Presidentiables start campaign trail

THE biggest affair in town unveils as the 90-day presidential campaign kicked off Tuesday.

Tele-evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva kicked off his second Palace bid by unfurling the world’s largest Philippine flag as an indication of new beginning for the country.

The flag – measuring 180 meters x 92 meters – was first unfurled in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya on September 16, 2006. Weighing 3.8 tons and costing almost P10 million, it was created by businesswoman Grace
Galindez Gupana, a supporter of Bangon Pilipinas.

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

“The biggest Philippine flag was unfolded in the holy land of Luneta Park. Let us wave the hope of a new Philippines,” said Villanueva before a sea of green and yellow supporters at the Rizal Park Tuesday morning.

“We are starting here in the country's 'Kilometer Zero' as a sign of hope for a new Philippines. This year is the year of God's favor for the Philippines," said campaign manager Lyndon Caña, in explaining the choice of Rizal Park.

Supporters sported “Eddie Tayo” shirts, caps, button pins, flags, and bandanas. “Babangon Tayo” flyers, shirts, umbrellas were also distributed to them as well.

The group also set up a "Bangon Webbie" booth near the stage where supporters can register their Facebook accounts in Villanueva's fan page.

During the program, Villanueva, running mate Perfecto Yasay, and the seven senatorial bets -- Zafrullah Alonto, Kata Inocencio,
Ramoncito Ocampo, Reynaldo Princesa, Alex Tinsay, Israel Virgines, and
Adz Nikabulin -- re-enacted the “washing of the feet” of representatives from the country's marginalized sectors such as farmers, laborers, the elderly and indigenous peoples.

“Bangon Pilipinas is about new politics. I am running as president of the Philippines to start fundamental reform which politicians, time and again, failed to deliver. I am running as president because it is the call of the times to stop the suffering of our country,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva, whose running on the platform “Anim na Taon na Walang Korapsyon, Ating Bansa ay Babangon,” emphasized that traditional politics has led the country to “the devastating effects of corruption.”

In 2004, Villanueva ran against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and three others for the country’s top post. He lost though but insisted he was robbed of victory due to the administration’s alleged cheating machinery.

Products of Olongapo City

Relatives Senator Richard Gordon and Olongapo City councilor John Carlos de los Reyes launched their own presidential bids by touring provinces Tuesday. De los Reyes is Gordon’s nephew.

Gordon, accompanied by running-mate former Metro Manila Development
Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando, went into a motorcade to
Cavite to visit various towns and cities before setting up in Imus for a kick-off rally on Tuesday afternoon.

A radio report said the two were on a replica of “Optimus Prime,” the 10-wheel Isuzu truck that will carry them throughout their motorcade.
“Optimus Prime” is the leader of the Autobots in the popular cartoon series “Transformers,” the duo’s campaign tag.

Gordon said their campaign will not be awash with cash but claimed that track record is enough to propel them to the top two posts in the land.

“Today, we begin the first victory of the country. We need to have leaders chosen based on right, not popularity; honesty, not buying the presidency; work ethic, not inheritance,” the outgoing senator added.

Latest surveys showed Gordon, de los Reyes as cellar-dwellers in the 10-man presidential race. Fernando is also miles behind vice presidential frontrunners Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas II and Senator Loren Legarda.

The same radio report said traffic on the expressway was slow as more than 50 cars with Gordon and Fernando's posters, including Red Cross ambulances, joined the convoy.

De los Reyes of Ang Kapatiran party, meanwhile, had a series of activities in his hometown Olongapo City. He started it with a mass followed by house-to-house visits and meeting with local candidates.

The 39-year-old councilor was supposed to attend also a young leaders forum dubbed as ‘i-Vote: The Presidential Youth Dialogue’ at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of the RCBC Plaza today but organizers cancelled it.

De los Reyes is running on a platform of moral recovery leadership, to which he strongly opposed the reproductive health bill pending in Congress.

He also vowed to decentralize government so that development could finally trickle to the provinces, particularly in Mindanao.

One more chance for Erap

Former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada, meanwhile, asked the jam-packed crowd in the historic Plaza Miranda to give him a second chance in leading the nation.

Estrada, wearing his signature orange jacket, vowed to pursue an anti-poverty three-point action plan once re-elected, namely: peace and order, food security and fighting graft and corruption.

"There would be no economic growth without [peace and order]," he said.

The former President said only a peaceful country can attract investments that would result to job opportunities while insisting that wanted lasting peace in Mindanao, not a war of attrition against the Muslim rebels.

Peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front and the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front should also be pursued while appealing to these groups not to divide the “small nation,” Estrada said.

“We will bring back our dignity. We will pursue progress in this country,” he added.

As expected, celebrities loyal to Estrada showed their support, namely: Bayani Agbayani, Tirso Cruz III, Eddie Gutierrez, Eddie Garcia, Lorna
Tolentino, Faith Cuneta, Aiko Melendez,and Rico J Puno.

Other candidates who attended the four-hour proclamation rally include his running-mate Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and his senatorial ticket as follows: lawyer JV Bautista, Jose “Joey” de Venecia III, Representative Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza, Representative Apolinario “Jun” Lozada, former senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

Guest candidates Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. did not make it while detained Brigadier General Danilo Lim was represented by lone child Aika.

A videotaped message was also shown in a giant screen onstage highlighting Lim’s platform on national transparency in government.

Estrada, who earned the largest winning margin in Philippine electoral history, was ousted in 2001 amid allegations of corruption. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for plunder in September 2007.

His successor, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo granted the actor-turned-politician executive clemency in October 2007, restoring his political and civil rights.

The Commission on Elections cleared an obstacle on his Palace re-run last January 20 when the poll body’s second division dismissed the disqualification case against him for "lack of merit" and on technicality. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex