no star nor lucky for Edu

Lakas-Kapi-CMD vice presidential candidate Edu Manzano is not expecting any endorsement from his former wife Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos and his son Lucky Manzano.

Edu Manzano admitted that endorsement from showbiz personalities is a big factor for a political candidate to win in the election, however, he said that he is not expecting the star for all season to campaign for him because it will be very awkward for her to come out considering that she's with the liberal party.

He also said that he's not bent on using his son Lucky to boost his campaign because he never encourage his children to go into politics until they are fully ready.

Instead, he will use the "Edu Express" caravan that will roll starting this month to advance his campaign and get people's support.

-Maria Rojen M. Leonardo

El Shaddai for Villar

El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde indirectly endorsed the presidential bid of Nacionalista Party Standard bearer Manny Villar when he invited the former senator during the religious group's prayer rally in Hongkong.

Together with his wife, Rep. Cynthia Villar and running mate Sen. Loren Legarda, Manny Villar flew to Hongkong upon Velarde's invitation to attend the anniversary of El Shaddai's Hongkong chapter.

Villar was the only one invited by Velarde to attend the prayer rally among other presidential candidates, where the El Shaddai members wore orange and white shirts. But the El Shaddai leader clear that he don't endorse, they are going to vote as one this election so they will examine all the candidates first before voting. He and Villar are just close friends.

Velarde had earlier expressed the desire to run for the highest position in the country but decided not to push through with his presidential ambition after getting negative feedbacks from his followers.

-Maria Rojen Leonardo

Bayani's Platform: Higher Salary for Government Employees

“Ang nangyayari dito nagpapabango ang gobyerno sa pagaanunsyo sa balita na mag karagdagang bonus o sweldo gayung alam naman nila na hindi naman lahat ay makakatanggap. At ang mga naiiwan ay ang mga kawawang kawani ng lokal na pamahalaan,” dagdag ni Bayani.

-Taken from the article Sweldo ng mga kawani ng pamahalaan dapat isaayos – Bayani (http://gordonbayani.com/2010/02/23/sweldo-ng-mga-kawani-ng-pamahalaan-dapat-isaayos-bayani/)

Vice presidential candidate Bayani Fernando is known for two things; 1) his trademark blue and pink themed Metro Gwapo campaigns and 2) his former position as Marikina City mayor, a title now held by his wife. The latter possibly gave him a reason to include sufficient government salary to his campaign agendas.

Fernando stresses the lack of government funds for Local Government Units (LGU's) or the mishandling of meager amounts by the higher ups of local municipalities. Although the government has been active in announcing higher wages for its workers, Fernando denounces it as false since most funds are either misused or not distributed. When there is a fund, the small Internal Revenue Allotments for cannot possibly cover the same amounts that the government openly "advertises".

A stint in Marikina's local government makes the current MMDA Chairman credible regarding the facts. However, this may also burden him if all fails. The MMDA itself has a large number of workers under its wing. He could blame either the low funds given by the central government or poor monetary handling within the organization in a worst case scenario where MMDA employees complain of the same problem. Either way, this platform may either damage or boost his chances at the position a vice. Whether or not his intentions for his election are genuine bid may depend greatly on his performance in his current post.

-Kier Gideon Paolo Gapayao

EDSA Revolution Anniversary: Same Date, Different Aquino

“And once God tells me, finish or not finish pass your paper, I can look (at my parents eyes), I will be looking up, not down to be hit on the head, but proud to tell them that I fought, continued their fight and finished it through the help of the people,” Aquino said.

-Taken from Noynoy Aquino's Official Blog (http://www.noynoy.ph/blog/2010/02/22/noynoy-aquino-on-the-spirit-of-edsa/)

This early statement sums up candidate Benigno Aquino III's resolve regarding the upcoming elections. Moreover, EDSA Revolution's nearing anniversary may provide a boost for the Liberal Party. The said party will be having a rally this February 25, 2010 in line with the revolution's 24th anniversary entitled LET'S P.A.Y. Paint Araneta Yellow.


Having both parents as icons of an era of Philippine revolution, critics constantly bash this generation's Aquino for riding on his parents' fame and knowing nothing of the nation's suffering. His retorts however, revolve around his family's experiences under the Marcos regime. On a personal note he narrated himself being 12 years old when Benigno Aquino Jr. was arrested, 23 when he came home to bury his assassinated father and 27 when he was injured in a coup attempt on Corazon Aquino who was then President. Having known the feeling of oppression, he claims to relate to what Filipinos today experience in their daily lives and is dead set on changing the status quo as the next president.

Like the Revolution 24 years ago, the Liberal Party's LET'S P.A.Y. event aims to bring back the true spirit of EDSA with a show of force regardless of how his political rivals would take it.

-Kier Gideon Paolo Gapayao

Villar: Mutual Transparency

The television primetime spotlight has been beamed at Manny Villar for quite a while now. Ironically, the limelight illuminates both his campaign jingle (which appears to be gradually replacing the Philippine national anthem) and the jabs at his controversial C-5 project.

Villar's official website released an article last February 22, 2010 (see http://www.mannyvillar.com.ph/blog.php?blog=269 and http://www.mannyvillar.com.ph/videolink.php?video=51) regarding transparency from his campaign rivals.

“I just can’t stomach hypocrites who tell the public that they are running a people’s campaign when the combined net worth of all their contributors betrays the very essence of a people’s campaign,” Villar said.
-quoted from the article Villar to closest rivals: Disclose your campaign donors

A quote speaks for the article itself. The same transparency political rivals conveniently demand should courteously be revealed in the same manner it is asked from any candidate seeking office.

Villar relates this to his own brand of transparency; showcasing his life story such as having lost a brother to a disease left untreated due to their early poverty. Having stated a desire to apply his own success story to the Filipino people, Villar claims to have no intent of using the presidential position for financial gains. He states that he would have returned to being a businessman if he sought money.

Although not all candidates are bestowed with a literal rags-to-riches story, liquidation of campaign funds as well as the legitimacy of their sources may be one of the country's deciding factors on their 2010 presidential bet.

-Kier Gideon Paolo Gapayao

start of campaign period - Maria Rojen Leonardo (gold)

February 9, 2010 - the start of official campaign period allowed the presidential candidates to appeal to people for their votes.
One of the front runners in the presidential bet is Liberal Party Standard bearer Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III with his running mate Mar Roxas launched its campaign in historical town of Concepcion, Tarlac where he was hailed from. Supporters decorated the streets and houses with his trademark yellow ribbons. They started the day with a mass at La Concepcion church with with Archbishop Florentino Senense.
However, the rich property developer standard bearer of Nacionalista Party Manny Villar with his running mate Sen. Loren Legarda chose the birthplace of our national hero Jose Rizal - Calamba, Laguna for their proclamation rally site where he recalled his humble beginnings up to time he became successful and this was the reason why he wanted to share his blessings with the poor.
Another presidential candidate is the deposed former president Joseph Estrada together with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay of Partido ng Masang Pilipino have their rally at the historic Plaza Miranda.
The ruling Lakas- Kampi-CMD Coalition led by the tandem of Gilbert 'Gibo' Teodoro and Edu Manzano chose Antipolo City as the venue for its first proclamation rally because it is situated in the east side where sun rises.
Sen. Richard Gordon and running mate Bayani Fernando toured Cavite before holding their campaign rally in Imus where they aim to 'transform' the political landscape. While Bangon Pilipinas Party representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva with running mate Perfecto Yasay Jr. formally launched their campaign by unfurling the Philippine flag in early morning rites at Rizal Park because it symbolizes the new and better Philippines under Bangon Pilipinas Party.
And the rest of presidential candidates like Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Councilor JC delos Reyes, entrepreneur Vitaliano Acosta and environmentalist Nicky Perlas have no plans to have their own kick off rallies.