MANILA, Philippines - Administration standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro hit the campaign trail yesterday inspired by Star Trek’s iconic spiel “where no man has gone before,” as he moved to reach out to more voters.
The province of Rizal is a known administration bailiwick, being the hometown of Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, a key campaign strategist of Teodoro.
Lakas-Kampi-CMD deputy secretary-general Reginald Velasco said they considered feng shui in their choice of Antipolo as venue for the official launching of Teodoro’s campaign. He said the city is elevated and located east of Manila, where the sun shines.
Teodoro is also a devotee of the Our Lady of the Peace and Good Voyage, popularly known as the Virgin of Antipolo.
Teodoro, who is lagging in surveys, said his campaign would be “clean and positive” and that he was leaving the mudslinging and black propaganda to his political opponents.
Teodoro, vice presidential candidate Edu Manzano, and the senatorial bets of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD, started their proclamation rally at the Ynares Sports Complex in Antipolo City at around 4:30 p.m.
The senatorial candidates proclaimed were reelectionist senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla and Lito Lapid, veteran broadcaster Rey Langit, lawyer Raul Lambino, former Cabinet secretary Silvestre Bello III, and Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico.
Around 10,000 people, including congressmen, governors, mayors and other supporters of the various candidates packed the sports complex bedecked with banners, balloons and buntings all colored in various shades of green, the official color of the Teodoro campaign.
Teodoro also asked reporters not to expect him to “sing and dance” on stage in his campaign sorties.
“My main campaign message is reform based on stability because there could be no reform if there is no stability,” Teodoro said in Filipino earlier at the Lakas-Kampi-CMD headquarters in Quezon City.
“Number two, our country must confront a lot of problems that needs a leader with experience, a leader willing to set aside all differences and genuinely reconcile all sectors to be able to solve our difficulties and take advantage of opportunities facing the country,” he said.
“My campaign will remain to be positive because we need to inspire people, we need to encourage people. We need to help each other and lend a helping hand. It has to be positive because our battle cry is ‘Forward Philippines,’” he said.
“You have to propel the morale of the people, you have to lift up their spirits to believe that they are going to do well, that the government is going to do well so that the country can be put on another plane,” he said.
Unfazed by surveys
Teodoro downplayed comments that he was 30 percent behind in the surveys saying “that’s just 30 percent, we have 90 days (to campaign).”
Teodoro also said his being identified with the unpopular President Arroyo, who was conspicuously absent during the rally, has not diminished his confidence.
“After a while that (identified with Mrs. Arroyo) will be a non-issue and it hasn’t affected me much anyway,” he said. “That issue can go only so far.”
He admitted that what he needs to overcome is his relative “lack of exposure” to the public.
“The leaders must be an example of unity of this nation. I am not saying that that there should no longer be an opposition but we must elevate politics in our country,” Teodoro said.
Teodoro said he was bracing for a grueling nationwide campaign.
“And of course the emotional stress of being away from your family everyday,” he said.
Teodoro's wife, Tarlac Rep. Monica Louise Teodoro joined him on stage. Puno and Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Prospero Pichay acted as emcees.
GMA absent
While Mrs. Arroyo was not present, her son Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita were seen at the rally.
Also seen were Maguindanao gubernatorial candidate Esmael Mangudadatu, Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor, Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.
Lapid and Revilla, who are frontrunners in the surveys, drew the loudest cheers and applause from the audience.
Lapid, true to form, gave the shortest speech. He told those in the complex that it was not true that he was not working at the Senate.
He pointed out that he authored the bill that would provide free legal assistance to the poor.
Veteran journalist and TV host Mike Toledo has come on board the campaign as Teodoro’s new campaign spokesman.
“Mike is a spokesperson of the highest professional qualifications,” Lakas-Kampi CMD secretary-general Francis Manglapus said.
“His credentials make him a perfect fit for Gibo’s presidential campaign with its emphasis on policy issues and a doable program of government,” Manglapus said. “We could not have attracted a person better suited to this job.”