Finding out who Tarlac’s presidential favorite is—in five easy steps

CONCEPCION, Tarlac—Tarlaquenos of this almost-urbanized town are divided on whom to vote in the May 10 polls, while others are still undecided. This, GMANews.TV found out Saturday by doing a very quick market poll—in five easy steps. While candidates of the Nacionalista Party led by its standard bearer Senator Manuel Villar visited the Concepcion Public Market, GMANews.TV asked stall owners and vendors if voters in the province will solidly support Liberal Party presidential candidate Senator Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III.
The first step that GMANews.TV did was to ask grocery store owner Joe Pasquil. His reply: Residents of Concepcion did not feel any special attention from the Aquinos. "Siguro hati pa ang mga taga-Tarlac. Hindi mo masasabing solid na Noynoy pero hindi mo rin masasabi na maka-Villar (Maybe Tarlac folk are still divided. You can’t say we’re solid for Noynoy, but you can’t also say we’re for Villar)," he said. But Pasquil did recall the local people’s reaction when Aquino did not go inside the public market during his kick-off campaign here last month. "Nadismaya ang mga taga-palengke. Hindi siya pumasok para makita ng personal (The market folk were disappointed. He didn’t come in to have a personal look)," Pasquil said. Pasquil expressed hope that Villar will go inside the market to meet the vendors up close. Second step, inquire with vendor Bong Lauz. Asked who he will support, Lauz, 35, said he is still choosing between Aquino and Villar. Asked why administration bet Gilberto Teodoro Jr., also a favorite son of the Cojuangco clan, was not included in his list, Lauz just shrugged his shoulders—a sign that could mean anything from “Can’t explain it myself," to “It's yours to find out." Third step, ask baby-sitter Antonina Figueroa. She also revealed her own indecision: "Wala pa akong napipili, matagal pa naman e (I haven’t chosen anyone, it’s a long way off yet anyway)." Fourth step, approach Clemeng Corpus. It was a different story with our 75-year-old lola, who said she will vote for Aquino for being a son of Tarlac. "Syempre malakas sila dito, taga-dito sila e (Of course they are on strong footing here, they’re from here)," she told GMANews.TV. Fifth step, go and ask other Concepcion folk—quickly before the motorcade starts. Disappointingly, however, other residents approached by GMANews.TV refused to say who they will vote for. Villar’s party, which included running mate Senator Loren Legarda, senatorial candidates Gilbert Remulla, Adel Tamano and Ferdinand Marcos Jr., made the rounds of Concepcion together with Mayor Noel Villanueva, a member of NP. Concepcion is the hometown of martyred hero Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino Jr., who first cut his teeth in politics as its mayor—the youngest municipal mayor of that period. From Concepcion, the party held a motorcade going through the next town, La Paz, then headed towards Tarlac City. The NP ticket also visited the more northerly Tarlac towns of Gerona, Paniqui, Camiling and Sta. Ignacia.—Amita O. Legaspi/JV, GMANews.TV