La Union’s political key personas have bestowed their full support to Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. as they looked in advance to a “blizzard of support” once the official campaign period for local elective posts inaugurates a few weeks from now for the former youngest defense secretary and 1989 bar topnotcher.

“Surveys merely serve as a guide,” said Rep. Victor Ortega who bore that among Gibo’s other hardcore supporters in La Union are City Mayor Pablo Ortega and a majority of the 19 municipal mayors in this province.

“When the local campaign starts…two weeks from there we expect a blizzard of support. When the LGUs (local government units) move, then there will be a big surge (for Gibo) for sure,” said Ortega, the former governor who is provincial chairman of Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Gibo has strengthened his support base in the “Solid North,” with the support of these local political leaders following his earlier ventures into neighbouring Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur which apparently had similar results and secured the same support of elective officials from both provinces from governors to mayors.

“He (Gibo) will win here,” said Ortega. “Twelve (12) to 13 towns are for him plus the city of San Fernando. All the nine towns of the first district will definitely root for him.”

Eight municipalities including San Fernando, Pampanga are in La Union’s first congressional district while the other following 11 municipalities are in the second district. Furthermore, Manuel, Ortega’s younger brother, is the current governor.

“The local candidates and the LGUs cannot yet openly campaign and are quiet because the local campaign period has yet to start,” Rep. Ortega said. “For certain, we have the majority of LGUs nationwide.”

Lawyer Mike Toledo, the former press secretary who is now Gibo’s spokesman and director of the G1BO Media Bureau, said Ortega’s fearless forecast only confirmed what he has been saying all along about the fresh wave of voter support that Gibo will get from the formidable Lakas-Kampi-CMD machinery once the campaign season for the local elections officially starts on March 26.

Toledo noted down that the vast support for Lakas Kampi CMD standard bearer by young voters, who comprise the immensity of voters in the May balloting, will be harmonized by the flourish of backing from the party’s campaign equipment at the beginning of the local campaign duration.

“We are very confident that as the campaign period starts to heat up, definitely he will rise as far as surveys are concerned and as far as the electorate is concerned. And when it goes up, and we feel right now, it’s already in the double digits, dun na po papasok yung campaign machinery. Let’s face it, kung may campaign machinery ka, that’s already a built-in 15% also.  So if you go double digits, plus another 15%, then definitely we will go neck-and-neck with who you may call as the frontrunners,” Toledo stressed out.

Noynoy celebrates the 24^th anniversary of EDSA Revolution by recalling his experiences during Marcos’ Regime. In an interview Noynoy said that “ the EDSA revolution should have ended the one-person, one clique regime”. He also expressed gratitude to his supporters and said that he is very grateful that he is running through a people’s campaign. He mentioned that the people should not base their votes on imaging and popularity.

It’s a wonder how he is able to say this when he himself has been using imaging and popularity for his campaign. He and his yellow army is a one-person, one clique regime. His band of supporters branded him as the candidate with integrity, the presidentiable with a pure heart and a bloodline fit only for the presidency. His being an Aquino automatically gave him the image that has been originally associated to his parents – the icon of democracy, somebody who can change the nation. He worked his campaign around an image that wasn’t even his but his parents. Isn’t that called imaging too? No, he didn’t have to prove himself because his parents have already done that for their family. All Noynoy has to do now is to ride with that assumption that just like his parents, he will be a great leader, no questions asked. He just has to follow where his supporters would lead him.

This has been his case from the very start. He has been following his supporters. Now that Villar has worked his way up the polls, Noynoy realizes it’s time for him to direct his campaign. A few months before the elections and he decides to finally lead his party, one thing that he should have done from the start of his campaign. Is that a sign of a good leader? Somebody, who at the last minute, decides to head the pack?

He mentioned that justice has been a problem of the country for a very long time and he plans to advocate justice when he wins. How will he be able to foster justice in the nation when it is only now that he is trying to do something for the victims of Hacienda Luisita? Noynoy has been saying things that still needs to be proven. When (if) he wins, will he lead the country on him own terms or be a follower of the clique that has put him in the palace?

A lot of text scams have lurked over the past years since the trend of cellular phones have started. Many people had fallen to this trickery, eventually making them victims of this crime. Text scams come in several ways, and today, scammers are taking advantage of the 2010 May elections hype. The media department of Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. advised the public against falling for a text scam on progress notifying them that they have won a prize under a supposed “Pabahay ni Gibo 2010″ contest yesterday.

Gibo’s spokesman and media bureau director Mike T. Toledo affirmed that there was no truth to this text message, which, according to him, is possibly a be part of the dirty tricks being planted against Gibo by groups being endangered by the candidate’s fast-propelling recognition more than ever among the youth, which comprise the major chunk of this year’s voters.

“As much as Gibo Teodoro would like to help his countrymen, he cannot afford to raffle off houses as prizes, which, by the way, is not allowed under our election laws,” Toledo said.

“The fact that some groups are now engaging in dirty tricks in a pathetic attempt to put a blot on Gibo’s untarnished reputation is an indication of his surging campaign for the presidency, which now poses a serious threat to others vying for the same post in the May 10 elections,” Toledo said.

The text scam reads: D/PCSO MILLIONAIRE’S OFFICE OF THE PHILS.,nforming u dat ur cel# Won!,in PABAHAY NI “GIBO” 2010!, Worth, Php850,000.00, DTI-NCR permit no.2114 s10, Pls.call me.. I’m Atty. Joseph A. Andaya. Thank you.”

So who ever receive this kind of message, just disregard it, or erase it immediately. You can also inform authorities and if possible trace them so that these phonies will have be locked in prison for deceiving other innocent Filipino citizens.

In a recent survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) among business managers, it came up that lesser companies will be giving campaign donations to candidates of this year’s elections.

The survey revealed that there are more executives who think that donations will be less than P50,000 and that those who say that donations will be more than P1 million also increased.

“Compared to 2004, donations from companies to the 2010 election campaigns are expected to come from fewer contributors, to be smaller in size, and to be more voluntary,” a statement from the SWS website.

This is the clash of two notorious political figures that everybody’s waiting for to take place. Indeed, the ultimate battle. Two of the most fierce rivals are set to pound each other face to face in a debate on the works to be announced soon. A one-on-one debate between the two presidentiables featured in presidential preference surveys is now in the process, with both frontrunners of the Nacionalista Party (NP) and the Liberal Party (LP) supplying statements that they are all set for a combat of ideas.

LP’s Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III called for a meeting between his camp and that of NP’s Senator Manuel Villar Jr. after the latter accepted Aquino’s challenge for the two to engage in a one-on-one debate, in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon

“I think it’s time to end the proxy war. This would give Sen. Villar a chance to do what he wasn’t able to do on the Senate floor: take direct questions regarding the Senate’s findings on the C-5 deal and other issues that have remained unanswered by him,” Aquino said, adding that he would also take the opportunity to shed light on allegations thrown by some Villar supporters regarding the Cojuangco-owned Hacienda Luisita.

Aquino, Liberal Party standard bearer stated that the meeting between his camp and Villar’s will discuss the venue, date, format, and other details of their impending debate. The LP presidential bet also stressed out that he wants the debate to go around around their positions on certain matters such as education, electoral campaign finance reform, taxes, foreign policy issues, constitutional amendments and food security.

A few weeks ago, Aquino challenged Villar to a one-on-one debate after the NP standard bearer did not partake in last Monday’s forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap).

Villar then accepted Aquino’s challenge Tuesday morning in a press statement, saying he is all set to deliberate since he envisions this as “an opportunity to present plans and programs of government to the general public.”

He also stressed out that each candidate has the duty to convey one’s vision for the nation even as one’s capability, competence, and record of accomplishment are tested through reason and inquiry.

“If such were the purpose of the challenge, I will gladly accede. Name the place, name the time, I will be there” he said.

We’ve had so many presidents in the past and all of them have promised to make a difference to the country. They all did. Some were actually able to improve the country while others made a difference by giving the nation more predicaments than it already has. Others pulled us down deeper in the mud.

What makes Gibo Teodoro stand out from the rest of the presidential candidates is his specific plans for our nation and his ability to determine the available resources we can use for the betterment of our people. He does not concentrate on what we lack, but focuses on untapped resources that we can take advantage of.

His “Sulong Pilipinas” platform zones in on the most important issues of our nation like education, food and security, healthcare, infrastructure, environment and job opportunities. Gibo explains that his slogan “Galing at Talino” best describes the 2 most important inherent characteristics of Filipinos. He recognizes the Filipinos’ ability to strive for himself despite the challenges of everyday life. Instead of offering the people of things they lack, Gibo offers assistance to hone the people so they can improve their lives. When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. Like what that old adage says, “You teach them how to fish. You don’t give them fish.”

For Gibo, education plays a central role in improving the people’s lives. This is why education reform is included in his platform. Another important factor in his platform is healthcare. He plans on having a universal Philhealth insurance coverage regardless of socio-economic status.

Gibo Teodoro is not only a man of vision. He is also a man of action. In a country where everyone is nationalistic and full of visions, a man of action is needed to steer the country forward.

“We have promulgated Resolution 8758, the rules and regulations implementing Republic Act 9006, otherwise known as the Fair Elections Practices Act. This will essentially be the campaign guidelines for candidates,” said Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez.

The official campaign period started February 9 and it was the go signal for candidates running for national positions to start executing their campaigns. On the other hand, the campaign of local candidates will start on March 26.

Candidates/registered political parties for a national elective position can maximize 120 minutes only in television or cable television and 180 minutes in radio, whether by purchase or donation, wherever located, per station. Candidates running for local positions have 60 minutes in television and 90 minutes in radio, whether by purchase or donation, wherever located, per station.

The resolution denotes that written or printed materials should not exceed eight and one-half inches in width and 14 inches in length.

Posters made of cloth, paper, whether framed or posted, should not surpass two feet by three feet.

In case a campaign material is donated by any party or individual, the words “printed free of charge” must be printed on the material.

Jimenez reiterated his warning for those who will be caught snubbing the guidelines may face the accusation of illegal campaigning.

“For those who have already released infomercials, those who have put up billboards, posters, and streamers, starting February 9, all of these things will no longer be allowed,” the Comelec official said.

The campaign guidelines also embraces posters on public transportation.

The public is advised by the commission to file cases if they feel certain candidates have committed violations.

“We do not encourage the people to remove these campaign materials that encroach on their properties because they might be harmed by the supporters of these candidates. If it’s a private property, the supporter might face charges for vandalism. Obstruction of private property is a serious offense,” noted Jimenez.

The campaign guidelines also do not imply rules on Internet campaigning.

“As far as Internet campaigning is concerned, there are no guidelines as of yet…There’s no law on cyber campaigning,” said Jimenez.

Nicanor Perlas (Photo by Noemi Dado)

Here’s the official list:

1. Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro (Lakas-Kampi CMD)
2. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (Liberal Party)
3. Manuel B. Villar Jr. (Nacionalista Party)
4. Richard J. Gordon (Bagumbayan)
5. Joseph “Erap” Estrada (Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino – UNO)
6. John Carlos “JC” Delos Reyes (Ang Kapatiran)
7. Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” A.S. Madrigal (independent)
8. Eddie C. Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas)
9. Nicanor Perlas
10. Vetallano Acosta (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan)

The latest added were Nicanor Perlas and Vetallano Acosta who were previously excluded from running in the upcoming polls due to their alleged inability to launch nationwide campaigns.

Manny Villar

“We cannot discount the possibility of an assassination attempt on Sen. Villar, especially that Nacionalista Party candidates are becoming favorite targets in the run-up to the polls,” Marcos said.

“The only way to stop Sen. Villar is through assassination. That’s why he needs more security,” he added.

The congressman who is also running for senator under the Nacionalista party urged Villar to get more security as he fears more for Villar’s safety as the latter is fast catching up in the recent surveys against Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Photo from gmanews.tv

“While it is expected that propaganda and mudslinging will reach a fever pitch as the campaign progresses, we call on all candidates to show the integrity and dignity required of the highest office in the land early on by engaging in a clean and noble fight for the presidency,” Aquino spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.

Lacierda reacted to the series of accusations Manny Villar launched after a forum hosted by GMA 7 wherein a number of presidentiables attended including Dick Gordon and Gibo Teodoro. It all started when Villar mentioned that Aquino’s track record in public service is incomparable to his.

Aquino answered by questioning the validity of a recent presidential survey showing Villar coming closer to his position in pre-election polls. Although surveys conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) are considerably reliable, Aquino indirectly claimed that its recent poll was like something that was bought from Quiapo in Manila, a known place where you can buy falsified documents.