SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in San Fernando City, Pampanga Tuesday.

Arroyo personally filed her COC after attending a mass and a program organized by her supporters in her hometown Lubao.

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Thousands of people gathered in St. Augustine Parish Church in Lubao as early as 8 a.m. to show their support to the President.

The mass was officiated by Fr. Bogs Moraleja who likened Arroyo's candidacy to the action of Jesus Christ, whom he said "went down to serve."

The priest added that the provincemates of Arroyo will be the one who lift her up whenever her critics tried to bring her down.

Clad in light blue clothes, Arroyo arrived at the church with husband First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo and son Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo.

The First Gentleman said Arroyo did not seek an advice from him about her decision to run for Congress but "only to her constituents." He however said he will support the President in any decision she arrived at.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde was also present at the mass together with other Cabinet members such as Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Secretary Silvestre Bello III, and Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza.

Pampanga Vice Governor Yeng Guaio and several mayors and other officials of Pampanga also attended the mass.

After the mass, Arroyo delivered a speech in front of her fellow Kapampangans. She merely repeated the announcement she made over Radyo ng Bayan in her speech in Lubao but in Kapampangan dialect.

The people in Lubao were all in a festive mood as they listened to the speech of Arroyo.

Several mayors who made their speeches said they warmly welcome the intention of Arroyo to represent Pampanga's second district in Congress.

They said they need Arroyo more than Mikey who is the incumbent district Representative.

Mikey meanwhile responded that although he still has one term in Congress, he is so much willing to give way to her mother in leading Pampanga who is "10 million times intelligent" than him.

In an ambush interview with Mikey, he said he will simply concentrate with his family life and no plans in running for any position in the coming elections.

After the program, Arroyo then proceeded to the Comelec office at the Provincial Capitol in San Fernando City, Pampanga around 10:30 a.m.

After she officially filed her candidacy, Arroyo greeted her supporters waiting outside the Capitol building.

She then went around some areas in the second district of Pampanga including Lubao, Guagua, Floridablanca, Porac, Sta. Rita, and Sasmuan.

As of this writing Tuesday, there is only one candidate who is vying the congressional post against Arroyo. An electronics engineer named Feliciano Serrano had filed his COC Monday.

Arroyo earlier said she decided to run as congresswoman in Pampanga to heed the insistent clamor of her provincemates.

For this year alone, Arroyo made about 50 visits to her home province particularly in second district of Pampanga where she is eyeing post. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)