To be or not to be? Noynoy to make announcement on 09-09-09

Will Noynoy finally announce his expected presidential bid on September 9? A media advisory sent Tuesday night by the camp of Senator Benigno Aquino III said that he would make an announcement in relation to the 2010 elections on Wednesday, 7:30 a.m., at Club Filipino’s Kalayaan Hall in Greenhills, San Juan City. September 9 marks the 40th day of former President Corazon Aquino’s death. Kalayaan Hall is the same venue where his mother was sworn in as the 11th president of the Philippines on Feb. 25, 1986. But the senator remains mum, and those close to him declined to make a categorical statement as of posting time, about his possible decision to run for president in next year’s polls. “I can’t give any indication on whether he would announce his presidential bid. I only have hopes and dreams that he would do so tomorrow," Jose Luis Martin “Chito" Gascon, Liberal Party (LP) director-general told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. Gascon said Noynoy “seemed to be at peace and in good spirits" when he came back to Manila from a two-day retreat in Zamboanga City last week. “He even brought us Carmel cookies," said Gascon, referring to the famous macaroon cookies made by nuns at the Carmelite Monastery in Zamboanga City. Rico E. Puno, Aquino’s consultant since the 1980s, told GMANews.TV in another phone interview that the senator “is expected to make a big announcement." “Why on this significant day, the 40th day of President Cory’s death? Why in Kalayaan Hall? I think the writing is on the wall," said Puno. Aquino was having a dinner meeting with his sisters at an undisclosed place in Quezon City Tuesday night, according to the senator’s security escort, Ronald Urmanita, who answered GMANews.TV’s call on Noynoy’s cell phone. It was reported earlier in the day that Aquino asked for one more week before coming out with his decision on a possible 2010 presidential bid. But later in the night, at about 6:30 p.m., Gascon said he was asked by LP campaign manager, Florencio “Butch" Abad, to arrange the Club Filipino venue for Noynoy’s public announcement on Wednesday morning. Sen. Manuel “Mar" Roxas II was quoted in news reports Tuesday night as saying that although he did not want to preempt Aquino’s announcement, he was convinced that Noynoy would join the presidential race. Roxas, LP’s anointed standard-bearer, backed out of the race last September 1 and threw his support behind Aquino to become the party’s presidential candidate. - AR Sabangan, GMANews.Tv