THE entry of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino in the presidential race has disrupted the momentum and plans of other presidentiables. His friend and Liberal Party (LP) president Sen. Mar Roxas first gave way to Noynoy, thus paving the way for his presidential run. Mar’s retreat and Noynoy’s eventual announcement practically erased what had seemed an insurmountable survey lead that Sen. Manny Villar of the Na-cionalista Party built the past two years.

Consider this, for instance. While waiting for our flight to South Korea last Sept. 9, Ricky Poca, Ely Espinoza, and I were watching the news on television and could not help but note all the reports and features that revolved around Noynoy and Cory Aquino. There was news about Noynoy’s announcement, activities marking the 40th day since the death of Cory Aquino, the reactions of Kris Aquino, the comments of Roxas and other LP stalwarts, and the media interest over Nonoy’s girlfriend Valen-zuela Councilor Shalane Soledad. Meanwhile, Boy Abunda and Kris devoted most of their SNN broadcast to Noynoy and Cory.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

How could expensive 30-seconders compete with all these free publicities? And the other presidentiables have to contend with the emotional connection Noynoy has with the Filipino people because of his father and mother.

According to one Senate colleague, Villar’s campaign plan that relied on expensive television commercials was designed with Roxas as his eventual adversary in the homestretch. The Noynoy phenomenon could be likened to a computer re-boot. The billions he poured went to naught as he has to start all over again.

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero was more fortunate. His survey ratings rose through the months before the death of former president Cory Aquino without the use of expensive commercials.

He focused on his advocacy against corruption and other issues against the Arroyo administration.

Still I believe Senator Escudero, who still has to formally announce his presidential plans when he turns 40 on Oct. 10, is competing with Noynoy for the same anti-Arroyo constituency.

During a press conference last Saturday and the off-the-record banter afterwards, I sensed that Escudero is confident that he will eventually emerge in the eyes of the voters as the better candidate with a better program for the Filipino people.

The people will begin looking at the personal qualities of the candidate after the Cory magic wanes after a few weeks or months.

In a way, the same track seems to be pursued by Lakas-Kampi standard-bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro. Noynoy’s adversaries will continue to harp on his lack of a sterling performance in Congress while stressing that they also had no record of corruption and possess a better alternative program.

However, Gibo has to deal with his lack of popularity and the difficulty of defending the record of the Arroyo administration.

Let’s see if the vaunted administration machinery will lift him in the coming surveys until May 2010, though history has shown that it did not work for Speaker Ramon Mitra in 1992 and Speaker Joe de Venecia in 1998.

In Cebu, Teodoro should also deal with his leadership of the impeachment move against Hilario Davide, then Supreme Court justice. Escudero clarified that while he supported the move he was then a neophyte congressman and could have not led the effort as alleged. He also expressed support for the possible candidacy of Davide’s son for vice governor along with Nationalist People’s Coalition stalwart Sec. Ace Durano as the party’s bet for governor.

Come Sept. 25, the Cebu media will have the first crack at closely examining the presidential contenders during the forum on “The State of Media Under Your Presidency” at the Marcelo Fernan Cebu Press Center. Gibo and Chiz have reportedl responded positively. I hope Noynoy will come, too.

(Check out www.inbetweencolumns.wordpress.com)