MANILA, Philippines -- “May the best woman win,” Senator Loren Legarda said, as she offered to help unite the opposition for the 2010 elections.

Legarda said she would sit down with former President Joseph Estrada to discuss how she could help unite the opposition.

“I will talk to President Erap (Estrada's nickname) soon and I'm willing to help unite the opposition,” she told reporters in the Senate on Thursday.

A “common vision,” she said, would unify the opposition.

Legarda said: “2010 is an opposition year because the times are bad, the economy is bad, people are hungry, people are angry.”

Legarda said the opposition must unite behind the person, “who is not only winnable but the person who has a vision. The person who can deliver our country out of the morass of poverty and helplessness that's it's in today.”

While she remains silent about her plans for 2010, the senator said she was “hopeful” that she would get the endorsement of her party, the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).

Another NPC member, Senator Francis Escudero, is also reportedly eyeing the presidency next year.

“I'm hopeful,” Legarda said, “I'm a member of NPC and therefore, any member of the party who wishes to run for higher political office, in the event I would finally declare, would need it..”

Asked what she would do if she fails to get the NPC's endorsement, Legarda said, “I will cross the bridge when I get there. I will make my announcement soon and I will answer that question at a proper time.”

Legarda said she would make the announcement after soul-searching and consultations.