Week 9 on presidential campaign trail

(Image by DANIELLA AGACER)

MANILA, Philippines — Following are some of the highlights of candidates’ activities on Week 9 of the presidential campaign for the May 9 elections.

Leody de Guzman #2

■ April 3 – Joined second Commission on Elections (Comelec) presidential debate

■ April 4 – Spoke at Philippine Christian University’s online forum on the environment; interviewed by Zamboanga Sibugay radio station dxOI

– Attended UP Engineering Student Council presidential interviews; also interviewed by Lyceum of the Philippines-Laguna Philippine Society of Customs Administration

■ April 5 – Recorded video messages for various media programs

■ April 6 – Recorded interview with CNN Philippines; was featured in The Red Chronicles, student publication of San Beda College Alabang School of Law

■ April 7 – Campaigned in Cavite, starting in Dasmariñas where he joined jeepney drivers’ protest against fuel price hikes

– Proceeded to Gen. Mariano Alvarez, Silang, Carmona and Bacoor, where he met with residents facing eviction in Barangay Molino 4

■ April 8 – Sorties in Laguna started in San Pablo, then Calamba where he joined workers’ program outside regional wage board office calling for P750 minimum wage

– Community forum in Marinig, Cabuyao City; courtesy call on Mayor Mel Gecolea and councilors

■ April 9 – Guest at URC Panda Union field trip in Lian, Batangas; joined Sanlakas online forum for overseas Filipino workers

Key message: “We’re not affected by the survey results, but the public should expect that we … will double or triple our diligence to reach out to the biggest number of workers, masses who are tired of a hand-to-mouth existence while elitist politicians wallow in the taxes that citizens labored for.” (April 7 statement)

—Jerome Aning

Isko Moreno Domagoso #3

■ April 3 – Attended second presidential debate organized by the Comelec

■ April 4 – Visited 157 families affected by fire in Sta. Cruz, Manila

– Received award as one of People Asia magazine’s “People of the Year 2022.”

– Lost the backing of the Cebu chapter of his volunteer network Ikaw Muna, which shifted its support to Vice President Leni Robredo; but another group of supporters launched initiative dubbed “Bus ni Isko,” going on tour in two buses to woo young voters into switching to Domagoso.

■ April 5 – Held Manila events, including inauguration of the Chinese-funded Binondo-Intramuros Bridge, during which he shared the stage with President Duterte

– The two men acknowledged each other but didn’t go beyond pleasantries; Domagoso later praised the President in a tweet after the event

■ April 6 – Kicked off two-day campaign in Zamboanga peninsula: courtesy call on Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Victor Yu, followed by motorcades, rallies in Pagadian and Dipolog cities

■ April 7 – More events, motorcades, rallies in Zamboanga City; met with Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar

■ April 8 – Returned to Cebu for two-day sortie; town hall meeting, meet-and-greet in Cebu City; motorcade, concert rally in Lapu-Lapu City

■ April 9 – More activities in Cebu

Key message: “Congratulations to them (Marcos-Duterte tandem) for winning the March 15 to March 17 [Pulse Asia] survey … We will carry on, go directly to the people, more kilometers, more areas, more people, more eyeballs.” (April 7 ambush interview in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay)

—DJ Yap

Ping Lacson #5

■ April 4 – Took campaign to Romblon with running mate Sen. Vicente Sotto III and senatorial candidate Manny Piñol; quick stop at Odiongan town

– At capital town, met with local officials led by Gov. Jose Riano and Romblon Mayor Gerard Montojo; visited St. Joseph Cathedral

■ April 5 – In Bohol, met with local officials led by Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos

– Held town hall meeting at JJ’s Grand Ballroom in Tagbilaran; pledged full support for the revival of local tourism industry

– Rally at Jagna Baywalk with local candidates; revealed that it was a Boholano mayor, Joseph Rañola, who ignited his passion to scrutinize the national budget

■ April 6 – Barnstormed northern towns of Cebu; held town hall meeting at Cerge Remonde Gym in Argao, a popular tourist destination

■ April 7 – Campaigned in Cebu City, met with local officials and sectoral groups at Cebu Normal University, before touring Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center

– At town hall meeting in Bogo, noted that the town has vast tourism potential but still lacking attention from the national government.

■ April 8 – No public event

■ April 9 – Faced some 15,000 supporters from Metro Manila and nearby provinces in rally at Quezon Memorial Circle; six senatorial candidates present

Key message: “[Filipinos] deserve nothing less. They have suffered for the longest time and need a break. Senate President Sotto and I are offering ourselves, with all our competence, qualification and experience, to improve the lives of our fellow Filipinos.” (April 9 press briefing)

—Melvin Gascon

Bongbong Marcos #7

■ April 3 – For the second time, skipped Comelec-organized debate

– Met with 10 governors, led by Quirino Gov. Dakila Cua, president of Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, at Mandaluyong campaign headquarters and discussed ways to protect his votes

■ April 4 – No public engagement scheduled, but received boost from former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who, turning 75 that day, called on Pampanga voters to give Marcos-Duterte tandem a landslide win

■ April 5 – No public engagements scheduled

■ April 6- Again no public engagements, but campaign team issued statement urging supporters to “refrain from complacency” after latest Pulse Asia survey showed Marcos as still the front-runner but dropping to 56 percent from 60 percent

■ April 7 – No public engagements this day

■ April 8 – Campaigned in Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar and Biliran provinces without Duterte

– Got the support of Biliran Gov. Roger Espina, Samar Rep. Sharee Ann Tan, Samar Gov. Reynolds Michael Tan and Northern Samar Rep. Jose Ong Jr.

■ April 9 – Campaigned in Leyte province, the hometown of his mother, former first lady Imelda Marcos

– Also stumped in Baybay City, Ormoc City, Tacloban City in Leyte, and Maasin town in Southern Leyte

Key message: “The Marcos-Duterte tandem is the best symbol of unity because if the one from the North and the one from Mindanao can unite and come together, maybe we can unite the entire Filipino people.” (April 8 speech at rally in Catarman, Northern Samar)

—Nestor Corrales

Manny Pacquiao #9

■ April 3 – Flew back to Manila from Dumaguete for Comelec debate

■ April 4 – Scheduled sorties in Antipolo, Marikina cities postponed

■ April 5 – Private meetings

■ April 6 – Scheduled sortie in Nueva Ecija postponed but held motorcade, forum in Caloocan, where for the second time in the campaign he was joined by mother Dionisia

– Said he wold still keep reelectionist Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri in his senatorial slate, even though he was already dropped by Lacson-Sotto tandem

■ April 7 – Pushed through with motorcades, forum in Antipolo; expressed symphathy for detained opposition Sen. Leila de Lima

– Claimed that D and E classes were “misrepresented” in recent presidential surveys, where he lags behind; would accept getting zero vote from A and B crowd but expect strong support from the poor

■ April 8 – Attended gathering of Jesus Victorious Fellowship; paid courtesy call on local officials of Nasugbu, Batangas, then held community forum in Calaca town

– Was joined by Dionisia in his Batangas sorties

■ April 9 – Motorcade, forum in Divisoria and Tondo, Manila

– Revealed he had not yet received a COVID-19 booster shot—a “business” and “money-making” ploy—since the best “booster” is still a strong immune system

Key message: “I’m OK. For me, being careful, drinking plenty of water and eating right, having a strong immune system are enough. I’m being hugged by people, sometimes when I’m not even wearing a face mask. God is good all the time; no problem … The truth is, a strong immune system is your best booster shot.’’ (April 9 interview)

—Julie M. Aurelio

Leni Robredo #10

■ April 3 – Participated in second Comelec presidential debate

■ April 4 – Held private meetings

■ April 5 – Stumped in Rizal, with rallies in Tanay town and Antipolo City, the latter drawing an estimated 43,000 supporters

– Met with Bishop Francisco de Leon of the Diocese of Antipolo; signed covenant with indigenous peoples’ groups

■ April 6 – In San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, spoke with “Mindoro 22,” or the fishermen from San Jose town whose boat was rammed by a Chinese vessel and who were left for dead in West Philippine Sea

– Met with Catholic priests from Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose; grand campaign rally in that town drew crowd of nearly 19,000

– Flew to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, for another rally

■ April 7 – Returned to Tagum City for a grand rally, two weeks after being endorsed by Partido Reporma president and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez

■ April 8 – Barnstormed Pangasinan, where she lost by more than 500,000 votes to Marcos Jr. in 2016 vice presidential race

– Spoke at education forum at University of Pangasinan; rallies in Bani and Villasis towns, then grand rally in Dagupan that gathered 76,000 supporters

■ April 9 – Sorties in Baler in Aurora, and then in Angeles and San Fernando cities in Pampanga

Key message: “Filipinos know how to respect everyone even if they have different views. What will save us is not our chosen candidates, but the unity of all of us. True unity is based on good character.” (April 9 message after Marcos supporters heckled her at rally in Villasis, Pangasinan)

—Marlon Ramos