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Saturday, March 27, 2004
Poe woos Cebu with lines from films
By Charmaine Y. Rodgriguez
CEBU CITY -- Presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., the king of Philippine action movies, opened Friday his campaign in Cebu, incidentally, in the province's gun-making capital, Danao City.
Poe arrived during the last 30 minutes of the three-hour program, where his runningmate Sen. Loren Legarda and 12 senatorial candidates under the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) took turns speaking to a crowd of about 3,000 that occupied the grounds of the Freedom stage in Barangay Poblacion, Danao City.
In his speech, which was spiced with famous lines from his movies, Poe also promised to prioritize food security, education, housing, health and peace and order programs for the Filipinos.
"Kahit butas ng karayom, papasukin ko para sa inyo. Kahit anong pang-aapi ang ginagawa nila pero kakayanin ko dahil hindi pa puno ang salop. Pero kung kayo ang inapi, mapupuno ang salop," he also told the cheering crowd, who braved the noonday sun.
This is the second time the popular actor visited Cebu since he started his bid for the presidency.
Poe is in a tight race with President Arroyo, who was also in Cebu Friday to address people's concerns and to meet with the business sector.
Sen. Vicente "Tito" Sotto III was quick to explain that Friday's activity was only a whistle-stop since KNP's grand rallies will be in Talisay and Cebu cities Saturday.
"Sa amin, hindi marami ito. If FPJ holds a rally, mas malaki pa nito (This number is small. We expect to see more people)," he told reporters when asked if the turnout indicated that Cebu is indeed the administration's bailiwick.
Danao Traffic Division operation officer Josephus Geonzon estimate the crowd at 5,000.
Although Danao City was not the first option, KNP's gubernatorial candidate Wilfredo Tuadles said they decided to hold it there since one of the Duranos, who is identified with the administration, is actually supporting Poe.
He refused to name who, but senatorial aspirant Ernesto Maceda, in his speech, thanked Rep. Ace Durano.
Tuadles also said organizers initially opted for Camotes Island, but aborted the plan because of difficulties in transporting the campaign staff there.
Like Maceda, senatorial candidates Kit Tatad and Boots Anson-Roa danced to their campaign jingles, while Jamby Madrigal and Jinggoy Estrada got the crowd excited when they threw some giveaways, such as bead bracelets, shirts and caps.
Former senator Ernesto Herrera, and Sens. Juan Ponce Enrile and Aquilino Pimentel Jr. talked about their accomplishments, while the other candidates, such as former mayor Fred Lim, Digs Dilangalen, Amina Rasul and Sonny Escudero, talked about their background and priority projects.
Legarda, who also gave away scarves, entertained the crowd by singing "Kahit Konting Pagtingin" with movie stars Anabelle Rama and Eddie Gutierrez.
Actor Eddie Garcia was also there.
Although he did not campaign for himself, Tuadles was with the candidates when they traveled by helicopter from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Danao.
After visiting Toledo City, they proceeded to Talisay City, where they expected to gather a bigger crowd, Sotto said.
Although gubernatorial candidate Celestino "Junie" Martinez Jr. already declared that he is supporting President Arroyo, Sotto said negotiations are still on going.
Pledges
President Arroyo, who also was in Cebu for various activities, promised Cebuanos to help address their problems, among them the concern of Muslims for a separate cemetery.
She consulted Cebu City residents during the question and answer portion with the president.
Those who came to ask questions but were not pre-listed left disappointed because they were not given the chance to get hold of the microphone.
They were told to just direct their concerns some other time to Cebu City south district Rep. Antonio Cuenco.
During the pulong bayan, Arroyo promised to provide at least 300,000 families with homes through the National Housing Authority (NHA) if given a fresh mandate.
It was unclear, however, how many of the recipients were from Cebu City.
Someone narrated her predicament that she, among others, is living as a squatter in a private lot. The President took note of her address.
Arroyo said that on Saturday, she will sign a P500-million fund for NHA's community mortgage program for those living on private properties.
She likewise promised coconut farmers of at least 10,000 a month of coconut seedlings to replace trees that were cut down.
She took pride that during her stint as President prices of copra went up.
The concerns of Cebu's business sector were also addressed last night when the President inducted the officials of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Arroyo likewise told the Muslims who are living in Cebu City to submit a proposal to the Office of the Muslim Affairs (OMA) for help regarding a separate cemetery for them.
She said OMA still has P25 million left for its projects, and the Muslims in Cebu City can tap that fund.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeņa, in a separate interview, said the P3-million budget for the Barangay Guba lot purchase for the cemetery was already included in the first supplemental budget.
The City has even already paved the road going to the lot, he added.
According to Muslim customs, a person who died must be buried at most a day after he passed away, said Najeeb Andang, United Muslim Federation of Cebu spokesperson.
And since there is no cemetery for them here, he said, they sometimes have to charter a plane or boat, which is very expensive, in transporting the body to Mindanao.
"That is why we are hopeful because of the promise," he said.(With reports from Rene H. Martel)
(March 27, 2004 issue)
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