Plenty pomp, little passion
in ruling party nominations

by Karol Ilagan

IN ceremonies filled with pomp and color, though tainted by reports of massive defections on the ground, ruling political party Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) formalized its electoral bid today, endorsing former defense secretary Gilbert ‘Gibo’ Teodoro Jr. for president and actor- politician Eduardo ‘Edu’ Manzano for vice-president.

The Gibo-Edu tandem was endorsed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who also relinquished her position as Lakas-Kampi-CMD chairperson to Teodoro at the same event.

Arroyo said Teodoro and Manzano “possess the idealism, confidence, youth” to fight poverty and lead the country into becoming “first-world within a generation.”

The president urged its party to work hard to ensure Teodoro and Manzano’s win so that her administration’s programs may be continued. “It is now time to consolidate and fortify our ranks for the electoral battle ahead,” she told delegates gathered at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

Teodoro and Manzano, in their acceptance speeches, expressed confidence in next year’s polls.

“Abangan ninyo. Sa a-diyes ng Mayo 2010, si Gibo at Edu Manzano ang mananalo (Watch out. On May 10, 2020, it will be Gibo and Edu Manzano who will win),” Teodoro said.

If elected president, Teodoro identified four types of poverty that he would have to fight: poverty of the mind, of the pocket, of the environment, and of relations.

To raise the plight of the poor, Teodoro said he would push for complete quality education of Filipinos, continuing free access to tertiary education in particular. Once elected, he also pledged to give access to health insurance and access to capital and credit to enable small businesses.

Midway into his address, Teodoro who was clad in a light green polo and blue jeans, left the podium to deliver a more casual speech yet more impassioned speech.

‘Game na!’

Manzano, meanwhile, used the popular catchphrase “Game na!” from a game show he used to host as he accepted the party nomination.

“My friends, after the announcement that I had accepted the invitation to be the running mate of Secretary Teodoro, may mga nagtaasan ng kilay at nagsabing wala akong “K” kasi ako daw ay isa lang aktor at entertainment personality. Hinamak at minaliit po ang aking propesyon at ang aking pagkatao (… there were those who raised their eyebrows and said that I do not have the right because I am just an actor and an entertainment personality),” he said.

Manzano pointed out that his detractors “virtually made a wholesale condemnation of those in the entertainment industry as being unfit and incapable of providing competent leadership to our people.”

“When you try to limit your criticism of a single individual based on a single issue, I mean, I don’t think some of my candidates have the experience that I have in my 54 years of existence,” Manzano further said. “I will cover more ground than many of the other candidates.”

Of his running mate presidential bet Teodoro, Manzano commented: “He has what it takes — if you listen to him, if you look at his credentials — his competency and integrity (are) unquestionable. I think, maybe, those who did not see Secretary Gibo in the past are now having second thoughts.”

Davao Representative Anton Lagdameo and Zamboanga Governor Aurora Cerilles moved for Teodoro’s and Manzano’s nominations, respectively.

‘Dominant party’

Despite estimates by the party’s vice president for Mindanao, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, that about 30 percent to 40 percent had already bolted the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, President Arroyo herself confidently declared that “(O)ur party is the dominant party of our generation.”

Arroyo pointed out that the 17-year old Lakas is the “largest political party for 15 years” and that “almost three of every four elected leader is a party member.” She added that this makes Lakas-Kampi “the true party of the people” and it “held the nation’s best interest at heart.”

Manzano, in an interview, said that even other parties are also having problems within their ranks. “Hindi lang naman yung Lakas-Kampi (It’s not just Lakas-Kampi).”

“We will put candidates who will support the party without compromise. There will be natural defections because you cannot encourage or invite everybody,” Manzano said. “We all leave for a variety of reasons. Alam mo naman ang mga Pilipino (You know how Filipinos are) — they look at their own political survival too.”

On Teodoro lagging behind presidential surveys, executive secretary Eduardo Ermita remains unfazed, saying that he respects survey results but that these serve only as mere guide.

Ermita cited examples such as former president Fidel Ramos and President Arroyo who did not win surveys, yet won elections.

A sea of green placards and balloons, Teodoro’s campaign color, covered the PICC on Thursday morning, although many delegates did not appear to be as enthusiastic as party leaders would have hoped. The applause was led by “cheer marshalls”, or green-shirted young men and women who tried to rally the crowd. The crowd only appeared to warm up during the impassioned latter part of Teodoro’s speech, when he walked away from the podium to deliver an extemporaneous speech. An estimate three thousand delegates attended the convention.