SAN PEDRO, Laguna?Amid speculations that Malacañang has thrown its support to the Nacionalista party (NP), its standard bearer Manuel Villar and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were in the same city in Laguna, almost at the same time, as the campaign period formally kicked off Tuesday.

Villar, with running mate Senator Loren Legarda and his senatorial slate, was in Calamba City for the party?s proclamation rally.

Arroyo, on the other hand, was also in Calamba for her ?Education for All? legacy campaign.

This was the case as former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, the standard bearer of the president?s party, Lakas-Kampi, chose to hold his kick-off rally in Antipolo City, Rizal.

Agnes Frogoso, head of the scheduling team of NP, said by phone they did not know Arroyo would be in Laguna.

She said the convoy of Villar had a separate itinerary from that of Malacañang.

Villar earlier said the party chose to hold its proclamation rally in Calamba City, the birthplace of national hero Jose Rizal, as ?the cradle of heroes is always the best springboard of change.?

Calamba City is also vote-rich with a voting population of 189,046.

?We have no idea (about NP?s sortie),? Saul Pa-a of the Malacañang Media Accreditation and Relations Office, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

Arroyo visited Real Elementary School in Barangay Real and discussed Executive Order 685 that directed the Department of Education and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to include five-year-olds in the day care curriculum nationwide.

The group of Villar, on the other hand, went to the city market, St. John the Baptist church, and at the city plaza for its grand proclamation rally in front of the ?Banga,? a large earthen pot that served as Calamba?s landmark.

They are set to proceed to this town Tuesday afternoon for a caucus with the local NP candidates.