Former Sen. Jamby Madrigal. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
BOGO City, Cebu—The thought of being endorsed by Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world expectedly caused some of President Benigno Aquino III’s senatorial candidates to become more upbeat on the campaign trail.
“For Team PNoy, of course, it is a huge benefit because he is our main endorser. It gives more credibility because he is betting on us as his senatorial candidates,” former Sen. Jamby Madrigal told reporters at the sidelines of the administration’s campaign rally here.
Madrigal, who’s running on a platform of good governance, has yet to break the top 12 in the most recent polls. She, however, said that she also had less than impressive survey numbers in 2004 when she won her first term as senator.
“[President Aquino being on Time’s 100 most influential people] is a big honor to the Philippines. Before, [Philippine] presidents get involved in corruption. Now, the good governance of President Aquino isn’t only noticed by Filipinos but in the whole world,” Madrigal said.
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, a reelectionist in the Team PNoy ticket, said he has always believed in President Aquino being an influential person “especially in our country that is why he is our poster boy in Team PNoy.”
“We believe that we’d be carried by the President and that he will carry the entire Team PNoy to victory,” he added.
Former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, who’s also one of the few administration candidates still out of the winning circle, said President Aquino richly deserved the honor he shared with a diverse group of world leaders that include US President Barrack Obama and North Korean leader Kum Jong Un.
“He richly deserves it for his influence here in the Philippines, Asia and the world on anticorruption and poverty alleviation,” Hontiveros said in a text message.
“He has bravely spent his political capital on some difficult battles in order to win gains for ordinary citizens,” she added.
Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara said Time’s listing of President Aquino was “a great honor.”
“The Philippines can be so much more in the league of nations. Filipinos are more talented, hardworking and can succeed in any environment,” Angara said.