Large crowd expected at LP rally in Talisay toda

CEBU, Philippines - At least 10,000 people are expected to attend the proclamation rally of the Liberal Party in barangay Lagtang, Talisay City today, with its standard bearer Sen. Benigno Aquino III and his running mate Sen. Mar Roxas and some show business personalities expected to come.

Trader Dory Emit, LP’s candidate for councilor in Talisay City, said that with the presence of Aquino and Roxas, together with their slate, plus popular show business icons, this large number of people is expected, the reason why the unfinished Lagtang gymnasium was chosen for the event.

“We’ve prepared the crowd control already. We’ll also set a first aid station in case of emergency,” said Emit.

The original venue was supposed to be at a vacant lot in front of the city hall, but Emit said they would need a lot of money to construct a stage there, so they opted for the huge Lagtang gym.

Lagtang is the bailiwick of its chief Semy Cabuneas, who is running for councilor under the administration ticket. Before he was picked by the administration to replace one of its candidates who had backed out, Cabuenas was one of the 17 barangay chiefs who supported former vice mayor Aberdovey Belleza to run as vice mayor for the administration.

This did not happen because the administration party chief, first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas chose Vice Mayor Alan Bucao for the post.

With this development, Emit said they do not see any trouble coming from allies of the administration.

Aquino and the rest of the LP national bets are expected to arrive at the Mactan International Airport at 7:30 a.m. today, and are to go straight to a press conference in Cebu City, which will be held at Marco Polo Hotel or at the Cebu Coliseum.

After the press conference, the group will be flown via helicopter to Carcar City, where a caravan passing the entire first congressional district will start.

At past 4, the caravan is expected to arrive in Talisay, said Emit.

Emit said the party picked Talisay to be the venue of the “mass proclamation,” as it is the only locality in the whole first district that has a “solid team” of candidates. The LP-Talisay City is headed by its mayoralty bet Raul Bacaltos, with former Vice Mayor Belleza, as his running mate. The two and their councilors will be officially proclaimed today by Aquino and Roxas.

Emit said television personality Kris Aquino may not be able to make it today for some reason. But in her absence, singer Ogie Alcasid, actor Dingdong Dantes, and actress Marian Rivera, to name a few celebrities, will also attend the affair.

Emit believes that the event would boost their candidacies, especially

that Aquino and Roxas are both topping the national surveys, and may also help them draw the “masa appeal.”

The trader however said that based on last month’s survey, reportedly conducted by the administration camp, five from their party, himself included, made it to the top 10. He said the other four were trader Danny Caballer, Consul Lee, Bensing Raguindin, and lawyer Romeo Villarante (FREEMAN NEWS)