THE girlfriend of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Senator Noynoy Aquino is in Cagayan de Oro to meet Aquino's supporters and help launch a youth-oriented group for the campaign.
Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad made a courtesy call on Mayor Constantino Jaraula upon arriving in the city Friday. She then met with other local officials and supporters of Aquino.
On Saturday, the 29-year-old councilor is scheduled to attend a press conference with the local press, followed by series of meetings with LP support groups in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental.
Together with actor Dingdong Dantes and other entertainment stars, she will spearhead the launching of Advocates of Youths and Students for Noynoy Aquino (Ayos Na) on Sunday.
A pres release issued by Aquino's campaign described Ayos Na as a "nationwide movement of youth and students that advocates for change and the promotion and/ or implementation of programs on employment, the environment, youth leadership and participative governance."
In a statement, Dantes said Ayos Na aims at mobilizing at least half-a-million youth volunteers, especially those belonging to the "Pinoy Gen Next" (Generation Next) to help catapult Aquino to the presidency on May.
"Generation Next refers to Filipinos born from the late 1970s to the late l990s. And this is the target of all candidates and their political spin doctors in an effort to duplicate the success of the youth-powered Barack Obama presidential campaign in the US simply because it is the biggest voters block in the country today," he said.
Sunday's launching at the Liceo de Cagayan University Civic Center will be followed by a press conference at the Grand Caprice at LimketKai.
This is Shalani's first time in Cagayan de Oro and she is expected to be peppered with questions ranging from her campaign efforts to boost Aquino's candidacy and her romance with Cory Aquino's only son.
Her website describes her as a native of Catanduanes and a graduate of Human Resources Management at De La Salle's College of St. Benilde.
She used to work in the Senate as a staffer in the office of Senator Panfilo Lacson in the Senate (2001-2003). (DVA/Bong Fabe)