MANILA, Philippines -- Now, it is a battle of colors between Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando and his staunch critic at the House of Representatives.

Deputy Minority Floor Leader Roilo Golez shot back on Friday at Fernando for allegedly commenting that the congressman’s use of violet or purple as his campaign color was for bereavement and lent.

Golez has been criticizing the MMDA chief for the installation of pink road signs and giant tarpaulin posters purportedly in preparation for his presidential bid in 2010.

"In defending his fetish for the color pink, the MMDA chairman alluded to my use of violet or purple as my campaign color commenting it’s the color of bereavement and lent. He is correct," the lawmaker said in a statement.

"But violet is also a lot of things to a lot of people," he said.

Golez said that violet was the highest color in the color spectrum, being the color of royalty, of kings in olden and even modern times, of the Supreme Court, of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, of Lent and Advent in the Christian world.

In sports, Golez said violet was also the color of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team and the Minessotta Vikings Football Team.

A famous American wrestler also uses violet, he said.

"In the Knights of Columbus, it is the color of the Grand Knight, the most senior in the hierarchy. It was the battle color of Xerxes the Great of Persia. Alexander the Great used violet when he attacked Asia," he said.

It is also the color of bravery, the Purple Heart Medal, the lawmaker said.

"And to me, as a Quiapo devotee since my teens, it is a religious color," he said.

"Now, has anyone seen a basketball team or a warrior wearing pink?" Golez pointed out.