Guimaras shows Mar the love

Liberal Party (LP) presidential standard-bearer Mar Roxas FILE PHOTO

JORDAN, Guimaras—Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas stumped on Thursday in a place that was part of his provincial bailiwick and was likely to vote for him anyway—the small and rural mango-growing island of Guimaras.

Roxas said he opted to make his first visit to the island during the campaign period despite its low voting population of 100,000 because “I don’t look at our folks in Guimaras as voters but as people with their own problems and dreams for a better life.”

“So whether it’s Guimaras or Catanduanes or Camiguin, it’s important that people in these remote places know our programs and plans of action,” he told reporters accompanying him.

He said he was not feeling any pressure to defend his bailiwick here and on Panay Island, on which his native Capiz province is located, from his rivals for the presidency.

“You have seen how warm the reception has been. In fact, people say their welcome has been sweeter than Guimaras mangos,” Roxas said.

More than 6,000 people packed the provincial capitol gym here, giving the local boy a raucous reception, leaping to their feet when he arrived and laughing at his jokes in a speech delivered in Ilonggo.

Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas, a leader of the Visayan bloc in the House of Representatives, said Roxas stood to receive “at least 50 percent” of the total votes on Panay Island, Guimaras and Negros Occidental.

“We will be able to generate 50 percent for Secretary Mar and, as the election comes closer, probably a little more,” he said.

Roxas was scheduled to dialogue with workers at a Trappist food processing plant, but the event was canceled when his flight from Manila arrived late.

He went directly to the capitol gym to address his supporters.

He was accompanied by Aika Robredo, eldest daughter of his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.

Later, he went to Antique and Aklan provinces on Panay Island.

Guimaras, along with most of Western Visayas, went for Roxas in a big way when it gave the then 2010 vice presidential candidate nearly 50,000 votes and only 8,000 votes for Jejomar Binay, who went on to win the office.

Incumbent Gov. Samuel Gumarin, who is seeking reelection, is a member of the ruling party. So is outgoing Rep. Joaquin Carlos Rahman Nava, who is fielding his wife Ma. Lucille for the next term.

On Friday, Roxas is set to make another trip to Cebu, a crucial election battleground.

Roxas won the city against Binay by almost half a million votes in 2010. But his recent frequent trips to Cebu show the political landscape may have drastically changed.

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