MANILA, Philippines?If he is giving up the priesthood for a bid to lead the country, will Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio also be looking for a first lady?

The answer was of course a ?no.? But the joke was typically given a thoughtful and proper airing.

Panlilio said he would not be on the lookout for a first lady, and that would be his advantage over traditional candidates because he will have no family to support, no business to protect and no political allies to serve.

Panlilio on Saturday formally offered himself up as a candidate for president in 2010, backed by the newly organized Kilos Na!, at a launch held at the Bantayog ng Mga Bayani (Monument of Heroes) park in Quezon City.

Some of the 70 or so people who attended the event had not even been invited, like the Movement for a Better Philippines, a new youth group, and a Filipino-American who promised to mobilize Filipinos in the United States to raise funds for Panlilio.

Lawyer Ma. Gracia Rinoza-Plazo, who asked the first-lady question, attended the launch with her husband after reading about it in the Inquirer. She said she has been campaigning for Panlilio in her Batangas home province.

Panlilio was a priest for 29 years before pulling a surprise victory in the 2007 gubernatorial race in Pampanga. He is on leave from his priestly duties while serving out his term, but said he would leave the priesthood if he runs for president.

Panlilio stressed that whether he makes his bid formal by filing for candidacy in November would depend on how ready the people are to support the change that he espouses.

?I am ready for this challenge. The question is, are you ready, too?? he told the crowd.

He said his decision would also depend on the ability of the movement to gather enough supporters.

We?re not suicidal

?We are not suicidal. I believe there is no point in pursuing it if we will not have enough support,? he said.

He urged those ?who want to work for good governance? to ?come out in the open? and declare their support for an alternative presidential candidate.

?If I am alone, I can do nothing,? Panlilio said.

Ifugao Gov. Teodoro Baguilat Jr., Kilos Na! lead convenor, said the group chose Panlilio because ?he was the first one to say he felt the ?fire in the belly?.?

Baguilat said their goal is to field a complete lineup of reform-minded candidates down to the municipal level.

Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca is being considered for Panlilio?s running mate. Some of the possible senatorial candidates are Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo, lawyer Alex Lacson, Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros and Bayan Muna representatives.

Panlilio said he and Padaca, whose presidential candidacy is being pushed by other groups, had agreed that only one of them would run for president.

?We will not run against each other,? he assured supporters.

In his brief speech, Panlilio said his ?simple dream of a country that is rich, peaceful, healthy, God-centered and united? can be achieved by ?stamping out greed which is the root of corruption.?

Most qualified

He said he is the most qualified to face this challenge, promising a leadership that ?listens, works with and empowers people.?

A good president should not only be competent but one who would also surround himself with officials who are also equally concerned about the country, he said.

He also enumerated his assets: A 1999 Toyota Revo, a Yamaha motorbike bought in 1999, and two pieces of real estate with a combined market value of P700,000.

?If I become President, I assure you my assets will not increase,? he said.

Banguilat said Kilos Na! hopes to make the choice between Panlilio and Padaca by September, which would be determined by survey results, the number of volunteers, funds and resources generated and ?their level of determination.?

If he fails to gather enough support, Panlilio said he would submit himself to the People?s Primaries, a movement which aims to choose a common alternative candidate by holding a series of primaries patterned after the United States system.

Malacañang officials said they wished Panlilio well in his presidential bid but saw tough challenges ahead for him.

?I?m happy for Fr. Ed because that shows a lot of people are supporting him,? said Lorelei Fajardo, the deputy presidential spokesperson. With TJ Burgonio