Poll season starts with campaign gimmicks

MANILA -- The election season officially began Tuesday, with presidential aspirants kicking off their campaigns with various gimmicks 90 days before the May 10 polls.

In the campaign rallies, posters of the national bets went up and jingles blared. Supporters wore the campaign colors of their chosen candidates, while celebrities hired by political parties perform on stage.

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Tele-evangelist Brother Eddie Villanueva had the most unique publicity stunt, as he kicked off his second Palace bid by unfurling the world’s largest Philippine flag as an indication of a new beginning for the country.

Evangelist and presidential candidate Eddie Villanueva (right foreground) flash the victory sign to kick off his campaign for May elections at Manila's Rizal Park. (AP)

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.

“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.

Villanueva’s sported “Eddie Tayo” shirts, caps, button pins, flags, and bandanas. “Babangon Tayo” flyers, shirts, umbrellas were also distributed to them.

Former President Joseph Estrada (right) acknowledges Senator Juan Ponce Enrile (center) as vice presidential candidate Jejomar Binay looks on during their proclamation rally Tuesday. (AP)

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

Villanueva, along with his running mate Perfecto Yasay and members of his senatorial slate, also 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.

Relatives Senator Richard Gordon and Olongapo City councilor John Carlos de los Reyes, for their part, launched their own presidential bids by touring provinces Tuesday.

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.

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.

While his uncle had his own gimmicks, De los Reyes of Ang Kapatiran party conducted a series of activities in his hometown Olongapo City.

De los Reyes started his political crusade with a mass followed by house-to-house visits and meeting with local candidates.

Liberal Party standard bearer Senator Noynoy Aquino, who criticized his closest rival Senator Manny Villar during a lunch press conference Tuesday, also attended mass at the Concepcion Parish Church in Tarlac before appearing in a rally that was held at Concepcion Market.

Close to 1,000 people gathered in front of the market during the rally, while the church was jam-packed during the mass.

Aquino, along with running mate Mar Roxas and their senatorial slate, also went on a motorcade to Capaz, Tarlac from Concepcion, where an unveiling of the late former President Cory Aquino's statue was held.

Actor Coco Martin also attended the event.

In Antipolo City, Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro and his running mate Edu Manzo also launched their campaign with a motorcade from the administration party’s headquarters in Edsa to Antipolo in Rizal.

The party’s proclamation rally was then held at the Ynares Sports Center in the city, which Lakas-Kampi deputy secretary general Rey Roquero said is a “high ground” or a lucky starting point.

Jolo Revilla, the actor son of Bong Revilla, represented his father during the event.

While Aquino had Coco Martin and Teodoro had Jolo Revilla, former President Joseph Estrada, who asked his supporters at the historic Plaza Miranda in Manila to give him a second chance in leading the nation, had in his side Tuesday celebrities who are loyal to him.

Among them were Bayani Agbayani, Tirso Cruz III, Eddie Gutierrez, Eddie Garcia, Lorna Tolentino, Faith Cuneta, Aiko Melendez, and Rico J Puno.

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

Meanwhile, Manny Villar and running mate Loren Legarda of the Nacionalista Party led their respective motorcades Tuesday in Laguna. They also joined their supporters in a mass at St. John The Baptist Church in Calamba, Laguna.

Senator Jamby Madrigal, for her part, started her campaign as an independent candidate for president with an act of charity.

Just like the other presidential aspirants, Madrigal first attended mass, this time at the Church of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo. She went to Caloocan City after the mass to distribute food to fire victims.

Another independent candidate, Nicanor Perlas went on a campus tour at the Ateneo de Manila University, his alma mater.

Perlas’ supporters in Manila will reportedly hold a bike run at the Quezon Memorial Circle at 5:30 a.m. Friday. On Saturday, he will visit Cebu for a campaign kickoff.

Tuesday’s start of the election season allowed the presidential candidates to hold rallies and appeal directly to people for their votes, while spending limits on advertising took effect.

But while the presidential and other national candidates’ election season began, those vying for lower positions will not be allowed to officially start campaigning until March 26. (Virgil Lopez/Angela Casauay/JMR/Sunnex