OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines?The Ang Kapatiran party's presidential campaign did not start with hype or hoopla, but with a prayer on Tuesday.

After attending Mass at the church of Saint Joseph's School, Councilor John Carlos "JC" de los Reyes, the Ang Kapatiran standard-bearer, walked with a small band of his party mates and a few of his senatorial candidates to the nearby market to meet and greet supporters.

De los Reyes, a member of the Gordon clan in Olongapo and the only Kapatiran candidate who won in the 2007 local elections here, is running against his uncle, Sen. Richard Gordon, and eight other candidates.

Accompanying De los Reyes during the official kick-off of his presidential bid was his Brazilian wife, Dunia Valenzuela, who told the Inquirer voters should choose her husband because "he has a pure heart, he has true compassion."

"After he's been talking to people, he brings their problems home to us, his family, and shows us what it's like for them so we can understand. He wants to change things for the better," she said.

"People say that he's young. I know him more than anyone. He is full of passion and he is very determined. And who but God knows about what is right or wrong for this country?" she added.

The group also visited Jubilee village, a low-cost housing community that rose from a property donated by De los Reyes' family to house more than 40 poor families.

A woman living there told the Inquirer that they would support De los Reyes' candidacy.

"But even if we are not living here, we will still vote for him. If people knew him, they would, too," she said.

De los Reyes moved around the city with a convoy of only a few vehicles. In some areas, such Barrio Barreto and New Cabalan, he went out of his vehicle unattended by police security aides.

Among Kapatiran senatorial candidates who accompanied him were retired Air Force Col. Hector Tarrazona and former Councilor Reginald Tamayo of Aparri, Cagayan.
"People are surprised that we don't have security detail even when going to squatter areas. But [all candidates] must not be afraid of the people. They are the ones we are going to serve," said Tarrazona, an original member of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement in the 1980s.

"Nothing has changed in this country. There is no hope. We must be able to change this. What I'm praying for is that we become a nation of true Christians,? he said.

Tamayo said he was running for senator under Ang Kapatiran because of De los Reyes' idealism. "He can mix his faith with his political life. And what he says is anchored on his Christianity -- that is uncommon among politicians," Tamayo said.