MANILA, Philippines -- Will he finally declare his presidential bid in 2010?

Sen. Francis ``Chiz" Escudero is scheduled to hold a news conference on Monday about his political plans for 2010.

Escudero's office sent an email to reporters Saturday night informing them about the senator's press conference set for Monday, two days after he turned 40 years old and eligible to run for president.

But reporters felt something amiss as Escudero was going to make what was expected to be a big announcement merely at the Senate press office.

?Amid talks of a political announcement after his 40th birthday, Sen. Chiz Escudero will hold a press conference..at 1p.m. (Monday) at the Senate press room,?' said the email message of Escudero's office to reporters.

The senator last week said he would announce his political plans after his birthday.

There is talk Escudero will be the standard bearer of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) and that Sen. Loren Legarda will be his running mate.

Escudero and Legarda were supposed to meet on Sunday to finalize talks on who between them would be their party's standard bearer.

Legarda last week said the NPC was leaving it up to her and Escudero to settle the issue.

But in a phone interview, Legarda said she and Escudero cancelled their meeting on Sunday because both of them rushed relief goods to heavily flooded Pangasinan.

Announcement or not, Escudero made his presence as a possible presidential contender felt on Sunday with the release of his television and radio infomercials.