s senatorial candidates who accompanied him were retired Air Force Col. Hector Tarrazona and former Aparri, Cagayan, Councilor Reginald Tamayo.
“People are surprised that we don’t have security detail even when going to squatter areas. But [all candidates] must not be afraid of the people. They are the ones we are going to serve,” said Tarrazona, one of the 11 original members of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement in 1986.
“Nothing has changed in this country. There is no hope. We must be able to change this. What I’m praying for is that we become a nation of true Christians because that [will eliminate all the vile things that we are seeing now],” he said.
Tamayo said he was running for senator under AKP because of De los Reyes’ idealism.
“He can mix his faith with his political life. And what he says [in the political arena] is anchored on his Christianity—that is uncommon among politicians,” he said.
De los Reyes’ running mate, lawyer Dominador Chipeco, was unable to join the start of the campaign in Olongapo as he was meeting with family members in Calamba, Laguna. Chipeco is expected to join the campaign when it reaches Metro Manila.
Off to a good start
A top official of AKP said the campaign was off to a good start.
“We had a busy day and we hope the warm welcome shown to JC will be repeated in the next days to come,” said Eric Manalang, AKP president and chair, in a phone interview from Olongapo.
Many people, Manalang said, wished De los Reyes “good luck” instead of telling him “I’ll pray for you.”
De los Reyes, a theology graduate, said he felt bad about being told “I’ll pray for you” because he took it to mean that people think he’ll lose.
“I feel bad because it’s as if our party’s causes are unattainable and hopeless and all they can do is pray for me,” he said.
Creative campaign materials
Manalang said AKP’s youth chapter prepared creative campaign materials for De los Reyes’ sorties. These include masks mounted on staffs that call on people to reject evil ways like political dynasties, patronage politics, corruption, pork barrel and gambling.
Manalang said De los Reyes’ group went on a house-to-house campaign in Olongapo City, distributing leaflets and pins.
In the afternoon, the group proceeded to the Subic Bay Freeport commercial area to meet with workers.
De los Reyes’ party has scheduled a proclamation rally on Feb. 16 in Payatas, Quezon City.
There was no hype nor hoopla when Councilor John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes, standard-bearer of the Ang Kapatiran Party (AKP), opened his campaign with a Mass at St. Joseph’s School in Olongapo.
After praying, he walked with a small group of party mates, supporters and some of his senatorial candidates to a market nearby where he shook hands, waved to people and introduced himself as a presidential candidate.
De los Reyes, a member of the Gordon political clan and the only Kapatiran candidate who won in the 2007 elections as a councilor in Olongapo, is running against his uncle, Sen. Richard Gordon, and eight other candidates.
Accompanying De los Reyes at the start of his campaign was his Brazilian wife, Dunia Valenzuela, who believes her husband could win because he has “a pure heart” and “true compassion.”
“After he’s been talking to people, he brings their problems home to us, his family, and shows us what it’s like for them so we can understand. He wants to change things for the better,” she said.
“People say that he’s young. I know him more than anyone. He is full of passion and he is very determined. And who but God knows about what is right or wrong for this country?” she added.
Donated property
The group also visited Jubilee Village, a low-cost housing community in Olongapo that rose from property donated by De los Reyes’ family to house more than 40 poor families.
A woman living there told Inquirer the villagers would vote for De los Reyes.
“But even if we are not living here, we will still vote for him. If people knew him, they would, too,” she said.
De los Reyes moved around the city with a convoy of only a few vehicles. In some areas, like the villages of Barrio Barreto and New Cabalan, he went out of his vehicle unattended by bodyguards. He has none.
Among Kapatiran’s senatorial candidates who accompanied him were retired Air Force Col. Hector Tarrazona and former Aparri, Cagayan, Councilor Reginald Tamayo.
“People are surprised that we don’t have security detail even when going to squatter areas. But [all candidates] must not be afraid of the people. They are the ones we are going to serve,” said Tarrazona, one of the 11 original members of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement in 1986.
“Nothing has changed in this country. There is no hope. We must be able to change this. What I’m praying for is that we become a nation of true Christians because that [will eliminate all the vile things that we are seeing now],” he said.
Tamayo said he was running for senator under AKP because of De los Reyes’ idealism.
“He can mix his faith with his political life. And what he says [in the political arena] is anchored on his Christianity—that is uncommon among politicians,” he said.
De los Reyes’ running mate, lawyer Dominador Chipeco, was unable to join the start of the campaign in Olongapo as he was meeting with family members in Calamba, Laguna. Chipeco is expected to join the campaign when it reaches Metro Manila.
Off to a good start
A top official of AKP said the campaign was off to a good start.
“We had a busy day and we hope the warm welcome shown to JC will be repeated in the next days to come,” said Eric Manalang, AKP president and chair, in a phone interview from Olongapo.
Many people, Manalang said, wished De los Reyes “good luck” instead of telling him “I’ll pray for you.”
De los Reyes, a theology graduate, said he felt bad about being told “I’ll pray for you” because he took it to mean that people think he’ll lose.
“I feel bad because it’s as if our party’s causes are unattainable and hopeless and all they can do is pray for me,” he said.
Creative campaign materials
Manalang said AKP’s youth chapter prepared creative campaign materials for De los Reyes’ sorties. These include masks mounted on staffs that call on people to reject evil ways like political dynasties, patronage politics, corruption, pork barrel and gambling.
Manalang said De los Reyes’ group went on a house-to-house campaign in Olongapo City, distributing leaflets and pins.
In the afternoon, the group proceeded to the Subic Bay Freeport commercial area to meet with workers.
De los Reyes’ party has scheduled a proclamation rally on Feb. 16 in Payatas, Quezon City.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Bro. Eddie Villanueva Starts Campaign at Luneta
Christian evangelist Eduardo “Brother Eddie” Villanueva kicked off his second quest for the presidency at Luneta Park in Manila with an unfurling of one of the biggest Philippine flags ever made.
Villanueva, head of the Jesus is Lord Church, led other Bangon Pilipinas party candidates and about 5,000 supporters in unfurling the 180 x 92-meter flag.
First displayed in 2006, the 3.8-ton flag was created by businesswoman Grace Gupana, a supporter of Bangon Pilipinas.
Gupana’s group, PG Tower Ministries International, attempted on Sept. 16, 2006, to clinch the record for the world’s biggest flag. The group failed because strong winds tore apart the giant Philippine flag as it was being unfurled in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya.
Washing of feet
“We want to revive genuine patriotism and nationalism. We need new politics with moral leadership for a new, better Philippines,” Villanueva later told reporters.
During the rally, Villanueva also performed the “washing of the feet” on his running mate Perfecto Yasay Jr. and seven senatorial candidates.
Christ once washed the feet of his disciples to demonstrate how it is to be a servant-leader, according to the Bible.
Zero corruption
Unlike in the 2004 presidential campaign when he ran without a slate, Villanueva has a running mate and seven senatorial candidates—Zafrullah Alonto, lawyer Reynaldo Princesa, lawyer Ramoncito Ocampo, broadcast journalists Kata Inocencio and Alex Tinsay, Adz Nikabulin and Israel Virgines.
Villanueva said his slate would run on the platform of “six years of zero corruption.”
His team chose to start the official campaign at Luneta Park to signal the “hope for a new Philippines” since the national park is regarded as “Kilometer Zero,” he said.
In the country, all distances from Manila starts its reference to the kilometer marker in the flagpole beside the Rizal Monument where national hero Jose Rizal was shot by a firing squad in 1896.
Political discrimination
Villanueva told reporters that the political rally in the park nearly did not push through because of “political discrimination” under the Arroyo administration.
Bangon Pilipinas organizers were preparing for a proclamation rally cum “show of force” on Feb. 13 on the Luneta grounds to accommodate the expected massive turnout of supporters.
But the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), an agency under the Department of Tourism in charge of Luneta Park, turned down Bangon Pilipinas' request, saying the park should not be used for “politically related rallies.”
“In line with our thrust in maintaining security and the safety of the public, we regret to inform you we don't allow politically related rallies here in Luneta Park,” executive director Salome Habal wrote Bangon Pilipinas on Feb. 4.
Patriotic rally
But ironically when Bangon Pilipinas made another request for the use of Luneta Park on Feb. 9—the official start of the national campaign period—this time saying it would be for a “patriotic rally” where they would unfurl the biggest Philippine flag made on record, the NPDC agreed.
Organizers said they were only able to inform their supporters of the change of date on Saturday.
“We would have wanted to hold a proclamation rally on Feb. 13 but it was canceled. The (Luneta Park) staff said ‘Ma'am got angry because it might become a political rally,’” Villanueva told reporters.
“But of course it's a political gathering. Why do they have to prevent the use of Luneta Park? Are they afraid to see that we can fill Luneta Park and disprove what the (pre-election) surveys say?” he added.
Villanueva has been at the tail end of pre-election surveys in a field of 10 presidential candidates.
Yasay said the group would question the constitutionality of Luneta Park's policy against political rallies. “(Luneta Park) was used before in political rallies. We feel very strongly this is a political discrimination, so our party can not show its strength in winning the elections,” he said.
Princesa said the group would file a petition for injunction before a trial court to stop the NPDC policy.
“We'll test the constitutionality of a state-compelling interest against freedom of speech and assembly,” he said.
Princesa said that a political rally was held at Luneta Park in 2004, and that former President Corazon Aquino led an anti-Marcos rally there to launch her civil disobedience campaign after the 1986 snap election.
Villanueva, head of the Jesus is Lord Church, led other Bangon Pilipinas party candidates and about 5,000 supporters in unfurling the 180 x 92-meter flag.
First displayed in 2006, the 3.8-ton flag was created by businesswoman Grace Gupana, a supporter of Bangon Pilipinas.
Gupana’s group, PG Tower Ministries International, attempted on Sept. 16, 2006, to clinch the record for the world’s biggest flag. The group failed because strong winds tore apart the giant Philippine flag as it was being unfurled in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya.
Washing of feet
“We want to revive genuine patriotism and nationalism. We need new politics with moral leadership for a new, better Philippines,” Villanueva later told reporters.
During the rally, Villanueva also performed the “washing of the feet” on his running mate Perfecto Yasay Jr. and seven senatorial candidates.
Christ once washed the feet of his disciples to demonstrate how it is to be a servant-leader, according to the Bible.
Zero corruption
Unlike in the 2004 presidential campaign when he ran without a slate, Villanueva has a running mate and seven senatorial candidates—Zafrullah Alonto, lawyer Reynaldo Princesa, lawyer Ramoncito Ocampo, broadcast journalists Kata Inocencio and Alex Tinsay, Adz Nikabulin and Israel Virgines.
Villanueva said his slate would run on the platform of “six years of zero corruption.”
His team chose to start the official campaign at Luneta Park to signal the “hope for a new Philippines” since the national park is regarded as “Kilometer Zero,” he said.
In the country, all distances from Manila starts its reference to the kilometer marker in the flagpole beside the Rizal Monument where national hero Jose Rizal was shot by a firing squad in 1896.
Political discrimination
Villanueva told reporters that the political rally in the park nearly did not push through because of “political discrimination” under the Arroyo administration.
Bangon Pilipinas organizers were preparing for a proclamation rally cum “show of force” on Feb. 13 on the Luneta grounds to accommodate the expected massive turnout of supporters.
But the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), an agency under the Department of Tourism in charge of Luneta Park, turned down Bangon Pilipinas' request, saying the park should not be used for “politically related rallies.”
“In line with our thrust in maintaining security and the safety of the public, we regret to inform you we don't allow politically related rallies here in Luneta Park,” executive director Salome Habal wrote Bangon Pilipinas on Feb. 4.
Patriotic rally
But ironically when Bangon Pilipinas made another request for the use of Luneta Park on Feb. 9—the official start of the national campaign period—this time saying it would be for a “patriotic rally” where they would unfurl the biggest Philippine flag made on record, the NPDC agreed.
Organizers said they were only able to inform their supporters of the change of date on Saturday.
“We would have wanted to hold a proclamation rally on Feb. 13 but it was canceled. The (Luneta Park) staff said ‘Ma'am got angry because it might become a political rally,’” Villanueva told reporters.
“But of course it's a political gathering. Why do they have to prevent the use of Luneta Park? Are they afraid to see that we can fill Luneta Park and disprove what the (pre-election) surveys say?” he added.
Villanueva has been at the tail end of pre-election surveys in a field of 10 presidential candidates.
Yasay said the group would question the constitutionality of Luneta Park's policy against political rallies. “(Luneta Park) was used before in political rallies. We feel very strongly this is a political discrimination, so our party can not show its strength in winning the elections,” he said.
Princesa said the group would file a petition for injunction before a trial court to stop the NPDC policy.
“We'll test the constitutionality of a state-compelling interest against freedom of speech and assembly,” he said.
Princesa said that a political rally was held at Luneta Park in 2004, and that former President Corazon Aquino led an anti-Marcos rally there to launch her civil disobedience campaign after the 1986 snap election.
Perlas Starts Campaign in Ateneo
This was how independent presidential candidate Nicanor Perlas started his campaign yesterday with a visit to the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City.
Perlas talked to students at the Ateneo Political Fair, a three-day event sponsored by the Ateneo Student Council, and answered questions on how to balance conflicts of interest in government as well as whom he would vote for if he were not running for president. He said he would choose from the other independents.
“This is a soft launch of my campaign,” said Perlas, who is running on an environmentalist and reformist platform. The actual campaign kickoff will be on Feb. 13 in Cebu City.
Perlas, an Ateneo alumnus, said he made it a point to begin his campaign at Ateneo to encourage students to “assess, compare, study and discern whom they will vote for.”
“Young people are least influenced by traditional politics and, thus, are more open to the ideas of new politics,” he said in a statement.
Perlas said he chose Cebu as the venue for his major campaign launch to emphasize the importance of a less Manila-centric approach to governing the country.
“We want to send the signal that if this country will progress in the future, it will [require] equitable development across all regions,” he said, adding that 70 percent of Filipinos living in poverty are found in the countryside.
“Most of the conflict in the rural areas stems from poverty. At the same time, one source of urban problems is that everyone is migrating to the city,” he said.
On Friday, the Perlas campaign will hold a bike run for clean elections at Quezon City Memorial Circle in Quezon City, in what his handlers describe as “an environmentally friendly and nontraditional” style of campaigning.
Perlas talked to students at the Ateneo Political Fair, a three-day event sponsored by the Ateneo Student Council, and answered questions on how to balance conflicts of interest in government as well as whom he would vote for if he were not running for president. He said he would choose from the other independents.
“This is a soft launch of my campaign,” said Perlas, who is running on an environmentalist and reformist platform. The actual campaign kickoff will be on Feb. 13 in Cebu City.
Perlas, an Ateneo alumnus, said he made it a point to begin his campaign at Ateneo to encourage students to “assess, compare, study and discern whom they will vote for.”
“Young people are least influenced by traditional politics and, thus, are more open to the ideas of new politics,” he said in a statement.
Perlas said he chose Cebu as the venue for his major campaign launch to emphasize the importance of a less Manila-centric approach to governing the country.
“We want to send the signal that if this country will progress in the future, it will [require] equitable development across all regions,” he said, adding that 70 percent of Filipinos living in poverty are found in the countryside.
“Most of the conflict in the rural areas stems from poverty. At the same time, one source of urban problems is that everyone is migrating to the city,” he said.
On Friday, the Perlas campaign will hold a bike run for clean elections at Quezon City Memorial Circle in Quezon City, in what his handlers describe as “an environmentally friendly and nontraditional” style of campaigning.
Estrada Starts Campaign in Plaza Miranda
Joseph “Erap” Estrada began Tuesday night what could be his ultimate attempt at vindication, vowing to take back the presidency that he said was “stolen” from him and the Filipino masses.
Speaking before an excited crowd of impoverished folk that just about filled Plaza Miranda in front of Quiapo Church, the standard-bearer of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) said it was time to rid the country of corrupt officials and to protect the coming electoral exercise from those who would steal it again.
“We are all here to take back the power that was stolen from the Filipino nation,” he told a crowd estimated at more than 5,000.
Estrada called on Filipinos to support as well his running mate, Makati Mayor Jejomar “Jojo” Binay, in an effort to prevent a similar arrangement of having a vice president from another party, as what happened when he and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo emerged No. 1 and No. 2 in the 1998 polls.
“I can sleep well if he is my vice president,” Estrada said of Binay.
He said Binay was the best mayor in Asia because Makati residents enjoyed excellent health care and public education.
“Today, with my running mate, the next vice president of the Philippines, Jojo Binay … and the entire slate of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino … together, we join you, our people, to reclaim our government and restore the power of the Filipino people,” he said.
Cast of characters
Estrada’s new catch phrase is “Kung may Erap, may ginhawa (If there’s Erap, there’s comfort).”
Together with Binay, the PMP standard-bearer proclaimed the PMP senatorial candidates led by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and his eldest son, Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada.
The other candidates, who joined them on stage, were former Sen. Francisco Tatad, Agusan Rep. Rodolfo Plaza, Jose de Venecia III, former Rep. Apolinario Lozada Jr., former Sanlakas Rep. JV Bautista and former Court of Appeals Justice Regalado Maambong.
Former Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, who is detained at Camp Crame on coup d’etat charges, was represented by his daughter.
Seated beside Estrada and the one who introduced him was former Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, who is again seeking the mayoralty of Manila as a PMP candidate.
Only a few months back, Atienza was one of President Macapagal-Arroyo’s staunchest defenders in the government.
Estrada’s wife, former Sen. Luisa Ejercito, was on front row in front of the stage.
Actors Eddie Gutierrez, Eddie Garcia and Lorna Tolentino lent star power.
Undefeated
Estrada spent Sunday before the start of the campaign period with a quiet lunch with his extended family and close friends at his residence on No. 1 Polk Street in San Juan City.
The Sunday lunch is a family ritual, according to chief campaigner Ernesto Maceda, who said it did not matter if it somehow upset the candidate’s schedule, usually cutting short his Saturday provincial sorties because he had to return home for the get-together the day after.
On that early afternoon of Feb. 7, Estrada was uncharacteristically unmindful of the spirited discussion on the May elections at the big round table in the dining room.
If the presidential election were an academic exam, he easily came across as confident, as if he already knew the questions—and answers.
The stance was clear: Been there, done that.
“That’s right,” he told the Inquirer in an interview. “From mayor, senator, vice president to president, I remained undefeated.”
Estrada said that unlike the other presidential contenders, he had the advantage of experience. Indeed, he was President for two and a half years before he was ousted in 2001.
Except for Bro. Eddie Villanueva, only he knows how to actually run a grueling presidential campaign.
Stealing
The luxury of experience probably explains why the 72-year-old Estrada could afford to wander from election issues and enjoy quiet time with family and friends, as he did on Sunday.
The man was focused on his plate, which was heaped with his favorite dishes—kare-kare, adobo, pinakbet, sugpo, and lechon.
Occasionally he joined the discussion at the table, where sat trusted friends like Armida Siguion-Reyna, to crack a joke.
Talk veered to a text joke making the rounds, saying his opponents Benigno Aquino III, Manuel Villar and Gilbert Teodoro had all promised not to steal once in power.
In the case of Ms Arroyo, the text joke said: “Wala na kayong mananakaw (There’s nothing more you can steal)!”
Estrada apparently edited the joke, which also quoted him as saying: “Kailangan ko uli magnakaw (I need to steal again)!”
But he never stole a centavo in taxpayer money during his brief stay in Malacañang, said the man who was convicted of plunder and quickly pardoned by Ms Arroyo.
That’s why, he said, he was lagging behind the likes of Villar in terms of campaign spending.
‘Lowest spender’
Estrada singled out Villar, reputedly the wealthiest of the contenders. He cited a report that he said his camp received from an advertising agency supposedly pegging Villar’s TV ad expenditure at more than P1 billion in January alone.
“I’m the lowest spender at P58 million, even lower than Gilbert Teodoro,” he claimed. “I was more confident in 1998. My level of confidence now is lower because my opponents are very wealthy.”
Maceda said Estrada would be lucky to raise P350 million for the whole campaign. “There’s no way you can match Villar,” he said.
Estrada said campaign contributions had come few and far between partly because of legal questions on whether he could seek the presidency again.
He also blamed what he called black propaganda, which claimed that he was about to withdraw from the race and back Villar instead.
“I am confident [of winning] because everywhere I go—Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao—the reception is overwhelming,” he said.
‘Bionic’ knees
Estrada was not amused that some people doubted whether his aging body could survive another national campaign, especially after his knee surgery.
“If you want, let’s go jogging tomorrow so you’ll see,” he challenged the Inquirer.
“My knees are now bionic. I had knee replacement. [They’re] now titanium. Now, if you don’t believe it, you go to Cardinal Santos [Medical Center]. Just three months ago, I had my general checkup there. It’s perfect,” he said.
Estrada once described his fresh run for the presidency as the last act in his storied show biz and political career.
The nation is waiting to see how it goes.
Speaking before an excited crowd of impoverished folk that just about filled Plaza Miranda in front of Quiapo Church, the standard-bearer of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) said it was time to rid the country of corrupt officials and to protect the coming electoral exercise from those who would steal it again.
“We are all here to take back the power that was stolen from the Filipino nation,” he told a crowd estimated at more than 5,000.
Estrada called on Filipinos to support as well his running mate, Makati Mayor Jejomar “Jojo” Binay, in an effort to prevent a similar arrangement of having a vice president from another party, as what happened when he and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo emerged No. 1 and No. 2 in the 1998 polls.
“I can sleep well if he is my vice president,” Estrada said of Binay.
He said Binay was the best mayor in Asia because Makati residents enjoyed excellent health care and public education.
“Today, with my running mate, the next vice president of the Philippines, Jojo Binay … and the entire slate of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino … together, we join you, our people, to reclaim our government and restore the power of the Filipino people,” he said.
Cast of characters
Estrada’s new catch phrase is “Kung may Erap, may ginhawa (If there’s Erap, there’s comfort).”
Together with Binay, the PMP standard-bearer proclaimed the PMP senatorial candidates led by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and his eldest son, Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada.
The other candidates, who joined them on stage, were former Sen. Francisco Tatad, Agusan Rep. Rodolfo Plaza, Jose de Venecia III, former Rep. Apolinario Lozada Jr., former Sanlakas Rep. JV Bautista and former Court of Appeals Justice Regalado Maambong.
Former Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, who is detained at Camp Crame on coup d’etat charges, was represented by his daughter.
Seated beside Estrada and the one who introduced him was former Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, who is again seeking the mayoralty of Manila as a PMP candidate.
Only a few months back, Atienza was one of President Macapagal-Arroyo’s staunchest defenders in the government.
Estrada’s wife, former Sen. Luisa Ejercito, was on front row in front of the stage.
Actors Eddie Gutierrez, Eddie Garcia and Lorna Tolentino lent star power.
Undefeated
Estrada spent Sunday before the start of the campaign period with a quiet lunch with his extended family and close friends at his residence on No. 1 Polk Street in San Juan City.
The Sunday lunch is a family ritual, according to chief campaigner Ernesto Maceda, who said it did not matter if it somehow upset the candidate’s schedule, usually cutting short his Saturday provincial sorties because he had to return home for the get-together the day after.
On that early afternoon of Feb. 7, Estrada was uncharacteristically unmindful of the spirited discussion on the May elections at the big round table in the dining room.
If the presidential election were an academic exam, he easily came across as confident, as if he already knew the questions—and answers.
The stance was clear: Been there, done that.
“That’s right,” he told the Inquirer in an interview. “From mayor, senator, vice president to president, I remained undefeated.”
Estrada said that unlike the other presidential contenders, he had the advantage of experience. Indeed, he was President for two and a half years before he was ousted in 2001.
Except for Bro. Eddie Villanueva, only he knows how to actually run a grueling presidential campaign.
Stealing
The luxury of experience probably explains why the 72-year-old Estrada could afford to wander from election issues and enjoy quiet time with family and friends, as he did on Sunday.
The man was focused on his plate, which was heaped with his favorite dishes—kare-kare, adobo, pinakbet, sugpo, and lechon.
Occasionally he joined the discussion at the table, where sat trusted friends like Armida Siguion-Reyna, to crack a joke.
Talk veered to a text joke making the rounds, saying his opponents Benigno Aquino III, Manuel Villar and Gilbert Teodoro had all promised not to steal once in power.
In the case of Ms Arroyo, the text joke said: “Wala na kayong mananakaw (There’s nothing more you can steal)!”
Estrada apparently edited the joke, which also quoted him as saying: “Kailangan ko uli magnakaw (I need to steal again)!”
But he never stole a centavo in taxpayer money during his brief stay in Malacañang, said the man who was convicted of plunder and quickly pardoned by Ms Arroyo.
That’s why, he said, he was lagging behind the likes of Villar in terms of campaign spending.
‘Lowest spender’
Estrada singled out Villar, reputedly the wealthiest of the contenders. He cited a report that he said his camp received from an advertising agency supposedly pegging Villar’s TV ad expenditure at more than P1 billion in January alone.
“I’m the lowest spender at P58 million, even lower than Gilbert Teodoro,” he claimed. “I was more confident in 1998. My level of confidence now is lower because my opponents are very wealthy.”
Maceda said Estrada would be lucky to raise P350 million for the whole campaign. “There’s no way you can match Villar,” he said.
Estrada said campaign contributions had come few and far between partly because of legal questions on whether he could seek the presidency again.
He also blamed what he called black propaganda, which claimed that he was about to withdraw from the race and back Villar instead.
“I am confident [of winning] because everywhere I go—Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao—the reception is overwhelming,” he said.
‘Bionic’ knees
Estrada was not amused that some people doubted whether his aging body could survive another national campaign, especially after his knee surgery.
“If you want, let’s go jogging tomorrow so you’ll see,” he challenged the Inquirer.
“My knees are now bionic. I had knee replacement. [They’re] now titanium. Now, if you don’t believe it, you go to Cardinal Santos [Medical Center]. Just three months ago, I had my general checkup there. It’s perfect,” he said.
Estrada once described his fresh run for the presidency as the last act in his storied show biz and political career.
The nation is waiting to see how it goes.
Villar Starts Campaign in Laguna
No, Sen. Manuel Villar did not swim in a sea of garbage, as his popular campaign jingle goes, to kick off what he and his running mate Sen. Loren Legarda called “the 90-day journey to a better Philippines.”
Calling themselves a “united front versus poverty,” Villar, Legarda and senatorial candidates of the Nacionalista Party (NP) kicked off the formal election campaign with a proclamation rally in Calamba, where national hero Jose Rizal was born.
The rally at the Banga plaza was to have started at 3:30 p.m. It began at 6 p.m., with GMA 7’s Raymond Gutierrez and Valerie Concepcion as program emcees, but the plaza as well as the narrow streets were filled with orange-clad NP supporters and bystanders hours earlier.
An estimated 3,000 supporters, with some coming all the way from Las Piñas City, Villar’s hometown, were present.
At press time, the NP senatorial candidates were delivering individual speeches to a crowd of thousands.
Onstage, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was seated apart from Representatives Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza of the militant party-list groups Bayan Muna and Gabriela, respectively.
Ocampo, who was jailed during the dictatorship of Marcos Jr.’s father, clapped perfunctorily when the latter was called to give his speech.
‘Only Willie’
If Villar pulled out all the stops for his pre-campaign ads, his kick-off rally was low-key and only had celebrities like “Wowowee” host Willie Revillame to spice up the event.
There was hardly any gimmickry from an “energized” NP. “There’s no need to reinvent the wheel because it works. This is what the people want,” NP spokesperson and senatorial candidate Gilbert Remulla said hours before the rally started.
Early in the day, the NP motorcade bearing Legarda and senatorial candidates Ocampo, Maza, Remulla, Ramon “Mon-Mon” Mitra, Gwendolyn Pimentel, Susan Ople, Adel Tamano and Sen. Pia Cayetano, stopped at the public markets in the towns of Biñan, Balibago, Sta. Rosa and Cabuyao.
Legarda and Maza have roots in the town of San Pablo.
Former Col. Ariel Querubin, detained on coup d’etat charges, sent his son Martin to campaign on his behalf.
Marcos and the NP guest candidates, Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., did not join the motorcade.
At noon, the party attended Mass at St. John the Baptist church in Calamba, where Marcos Jr. showed up.
A singer and a comedian hosting games as well as the repeated play of “Akala Mo” and “Naging Mahirap”—the latter, Villar’s popular campaign jingle that starts with the line “Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura” (Have you swam in a sea of garbage), which purportedly describes the candidate’s impoverished childhood—kept the crowd entertained for hours at the Banga plaza.
Momentum
“We’re very much energized but we also have to work much harder,” Remulla said.
He said all the NP candidates were “finding strength” in the leap that Villar had made in the most recent Pulse Asia survey, which placed him neck and neck with his closest rival, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party.
Villar had apparently gained much from the barrage of political ads that were aired before the campaign period, which, according to Remulla, gave the NP “enough momentum.”
He said the now limited air time for political ads had produced a “level playing field.”
Remulla also said the NP was focusing on strengthening its political machinery made up of the support of local candidates and civil society.
“They are the ones that will ultimately deliver the votes,” he said.
‘Good fight’
In a statement, the NP said it chose to launch its “good fight” in Rizal’s birthplace “because the cradle of heroes is always the best springboard of change.”
“We would like to unveil our vision for the nation in the birthplace of the man who told us and showed us how to love it,” the NP said.
It also said Laguna was chosen “because we believe that our vow to serve the people will assume a sacred dimension if made in the place symbolized by our national hero.”
But Remulla talked in terms of votes.
He told reporters that while Laguna was not a known NP bailiwick, it was best to kick off the campaign in the province because it had about 1.3 million voters.
“We see it as a challenge area—Region 4-A. From the surveys that we’ve seen, we have been in second place almost always, so it’s a challenge for us to come here and try to [draw] as many votes as we can,” he said.
Remulla also said he saw the “outpouring of support” from the people during the motorcade: “People came out in droves; [we did not have] to bring them out.”
The party has lined up campaign sorties in the provinces of Cavite, Pampanga and Quezon for the rest of the week.
7-point platform
In a prepared speech, Legarda announced her seven-point platform—pro-people leadership premised on the principles of good governance; a more holistic national development strategy; stronger promotion of environmental protection; stronger efforts to protect the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers; sustained, internationally assisted and sincere negotiations with communist and secessionist rebels to achieve just and lasting peace throughout the country; empowerment of women in all spheres of life and work; and creation of robust institutions and a supportive policy environment to enhance cultural identity and consciousness.
“These are what I stand for and will continue to champion as an elected national official,” she said.
Legarda emphasized the need for a holistic platform of governance. She called on the voting public to consider a candidate’s “concrete and tangible record of action” in their choice of leaders.
“Our biggest fight is not a fight among politicians. It is a fight against poverty and hopelessness. That is what my seven-point agenda directly addresses,” she said.
Calling themselves a “united front versus poverty,” Villar, Legarda and senatorial candidates of the Nacionalista Party (NP) kicked off the formal election campaign with a proclamation rally in Calamba, where national hero Jose Rizal was born.
The rally at the Banga plaza was to have started at 3:30 p.m. It began at 6 p.m., with GMA 7’s Raymond Gutierrez and Valerie Concepcion as program emcees, but the plaza as well as the narrow streets were filled with orange-clad NP supporters and bystanders hours earlier.
An estimated 3,000 supporters, with some coming all the way from Las Piñas City, Villar’s hometown, were present.
At press time, the NP senatorial candidates were delivering individual speeches to a crowd of thousands.
Onstage, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was seated apart from Representatives Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza of the militant party-list groups Bayan Muna and Gabriela, respectively.
Ocampo, who was jailed during the dictatorship of Marcos Jr.’s father, clapped perfunctorily when the latter was called to give his speech.
‘Only Willie’
If Villar pulled out all the stops for his pre-campaign ads, his kick-off rally was low-key and only had celebrities like “Wowowee” host Willie Revillame to spice up the event.
There was hardly any gimmickry from an “energized” NP. “There’s no need to reinvent the wheel because it works. This is what the people want,” NP spokesperson and senatorial candidate Gilbert Remulla said hours before the rally started.
Early in the day, the NP motorcade bearing Legarda and senatorial candidates Ocampo, Maza, Remulla, Ramon “Mon-Mon” Mitra, Gwendolyn Pimentel, Susan Ople, Adel Tamano and Sen. Pia Cayetano, stopped at the public markets in the towns of Biñan, Balibago, Sta. Rosa and Cabuyao.
Legarda and Maza have roots in the town of San Pablo.
Former Col. Ariel Querubin, detained on coup d’etat charges, sent his son Martin to campaign on his behalf.
Marcos and the NP guest candidates, Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., did not join the motorcade.
At noon, the party attended Mass at St. John the Baptist church in Calamba, where Marcos Jr. showed up.
A singer and a comedian hosting games as well as the repeated play of “Akala Mo” and “Naging Mahirap”—the latter, Villar’s popular campaign jingle that starts with the line “Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura” (Have you swam in a sea of garbage), which purportedly describes the candidate’s impoverished childhood—kept the crowd entertained for hours at the Banga plaza.
Momentum
“We’re very much energized but we also have to work much harder,” Remulla said.
He said all the NP candidates were “finding strength” in the leap that Villar had made in the most recent Pulse Asia survey, which placed him neck and neck with his closest rival, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party.
Villar had apparently gained much from the barrage of political ads that were aired before the campaign period, which, according to Remulla, gave the NP “enough momentum.”
He said the now limited air time for political ads had produced a “level playing field.”
Remulla also said the NP was focusing on strengthening its political machinery made up of the support of local candidates and civil society.
“They are the ones that will ultimately deliver the votes,” he said.
‘Good fight’
In a statement, the NP said it chose to launch its “good fight” in Rizal’s birthplace “because the cradle of heroes is always the best springboard of change.”
“We would like to unveil our vision for the nation in the birthplace of the man who told us and showed us how to love it,” the NP said.
It also said Laguna was chosen “because we believe that our vow to serve the people will assume a sacred dimension if made in the place symbolized by our national hero.”
But Remulla talked in terms of votes.
He told reporters that while Laguna was not a known NP bailiwick, it was best to kick off the campaign in the province because it had about 1.3 million voters.
“We see it as a challenge area—Region 4-A. From the surveys that we’ve seen, we have been in second place almost always, so it’s a challenge for us to come here and try to [draw] as many votes as we can,” he said.
Remulla also said he saw the “outpouring of support” from the people during the motorcade: “People came out in droves; [we did not have] to bring them out.”
The party has lined up campaign sorties in the provinces of Cavite, Pampanga and Quezon for the rest of the week.
7-point platform
In a prepared speech, Legarda announced her seven-point platform—pro-people leadership premised on the principles of good governance; a more holistic national development strategy; stronger promotion of environmental protection; stronger efforts to protect the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers; sustained, internationally assisted and sincere negotiations with communist and secessionist rebels to achieve just and lasting peace throughout the country; empowerment of women in all spheres of life and work; and creation of robust institutions and a supportive policy environment to enhance cultural identity and consciousness.
“These are what I stand for and will continue to champion as an elected national official,” she said.
Legarda emphasized the need for a holistic platform of governance. She called on the voting public to consider a candidate’s “concrete and tangible record of action” in their choice of leaders.
“Our biggest fight is not a fight among politicians. It is a fight against poverty and hopelessness. That is what my seven-point agenda directly addresses,” she said.
Noynoy Aquino Mar Roxas Campaign
The Liberals began their campaign with a Mass in Aquino country, in the town of Concepcion, Tarlac, where the late Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino Jr. began his political career as the youngest mayor to be elected into office.
In his talk at the end of the Mass, Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III said Concepcion was also special to him for another reason.
He recalled that his first time to speak publicly was at the town plaza in 1976 when his father was given an award during martial law.
Aquino was accompanied by his running mate, Sen. Manuel 'Mar' Roxas II, and the LP senatorial candidates. They were blessed by 30 priests led by Tarlac Bishop Florentino Cinence.
In his homily, Fr. Mon Capuno, parish priest of La Paz, asked Aquino to open his palms and raise his hands saying in them were the heavy burden because they hold the hope of the nation.
Fr. Capuno then asked the audience to raise their hands as a symbol of the support they would give him in the challenge ahead.
Before the prayer of Our Father, a slight commotion was heard outside the church when actor Coco Martin arrived, momentarily disrupting the solemn Mass.
Corruption and integrity
On occasion, Aquino's campaign buddy and bodyguard, Fr. Arnold, would step in to keep people away from mobbing the presidential candidate.
The LP national slate then took a short walk to the Concepcion public market for a rally to introduce themselves.
Tarlaceños listened to the speeches from market stalls and the roadside, momentarily halting all business at the busy commercial center.
But the adoring crowd did not mind the heat, listening to candidates condemn corruption and promise to bring integrity back in governance.
From the market, the party walked to the town plaza to lay a wreath at the foot of a Ninoy Aquino statue fronting the town hall.
Concepcion mayor is with NP
Absent from the festivities were re-electionist Concepcion Mayor Noel Villanueva, who is running under the banner of Aquino's closest rival, Sen. Manuel Villar's Nacionalista Party.
The mayor prepared merienda for the visitors who chose not to drop by, but instead met their supporters in the home of their mayoralty candidate, board member Jay Castro.
From there, the LP slate moved to the Aquino ancestral home to break for lunch, followed by a press conference.
At the press conference, a host of statements from the presidential and vice-presidential candidates, beginning with Aquino's announcement that he aims to complete the distribution of over 1 million hectares of private lands during the 5-year extension period of the agrarian reform law.
Plans for Hacienda Luisita
As of Hacienda Luisita, Aquino says he has asked his extended family to find ways to transfer the assets to the farmer-beneficiaries debt-free.
He says his family could avail of the voluntary offer to sell option (VOS) under the CARP with Extension and Reforms (CARPER) law, but it would not be in the better interest of the farmers.
In other words, they are still at the exploratory stage in an issue which has been a yoke around Aquino even if his stake in Hacienda Luisida Inc. is only 0.004%.
What is noticable is that the Liberal Party has raised the decibel of their attacks against Villar.
Roxas calls NP bet "Villarroyo"
Saying it was a race betwen character and cash, Roxas also called Villar "Villarroyo," while Aquino said he was not a true candidate for change because his previous statements and actuations indicate that he never opposed the corruption of the Arroyo administration.
Aquino also said that even if the incumbent mayor of his father's hometown is a Villar supporter, he is confident that he will enter his name on the ballot.
The campaign also took Aquino on a nostalgic visit to his family's old home as he toured guests around and brought them to the room of his parents Ninoy and Cory.
He also reunited with 72-year-old Neneng Calosa, who says she was only 13 years old when she took care of the senator who was still a toddler.
The Liberals arrived in Tarlac City at 4:30 pm on a motorcade from Capas for another Mass, after which a monument of former President Aquino was unveiled.
The opening salvo of the campaign was capped by another rally in Tarlac, their third in a full-packed day.
In his talk at the end of the Mass, Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III said Concepcion was also special to him for another reason.
He recalled that his first time to speak publicly was at the town plaza in 1976 when his father was given an award during martial law.
Aquino was accompanied by his running mate, Sen. Manuel 'Mar' Roxas II, and the LP senatorial candidates. They were blessed by 30 priests led by Tarlac Bishop Florentino Cinence.
In his homily, Fr. Mon Capuno, parish priest of La Paz, asked Aquino to open his palms and raise his hands saying in them were the heavy burden because they hold the hope of the nation.
Fr. Capuno then asked the audience to raise their hands as a symbol of the support they would give him in the challenge ahead.
Before the prayer of Our Father, a slight commotion was heard outside the church when actor Coco Martin arrived, momentarily disrupting the solemn Mass.
Corruption and integrity
On occasion, Aquino's campaign buddy and bodyguard, Fr. Arnold, would step in to keep people away from mobbing the presidential candidate.
The LP national slate then took a short walk to the Concepcion public market for a rally to introduce themselves.
Tarlaceños listened to the speeches from market stalls and the roadside, momentarily halting all business at the busy commercial center.
But the adoring crowd did not mind the heat, listening to candidates condemn corruption and promise to bring integrity back in governance.
From the market, the party walked to the town plaza to lay a wreath at the foot of a Ninoy Aquino statue fronting the town hall.
Concepcion mayor is with NP
Absent from the festivities were re-electionist Concepcion Mayor Noel Villanueva, who is running under the banner of Aquino's closest rival, Sen. Manuel Villar's Nacionalista Party.
The mayor prepared merienda for the visitors who chose not to drop by, but instead met their supporters in the home of their mayoralty candidate, board member Jay Castro.
From there, the LP slate moved to the Aquino ancestral home to break for lunch, followed by a press conference.
At the press conference, a host of statements from the presidential and vice-presidential candidates, beginning with Aquino's announcement that he aims to complete the distribution of over 1 million hectares of private lands during the 5-year extension period of the agrarian reform law.
Plans for Hacienda Luisita
As of Hacienda Luisita, Aquino says he has asked his extended family to find ways to transfer the assets to the farmer-beneficiaries debt-free.
He says his family could avail of the voluntary offer to sell option (VOS) under the CARP with Extension and Reforms (CARPER) law, but it would not be in the better interest of the farmers.
In other words, they are still at the exploratory stage in an issue which has been a yoke around Aquino even if his stake in Hacienda Luisida Inc. is only 0.004%.
What is noticable is that the Liberal Party has raised the decibel of their attacks against Villar.
Roxas calls NP bet "Villarroyo"
Saying it was a race betwen character and cash, Roxas also called Villar "Villarroyo," while Aquino said he was not a true candidate for change because his previous statements and actuations indicate that he never opposed the corruption of the Arroyo administration.
Aquino also said that even if the incumbent mayor of his father's hometown is a Villar supporter, he is confident that he will enter his name on the ballot.
The campaign also took Aquino on a nostalgic visit to his family's old home as he toured guests around and brought them to the room of his parents Ninoy and Cory.
He also reunited with 72-year-old Neneng Calosa, who says she was only 13 years old when she took care of the senator who was still a toddler.
The Liberals arrived in Tarlac City at 4:30 pm on a motorcade from Capas for another Mass, after which a monument of former President Aquino was unveiled.
The opening salvo of the campaign was capped by another rally in Tarlac, their third in a full-packed day.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Campaign Period for national positions starts Tuesday February 9, 2010
The campaign election period for national positions officially starts today with a warning from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and other watchdog groups that they would not tolerate violations of laws ensuring fair balloting.
The Comelec said it was encouraging citizens to file charges against politicians violating campaign laws or call hotlines 525-9302, 525-9297, 525-9345, 525-9296, 525-9335, 525-9294, 527-5575 and 527-0821.
Those who are charged with an election offense risk imprisonment and being barred from public office.
Unofficially, the campaign started months ago and all indications are so much money has been spent on the exercise.
Still, Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal had this to say in a news briefing: “The Comelec is bent on ensuring a level playing field for candidates this campaign period. This is why we will be strict in enforcing campaign rules, especially those on posting campaign materials.”
While the campaign period for national posts begins today, those for local contests starts March 26. It will end on May 8—two days before the vote.
Ramon Casiple, a member of the Comelec Advisory Committee, said the Comelec should throw the book at erring candidates from Day 1 to send a strong message that it would not pussyfoot on campaign law, which he said was “abused too much.”
Campaign spending
Under the Fair Elections Law, candidates for president and vice president are allowed to spend P10 for each voter. If the candidate has a party, the party can contribute another P5.
Candidates for other positions can spend P5 per voter, to which a candidate’s party can add P3 toward his campaign.
They are limited to only 120 minutes of airtime on television and 180 minutes on radio per station for the entire campaign. Those aspiring for local posts are limited to an hour of television airtime and an hour and a half of radio airtime per station.
Candidates are allowed only to post streamers and posters of certain sizes in areas designated by the Comelec.
Posters made of cloth, paper or cardboard should not exceed 2 feet by 3 feet in size. Streamers should not go over the mandated size of 3 feet by 8 feet.
Posting of campaign materials in public places such as streets, bridges, public buildings, trees, electric posts and wires, schools, shrines and main avenues are banned.
Most expensive campaign
Casiple, who is also an official of the Consortium for Electoral Reforms, described the campaign for the 2010 national and presidential elections as the costliest and expensive yet.
He noted that Senators Manny Villar and Manuel “Mar” Roxas II had been campaigning since 2007.
According to Casiple, Villar is probably spending hundreds of millions of pesos for his television spots, which began airing way before he announced his candidacy for president.
Caravans
The Nacionalista Party (NP) announced that Villar, its presidential standard-bearer, and his running mate, Sen. Loren Legarda, and their senatorial slate would begin their campaign in Biñan and proceed to Calamba in Laguna, the birthplace of national hero Jose Rizal.
“The cradle of heroes is always the best springboard of change,” the NP said.
Sen. Richard Gordon, another presidential aspirant, and his running mate Bayani Fernando will ride on a huge Isuzu prime mover truck designed to look like “Optimus Prime,” the fictional character in the animated series “Transformers,” for their campaign launch Tuesday.
Painted blue, red and silver, the truck will ferry Gordon and Fernando from Marikina City to Imus, Cavite, for the formal campaign kick-off program.
The Comelec said it was encouraging citizens to file charges against politicians violating campaign laws or call hotlines 525-9302, 525-9297, 525-9345, 525-9296, 525-9335, 525-9294, 527-5575 and 527-0821.
Those who are charged with an election offense risk imprisonment and being barred from public office.
Unofficially, the campaign started months ago and all indications are so much money has been spent on the exercise.
Still, Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal had this to say in a news briefing: “The Comelec is bent on ensuring a level playing field for candidates this campaign period. This is why we will be strict in enforcing campaign rules, especially those on posting campaign materials.”
While the campaign period for national posts begins today, those for local contests starts March 26. It will end on May 8—two days before the vote.
Ramon Casiple, a member of the Comelec Advisory Committee, said the Comelec should throw the book at erring candidates from Day 1 to send a strong message that it would not pussyfoot on campaign law, which he said was “abused too much.”
Campaign spending
Under the Fair Elections Law, candidates for president and vice president are allowed to spend P10 for each voter. If the candidate has a party, the party can contribute another P5.
Candidates for other positions can spend P5 per voter, to which a candidate’s party can add P3 toward his campaign.
They are limited to only 120 minutes of airtime on television and 180 minutes on radio per station for the entire campaign. Those aspiring for local posts are limited to an hour of television airtime and an hour and a half of radio airtime per station.
Candidates are allowed only to post streamers and posters of certain sizes in areas designated by the Comelec.
Posters made of cloth, paper or cardboard should not exceed 2 feet by 3 feet in size. Streamers should not go over the mandated size of 3 feet by 8 feet.
Posting of campaign materials in public places such as streets, bridges, public buildings, trees, electric posts and wires, schools, shrines and main avenues are banned.
Most expensive campaign
Casiple, who is also an official of the Consortium for Electoral Reforms, described the campaign for the 2010 national and presidential elections as the costliest and expensive yet.
He noted that Senators Manny Villar and Manuel “Mar” Roxas II had been campaigning since 2007.
According to Casiple, Villar is probably spending hundreds of millions of pesos for his television spots, which began airing way before he announced his candidacy for president.
Caravans
The Nacionalista Party (NP) announced that Villar, its presidential standard-bearer, and his running mate, Sen. Loren Legarda, and their senatorial slate would begin their campaign in Biñan and proceed to Calamba in Laguna, the birthplace of national hero Jose Rizal.
“The cradle of heroes is always the best springboard of change,” the NP said.
Sen. Richard Gordon, another presidential aspirant, and his running mate Bayani Fernando will ride on a huge Isuzu prime mover truck designed to look like “Optimus Prime,” the fictional character in the animated series “Transformers,” for their campaign launch Tuesday.
Painted blue, red and silver, the truck will ferry Gordon and Fernando from Marikina City to Imus, Cavite, for the formal campaign kick-off program.
Comelec sets rules as campaign period starts
Presidential aspirants formally launched their respective campaigns on Tuesday even as the Commission on Elections laid down the ground rules for the candidates.
Atty. Ferdinand Rafanan, Comelec law department chief, said candidates should study Comelec guidelines in previous elections regarding where candidates can place their posters. These common poster areas include plazas, markets and barangay centers.
"You can place posters and stickers in these common areas. On the other hand, you cannot place posters and stickers on public transport systems such as the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit. We also ban putting posters on trees, schools, government offices and churches," Rafanan told ABS-CBN.
The Comelec law department chief praised the Quezon City government for passing an ordinance banning campaign propaganda on major streets in the city.
He said the Fair Election Practices Act also bars candidates from placing their names on banners, streamers or tarpaulins during Valentine's Day or graduation rites especially when they are not in the common poster areas.
On Tuesday, Brod. Eddie Villanueva had an early headstart in the campaign by leading his party Bangon Pilipinas Party (BPP) in unfurling what it calls the biggest Philippine flag at Rizal Park.
In a statement, the BPP said the Philippine flag, measuring 180 meters by 92 meters, signifies hope for the country. It weighs 3.8 tons and costs almost P10 million. Its maker is businesswoman and BPP supporter Grace Galindez Gupana.
The flag was first unfurled in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya on Sept. 16, 2006.
On the other hand, Lakas-Kampi CMD standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro will start his official campaign with a rally in Antipolo, Rizal, allegedly without his political patron and party president emeritus President Gloria Arroyo.
"This is a big event for us. They will see the strength of Lakas-Kampi in this rally," Lakas-Kampi-CMD deputy secretary-general Ray Roquero said.
Lakas’ proclamation rally is at 4 p.m. at the Ynares Sports Complex, which can accommodate about 15,000 to 20,000 people. Teodoro and his running mate, Edu Manzano, will be joined by the party’s six administration senatorial candidates – broadcaster Reynante Langit, Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico, lawyer Raul Lambino, outgoing Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III, and reelectionist senators Lito Lapid and Bong Revilla.
Roquero said Mrs. Arroyo’s absence should not be given too much significance.
“She has shown that she is very supportive of Gibo,” he said. “Every now and then she checks on us regarding the campaign.”
No freebies from Noynoy
Liberal Party bet Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, meanwhile, is taking a different tack in the campaign even as he continued to lead in the presidential surveys.
LP campaign manager Butch Abad said the political party will do away with the usual freebies given out during rallies while relying heavily on volunteers to push for Aquino's candidacy.
"There are a lot of volunteers and a lot of support. Because our candidate is really strong in the surveys, the support is strong," Abad said.
Aquino and his running mate Sen. Manuel Roxas II, as well as LP senatorial candidates, will hold a motorcade to the Aquino Museum in Tarlac and then to the municipalities of Bamban, Capas and Tarlac City.
The Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino of former president Joseph Estrada, meanwhile, will hold its campaign rally in the historic Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila to better tap Estrada's supporters from the grassroots.
For his part, the Nacionalista Party led by its standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. kicks off its “90-day journey to a better Philippines” in Calamba, Laguna, the birthplace of national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, with visits to public markets.
“We chose to launch our good fight in Rizal’s birthplace, Laguna, because the cradle of heroes is always the best springboard of change,” the NP said in a statement.
The NP said it chose Laguna “not because it is our bailiwick but because we believe that our vow to serve the people will assume a sacred dimension if made in the place symbolized by our national hero.”
Not to be outdone are the “transformers” team of Sen. Richard Gordon and former Metro Manila Development Authority chair Bayani Fernando.The two are set to kickoff their campaign with a rally in Imus, Cavite.
Gordon explained that his kickoff rally in Imus is reminiscent of the campaign his own great-grandfather Jose Tagle staged, which reportedly sparked the Philippine revolution in the province of Cavite.
Tagle, who served as Capitan Municipal of Imus, joined forces with revolutionary President Emilio Aguinaldo in winning the “Battle of Imus,” which Gordon said, was the first major victory of the revolutionaries against the Spanish colonizers.
“The start of our campaign is also a start towards change. We believe that Filipinos deserve clean and honest elections and they deserve truly competent and honest leaders who will fight corruption and lead them towards economic and political independence,” Gordon said.
Another presidential candidate, Nicanor Perlas, has set the start of his official campaigning on Saturday in Cebu. On Friday, he hopes to dramatize his call for clean elections with a “bike run."
Atty. Ferdinand Rafanan, Comelec law department chief, said candidates should study Comelec guidelines in previous elections regarding where candidates can place their posters. These common poster areas include plazas, markets and barangay centers.
"You can place posters and stickers in these common areas. On the other hand, you cannot place posters and stickers on public transport systems such as the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit. We also ban putting posters on trees, schools, government offices and churches," Rafanan told ABS-CBN.
The Comelec law department chief praised the Quezon City government for passing an ordinance banning campaign propaganda on major streets in the city.
He said the Fair Election Practices Act also bars candidates from placing their names on banners, streamers or tarpaulins during Valentine's Day or graduation rites especially when they are not in the common poster areas.
On Tuesday, Brod. Eddie Villanueva had an early headstart in the campaign by leading his party Bangon Pilipinas Party (BPP) in unfurling what it calls the biggest Philippine flag at Rizal Park.
In a statement, the BPP said the Philippine flag, measuring 180 meters by 92 meters, signifies hope for the country. It weighs 3.8 tons and costs almost P10 million. Its maker is businesswoman and BPP supporter Grace Galindez Gupana.
The flag was first unfurled in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya on Sept. 16, 2006.
On the other hand, Lakas-Kampi CMD standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro will start his official campaign with a rally in Antipolo, Rizal, allegedly without his political patron and party president emeritus President Gloria Arroyo.
"This is a big event for us. They will see the strength of Lakas-Kampi in this rally," Lakas-Kampi-CMD deputy secretary-general Ray Roquero said.
Lakas’ proclamation rally is at 4 p.m. at the Ynares Sports Complex, which can accommodate about 15,000 to 20,000 people. Teodoro and his running mate, Edu Manzano, will be joined by the party’s six administration senatorial candidates – broadcaster Reynante Langit, Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico, lawyer Raul Lambino, outgoing Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III, and reelectionist senators Lito Lapid and Bong Revilla.
Roquero said Mrs. Arroyo’s absence should not be given too much significance.
“She has shown that she is very supportive of Gibo,” he said. “Every now and then she checks on us regarding the campaign.”
No freebies from Noynoy
Liberal Party bet Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, meanwhile, is taking a different tack in the campaign even as he continued to lead in the presidential surveys.
LP campaign manager Butch Abad said the political party will do away with the usual freebies given out during rallies while relying heavily on volunteers to push for Aquino's candidacy.
"There are a lot of volunteers and a lot of support. Because our candidate is really strong in the surveys, the support is strong," Abad said.
Aquino and his running mate Sen. Manuel Roxas II, as well as LP senatorial candidates, will hold a motorcade to the Aquino Museum in Tarlac and then to the municipalities of Bamban, Capas and Tarlac City.
The Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino of former president Joseph Estrada, meanwhile, will hold its campaign rally in the historic Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila to better tap Estrada's supporters from the grassroots.
For his part, the Nacionalista Party led by its standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. kicks off its “90-day journey to a better Philippines” in Calamba, Laguna, the birthplace of national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, with visits to public markets.
“We chose to launch our good fight in Rizal’s birthplace, Laguna, because the cradle of heroes is always the best springboard of change,” the NP said in a statement.
The NP said it chose Laguna “not because it is our bailiwick but because we believe that our vow to serve the people will assume a sacred dimension if made in the place symbolized by our national hero.”
Not to be outdone are the “transformers” team of Sen. Richard Gordon and former Metro Manila Development Authority chair Bayani Fernando.The two are set to kickoff their campaign with a rally in Imus, Cavite.
Gordon explained that his kickoff rally in Imus is reminiscent of the campaign his own great-grandfather Jose Tagle staged, which reportedly sparked the Philippine revolution in the province of Cavite.
Tagle, who served as Capitan Municipal of Imus, joined forces with revolutionary President Emilio Aguinaldo in winning the “Battle of Imus,” which Gordon said, was the first major victory of the revolutionaries against the Spanish colonizers.
“The start of our campaign is also a start towards change. We believe that Filipinos deserve clean and honest elections and they deserve truly competent and honest leaders who will fight corruption and lead them towards economic and political independence,” Gordon said.
Another presidential candidate, Nicanor Perlas, has set the start of his official campaigning on Saturday in Cebu. On Friday, he hopes to dramatize his call for clean elections with a “bike run."
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