Noynoy to talk to Danding on presidential bid

While he has not had a chance to do so, Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III expects to talk to his uncle, tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr., about his presidential bid. Aquino disclosed this in an interview published Friday in Bacolod-based Visayan Daily Star (www.visayandailystar.com), after he visited Negros Occidental Thursday. "At the end of the day, I think we have to talk to each other," he said, but quickly added that he will not likely ask for his uncle's support. "He's my uncle. I would not presume to tell an elder what to do," he said when asked if he will ask for Cojuangco's support. Cojuangco is chairman emeritus of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), the party he founded when he sought the presidency during the 1992 presidential elections won by then Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos. The NPC is reportedly eyeing to field Senator Francis Escudero in the 2010 polls. Surge in popularity Noynoy was prodded to run for president after enjoying a surge in popularity since his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, died last Aug. 1, and the nation marked the 26th death anniversary of his father, former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. last Aug. 21 On Thursday, Aquino and running mate Sen. Manuel Roxas II visited Negros Occidental province. "We really feel the warmth, we really feel the strength, the clamor is so apparent," Aquino said. The Visayan Daily Star report said Aquino and Roxas got a pop-star welcome despite the rains in Bacolod, Talisay and Bago Cities. People shouted "Noy-Mar Na!" and mobbed the two to get their autographs and have their pictures taken with them. Former education secretary Florencio Abad, campaign manager of the two, said it was not very hard to campaign for them because of the spontaneous outpouring of support from the people. "This is a normal reception for them everywhere they go because they have made it very clear that this is a people's campaign," Abad said. The two made a courtesy call on Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco at the Provincial Capitol, then went to Talisay City, then Bacolod City and Bago City. Bago City is the hometown of Roxas' mother Judy Araneta Roxas. 'Yellow' crowd The crowd waved yellow flaglets and placards expressing their support for the two. The two also paid a call on Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, who stressed to them the need to be “pro-God, pro-life, pro-people, pro-country and pro-environment" in their platform of government. From Negros Occidental, the two senators were to go to Iloilo, Capiz and Aklan Friday. In all his stops, Aquino thanked the people for their prayers for his mother as she battled cancer and for his family after she died. Aquino said that as president he will make decisions in the best interest of the people. “I do not believe in politics of expediency nor transactional politics, I will stand for what is right," he said. He also said he has no immediate plans of getting married yet, and if elected president on “occasions needing a first lady I'm sure any of my four sisters can be asked to attend." Meanwhile, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia informed Aquino an ordinance renaming Taculing Road to President Corazon Aquino Drive has been passed by the city council. Leonardia also handed to Aquino a photo album containing photos of Bacolod residents writing messages for the late President Cory Aquino in the Book of Condolences provided by the city. - GMANews.TV