The race is on, campaign season for national posts kicks off

 MANILA, Philippines — With just three months before the May 9 elections, the race to various national posts kicked off Tuesday in different areas in the country. 

According to the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec), the campaign period for national positions (president, vice president, senator and party-list groups) will be from Feb. 8 to May 7.

The campaign period for those seeking local posts, meanwhile, will start on March 25. 

Campaigns across the country

Some candidates started their day early on the first day of the campaign period. 

Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate, Senator Francis Pangilinan officially started her campaign for the presidency in her home province—Camarines Sur. 

The tandem started their day at the Angat Buhay Village in Camarines Sur with some members of their senatorial slate including Risa Hontiveros,  Chel Diokno, Teddy Baguilat, Sonny Trillanes, Alex Lacson, and Sonny Matula. 

LOOK: Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis Pangilinan together with their senatorial slate during their campaign kick-off at the Angat Buhay Village in Camarines Sur. (Screenshots from Leni Robredo FB page) @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/ZMQfiBhWH7

— Cathrine Gonzales (@cgonzalesINQ) February 8, 2022

https://twitter.com/GabrielLaluINQ/status/1490834383426981889

Another presidential aspirant, Manila mayor Isko Moreno and his running mate Dr. Willie Ong started their day with a motorcade around Manila. 

JV

Former senator JV Ejercito started his day by attending a mass with his family and some supporters  at Pinaglabanan Church in San Juan City.

Ejercito’s half brother, former senator Jinggoy Estrada, is also vying for a Senate seat in the May 9 elections. 

LOOK: Senatorial aspirant JV Ejercito attends a mass with his family and supporters at Pinaglabanan Church in San Juan City. (📷 Ejercito media team) | @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/JSacGw4Lnl

— Christia Ramos (@christiaramos_) February 8, 2022

 Eleazar

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Eleazar started his day early and had a motorcade around General Mariano Alvarez town in Cavite. He is set to join the Lacson-Sotto proclamation rally in the afternoon. 

Former PNP chief and senatorial aspirant Guillermo Eleazar greets the people of Carmona, Cavite during a motorcade as the first day of campaign period begins Tuesday. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/Wmc2SKVKVw

— John Eric Mendoza (@JEMendozaINQ) February 8, 2022

Legarda

House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda launched her campaign at the Liberman Gymnasium in Pandan, Antique.

LOOK: House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda kicks off her senatorial campaign in Antique (📷Loren Legarda FB livestream) | @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/NzvkViWImR

— Christia Ramos (@christiaramos_) February 8, 2022

Villanueva

Re-electionist senator Joel Villanueva held a hybrid event—a mix of physical and virtual—to launch his campaign.

Videos played during the event show his supporters from different parts of the globe.

LOOK: Villanueva's campaign kick-off opens with videos of his supporters from various parts of the country and abroad. (📷Screengrabs from Sen. Villanueva's FB livestream) | @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/CW9AAwh3IU

— Christia Ramos (@christiaramos_) February 8, 2022

Other senatorial aspirants are also expected to join the proclamation rallies of presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Proclamation rallies 

The presidential and vice presidential aspirants are set to hold proclamation rallies in different locations across the country to officially start their campaign. 

BBM – Sara

The tandem of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will hold their proclamation rally at the Iglesia ni Cristo-owned Philippine Arena in Bocaue City, Bulacan. 

At least 25,000 supporters are expected to attend the event, said Marcos Jr.’s team. As part of health protocols, only fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed inside the arena.

Today marks the first day of the campaign season for the May 9 polls.

I will be following the tandem of former senator Bongbong Marcos and Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio who will kick off their campaign at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan today. Here’s what we know so far:

— Neil Arwin Mercado (@NAMercadoINQ) February 7, 2022

Leni – Kiko

Robredo and Pangilinan will hold their proclamation rally in Naga City — Camarines Sur’s capital and the city which her late husband, former Interior secretary Jesse Robredo served as mayor for several terms. 

The tandem of Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III is set to face their supporters in the vote-rich Cavite province—where Lacson was born and raised. 

Before their main proclamation event at the Imus Grandstand late in the afternoon, the tandem is scheduled to attend a mass at the Imus Cathedral.

Isko – Doc Willie

For Moreno and Ong, their campaign will kick off at the Kartilya ng Katipunan near the Manila City Hall.

The Aksyon Demokratiko in an earlier advisory assured that health protocols would be observed during the kick-off rally amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pacquiao – Atienza

Boxer-turned-senator and now presidential aspirant Manny Pacquiao starts his campaign in his hometown General Santos City.

Pacquiao is running with House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza as his Vice President. 

Pacquiao earlier said he wanted to conduct his campaign kick-off in General Santos City because it was where he dreamt of rising above poverty.

“Ka Leody”

Presidential aspirant Leody de Guzman and his running mate Walden Bello, meanwhile, are set to hold their proclamation rally, dubbed “Manggagawa Naman sa 2022”, at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City. 

Several groups are also expected to converge and will march towards the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.

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