Roxas City primps for presidential run of favorite son’s grandson

A giant tarpaulin welcomes visitors to the hometown of “Pres. Manuel A. Roxas” outside the local airport in Roxas City.
MARLON RAMOS

ROXAS CITY, Capiz—An oversized tarpaulin greets visitors outside the airport here.

Emblazoned on it are the words: “Welcome to Roxas, birthplace of Pres. Manuel A. Roxas.”

While there is a picture of him somewhere on the tarp, the message obviously does not refer to Manuel “Mar” A. Roxas II, the standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party, but to his grandfather and namesake.

Still, the younger Roxas’ supporters were fervently hope for a favorable outcome as local officials prepare for the roll-out of Roxas’ presidential campaign on Tuesday.

“We’re very proud that (Roxas) chose to start his campaign here in our place,” said ice cream vendor Joey Limboy.

“I think it will help dispel the perception that he is a snob and an elitist just because his family is rich. The people here know that he is kind, approachable and very helpful even when he was still a congressman,” Limboy said in Ilonggo.

Formerly known as the municipality of Capiz, this coastal city was renamed in May 1951 in honor of Roxas’ grandfather, the fifth president of the republic and the first head of state after the American colonial period.

Vice Mayor Ronnie Dadivas, one of the local LP leaders, said they had been preparing for Tuesday’s event which will be held at the 6,000-seat Capiz Gymnasium.

He said at least 10,000 of Roxas’ friends and supporters from the province’s 14 other towns and from other parts of the country were expected to attend the 10 a.m. gathering, which will also be attended by Roxas’ most important supporter—President Aquino.

“We’re ready. This is going to be a celebration of sorts for all of us,” Dadivas said. “We will be witnessing the President passing the torch of daang matuwid to one of our own.”

Tarpaulins and banners bearing the names and faces of Roxas, LP vice presidential candidate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo and some of the 12 senatorial candidates of the LP-led Daang Matuwid coalition line the major roads and hang in the public areas of Roxas, regarded as one of the cleanest cities in Western Visayas.

Obvious choice

Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez, the coalition’s spokesperson, said Roxas’ choice of venue for his campaign kickoff was “obvious,” noting that other presidential candidates were launching their campaigns in urban centers away from their hometowns.

“It’s where his roots are. It was also where he began his career in public service,” Gutierrez said.

“It’s like (paying homage) to where he came from now that he’s running for the highest elective office in the land. It’s really very symbolic,” he added.

The other “less obvious reason,” he said, is the kind of leadership Roxas wants to exercise.

He said the Roxas-Robredo administration would give the same level of importance to local areas as it would the more developed regions.

“Some are actually surprised why we opted to start the campaign in Capiz, which does not have a big number of voters unlike urban centers,” Gutierrez said.

“But for us, we are sending a message that under a Roxas presidency, nobody will be left behind. Every city, municipality and province will be given the same attention and opportunity for economic development,” he said.

Gutierrez said LP leaders and allied political parties will join Mr. Aquino in officially launching Roxas’ presidential campaign.