‘Grand production’ kicks off FPJ bid

Lights, camera, action.

Just like in his box office hits, political neophyte Fernando Poe Jr. will kick off his presidential campaign today with a "grand production" at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City complete with an all-star cast.

The rally was "tailored for television" for the benefit of thousands of Poe supporters expected to pack the stadium, said Rodolfo Reyes, chief of the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP)’s media bureau.

Giant video screens will be installed outside for those who would not be able to get in, Reyes said.

A KNP source said the rally was directed by television executive producer Tony Tuviera of TAPE Inc., which produces noontime variety show "Eat Bulaga," and up to "90 percent" of showbiz celebrities are expected to show up.

But it will not be all hype, Reyes said.

"Apart from the glitz and glamour, it will have substance where he (Poe) is expected to touch on general programs of government and how to win back trust in government," he said. "He might also disclose some names who would be members of his Cabinet."

Poe, known better by his initials FPJ, is widely expected to win the May 10 presidential elections because of his movie star popularity despite his lack of experience in holding public office.

His relative silence on issues of the day has made the business community nervous.

Yesterday, Poe again avoided journalists after inaugurating the KNP’s campaign headquarters on Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City.

Reyes assured the public though that Poe would soon be "confronting the issues" of the campaign and asked journalists to give the political newcomer some slack because he has been busy consulting political and economic advisers.

"FPJ wants to be short on speeches and long on action and he won’t be relying on a wordsmith," Reyes said. "He believes in the art of plain talk."

Reyes said Poe was "just about ready to answer questions, even the nasty ones."

Instead of political statements, feng shui took center stage during the inauguration of the KNP headquarters.

The feng shui expert, a certain Mr. Su, asked everyone to leave the room except for Poe, vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda and senatorial candidates Boots Anson-Roa, Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, Ernesto Maceda, Jamby Madrigal and Amina Rasul.

Roa said the feng shui expert took measurements of the room, asked them to close their eyes and made them wear a bright yellow sash as he said a blessing.

"There was the usual ceremonies. Remember that feng shui is the art of geomancy, it’s not really a science. The feng shui expert did not give any specifics to us, just the blessings," Legarda told The STAR.

Asked for comment on the 30-minute ceremony, Roa, a Catholic, said: "It’s additional knowledge. There’s no harm to it."

A friend of Poe reportedly suggested a feng shui ceremony to ensure good luck, Reyes said. Indeed, the medium-rise building has been said to be "lucky."

The ceremony was reminiscent of the 1998 run of deposed President Joseph Estrada, a former movie star himself and close friend of Poe who won by a landslide because of his celebrity popularity.

The building was Estrada’s campaign headquarters and still is the party headquarters of his Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino.

Estrada was deposed in early 2001 by a popular uprising following massive corruption charges. He is currently on trial.

Estrada was replaced by President Arroyo, then the vice president. He was instrumental in encouraging Poe to seek the presidency.

Stepping up the campaign, Poe supporters plan to mobilize women volunteers to help him in his bid for the presidency.

Adel Raymundo, head of the Women for Freedom, Peace and Justice which was launched yesterday, expects up to 19 million women to lend a hand.

They want to make a statement of support for Poe following his ready admission last week that he had an affair with a starlet years ago and sired a son.

Raymundo said they "admire" Poe for admitting he has a love child.

"We have talked about this during one of our meetings and we have agreed to keep on supporting him. As far as we are concerned, his clean image has not changed. There are many out there who have illegitimate children but refuse to publicly acknowledge them," she said.

On Wednesday, Poe is scheduled to take his campaign to 14 towns in Bulacan, to be capped by an evening rally in Meycauayan. — With Mike Frialde