Presidential bets kick off campaigns with gimmicks

Presidential aspirants kicked off their crusade with various publicity stunts on Tuesday, the start of the campaign season for the May 10 national and local elections.

Religious leader Eddie Villanueva greeted sunrise by unfurling the largest Philippine flag on the sprawling field of the Quirino Grandstand in Manila early Tuesday morning. "The biggest Philippine flag was unfolded in the holy land of Luneta Park. Let us wave the hope of a new Philippines," an emotional Villanueva told the crowd in Filipino. [See: Bro. Eddie kicks off campaign at Luneta, unfurls RP's biggest flag] Presidential bets Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, Ma. Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal, and JC delos Reyes, meanwhile, attended separate Masses in Tarlac, Manila, and Olongapo City. After the Masses, Aquino headed straight to a nearby public market in Concepcion, Tarlac, while Madrigal proceeded to Carriedo St. in Manila's busy Quiapo district. [See: Jamby vows ‘nontraditional’ campaign for presidency] Prominent personalities were seen tagging along in the Liberal Party's campaign kickoff, including actor Coco Martin and activist-entertainer Juana Change. LP vice presidential bet Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas II was accompanied by his wife, news anchor Korina Sanchez. [See: Noynoy seeks God's help at campaign kick-off in Tarlac] In Capas town, Aquino showed his rapping ability by repeating what he did in one of his television ads: "Baguhin ang buhay maglilingkod sa inyo. Buong mundo ipagmalaki mo, tayo'y Pilipino." Afterward, the LP entourage went to Tarlac City, where they unveiled a monument of his mother, the late former president Corazon Aquino. ‘The Transformers’ Meanwhile, Senator Richard Gordon and his running mate Bayani Fernando headed south of Manila to Imus, Cavite. Along the way, Gordon told reporters that their tandem, while not awash with cash, had a good track record. The partners, who go by the catch tag "The Transformers," claimed they were going for a less expensive but creative poll campaign. A replica of Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots in the popular cartoon series Transformers, accompanied the duo in the sortie. Gordon, former chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, sang the Beatles hit "Imagine," saying "Sa talent pa lang, talo na sila (With my talent, they are already no match)." [See: Gordon and Fernando 'the transformers' get their act on the road] If Villanueva had his Philippine flag, the camp of former President Joseph Estrada had its apron, according to a report from radio dzMM. Senator Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile kicked off their campaign in Quezon City where they joined their local government candidates in giving their supporters aprons bearing the name of their political party, Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino. On board two mini-trucks, PMP candidates also tossed caps and candies to the crowd. [See: Estrada vows to regain the presidency ‘stolen from him’] While the other teams led their respective motorcades, Senators Manuel Villar Jr. and Loren Legarda — standard bearers of the Nacionalista Party — were conspicuously absent from their party's motorcades that started on a stretch of road in Laguna province. NP senatorial bets were present in the motorcade. The NP tandem later caught up with the motorcade and joined their supporters in a Mass at the St. John The Baptist Church in Calamba, Laguna. [See: Villar caps first campaign day with song, fireworks] In Antipolo City, over a hundred local government officials showed up at the Ynares Gym to show support for Lakas-Kampi-CMD tandem Gilbert Teodoro Jr. and Edu Manzano. Party stalwart President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, however, did not attend her party's kick-off sortie. [See: Gibo highlights LGU support in kick-off sortie] Meanwhile, independent candidate Nicanor Perlas began his campaign quietly at noon with a campus tour at the Ateneo de Manila University, where he finished his primary and secondary education. [See: Perlas takes low profile during first day of campaign] Perlas, 58, has scheduled his campaign kickoff on Saturday in Cebu. On Friday, his Manila supporters are holding a bike run at 5:30 am at the Quezon Memorial Circle, in keeping with the pro-environment platform of Perlas. In his native Olongapo City, Councilor John Carlos ‘JC’ de los Reyes had a low-profile campaign kick-off with three senatorial candidates of Ang Kapatiran party: sociopolitical analyst Rizalito David, Aparri councilor Reginald Tamayo, and retired fighter pilot Col. Hector Tarrazona. A report on QTV’s Balitanghali showed De los Reyes and his team going around the city sporting masks that depicted the political party’s pro-God, pro-life, pro-common good, anti-gambling, anti-pork barrel, anti-graft and corruption, and anti-political dynasty platform. The party’s vice presidential candidate, Atty. Dominador Chipeco, was unable to join the Olongapo campaign. Ang Kapatiran party is scheduled to hold its proclamation rally on Feb. 16 in Payatas, Quezon City. — with staff reports/NPA/RSJ/YA, GMANews.TV