Kris joins Noynoy in campaign sortie for the first time

ZAMBOANGA CITY - For the first time since the campaign for national posts started in early February, popular celebrity Kris Aquino is joining her brother presidential aspirant Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III in one of his sorties. Interviewed upon her arrival at the Zamboanga City airport, Kris said she chose to campaign for her brother here because the place is special to the Aquino family. "Alam ninyo siguro napakaespesyal ng Zamboanga para sa amin kasi di ba dito nagpunta si Noy para magdasal. At dito niya nabuo ang kalooban niya para tumakbo para maging presidente ng Pilipinas. Ito yung first time na sasamahan ko siya dahil nga napakaespesyal ng Zamboanga para sa amin," Kris said. (As you all know Zamboanga is very special to us because this is where Noy went to pray. This is where he became convinced to run for president of the Philippines. This is the first time I am accompanying him because Zamboanga is very special to us). Kris was flocked by dozens of screaming fans, some of them clad in yellow, upon her arrival at the airport here. Following the death of their mother former president Corazon Aquino and the clamor for his presidential bid that ensued, Noynoy spent a few days at the Carmelite Monastery in Zamboanga City in September before announcing his decision to seek the presidency. Kris said she was supposed to have a taping Wednesday but she had it postponed upon the request of her older sister Pinky, who asked her to go with Noynoy. Kris admitted that she was worried about the ratings of Noynoy's closest rival, Senator Manuel Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party, which are inching closer to Noynoy's. "Actually kaplastikan kung sasabihin mong di ka worried na lumalapit pero very confident ako na aangat kami uli (It would be dishonest if I say I'm not worried, but I'm very confident that our ratings will rise again)," she said. Kris said she would proceed to IIoilo the next day with her youngest son Baby James, where she will also campaign for her brother. Noynoy, on the other hand, will go to Surigao on Thursday. He will be accompanied by some of the Liberal Party's senatorial candidates: Yasmin Busran-Lao, Risa Hontiveros, Martin Bautista, Alex Lacson, and Sonia Roco. Noynoy is supported in Zamboanga City by first district Rep. Ma. Isabelle "Beng" Climaco, who also heads the LP chapter in Zamboanga. Climaco had also previously served as this city's vice mayor. The congresswoman moved from the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) to the LP weeks before the filing of the certificate of candidacy late last year. The Climacos have long held power here, which, as of 2007, is the sixth largest city in the Philippines with a population of over 774,000. - RSJ, GMANews.TV