Team PNoy’s Senate sweep statistically possible

The election of the full slate of Team PNoy is not statistically far-fetched, considering that seven candidates of Team PNoy made it to the top 12 of the recent poll surveys, while the remaining five others are within the winning circle, Rep. Miro Quimbo, Team PNoy campaign spokesman, said Wednesday/Feb. 13.

The presence of re-electionist Senators Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda and former Movie Review Board chair Grace Poe at the Team PNoy proclamation rally on Tuesday at Plaza Miranda “is a sign of their unwavering commitment to the Team PNoy ticket,” Quimbo said.

 “It’s always a dream of any team to have all its candidates win,” Quimbo said, echoing the President’s desire to have all the 12 members of Team PNoy elected to the Senate.

“It is important for the President to have a broad support in the Senate for his reform agenda,” Quimbo said.

Escudero and Legarda have consistently topped the voter preference surveys.

Rounding out the administration slate are Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, former Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel  III, Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, former Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros, former Senators Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and  Jamby Madrigal and the President’s cousin, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino.

Quimbo said the team will be divided into sub-groups during the campaign to cover more geographical areas. “There is a specific agreement for everyone to work as a united team,” he said.

In his speech at Plaza Miranda on Tuesday, President Aquino warned against “surrendering our success to those trying to waylay us,” labeling those who do so as “political chameleons.”

Quimbo said Team PNoy stands solidly behind the reform agenda of President Aquino. “If given a mandate by the electorate, the team will pursue these reforms in the Senate,” he said.

Team PNoy bets urge President Aquino to seriously find time for romance and raise family

MANILA, February 13, 2013-The Team PNoy senatorial candidates collectively greeted President Aquino on Wednesday/Feb. 13 a “Happy Valentine’s Day,” on top of “more urgent” requests: that he must find some time for romance despite his busy schedule tomorrow/Thursday, have a wife, and eventually raise a family.

          The senators said the Filipino people would not take it against the President if he is able to find a date just in time for tomorrow/Thursday.

          The senators said the rosy economy under PNoy’s administration must also be reflected in the President’s “rosier love life as well.”

          Sen. Loren Legarda, a consistent front-runner in poll surveys, said President Aquino, who celebrated his 53^rd birthday last Feb. 8, has “to find his true love.”

Sen. Francis Escudero, a close friend of the President and another consistent top notcher in poll surveys, said: “Sana makahanap din siya ng tunay, dalisay, at walang hanggang pag-ibig at ng isang babae na iibigin din siya ng wagas.” Escudero is romantically linked with actress Heart Evangelista.

Sen. Ramon Magsaysay said he hopes the President “will finally have a lifetime partner soon.”

“PNoy deserves to be happy and he must have a love partner soonest. At sana, makakambal kaagad,”Magsaysay said.

Former Sen. Jamby Madrigal said that since the President is loved by the Filipino people, he deserves to have a personal love life. “Since he already has the love of the Filipino people, may he find more love in his personal life,” Madrigal said.

Bam Aquino, who tied the knot with Timi Gomez in 2012, has only one wish for his cousin: to find his mate soonest.

“Sana makahanap siya ng mag-aalaga sa kanya tulad ng pag-alaga niya sa bayan,” said the younger Aquino.

Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, of Aurora, said he wishes the President to experience the love and care of a loving wife. “I wish that he finds someone who will love him as much as he loves us. He deserves it,” Angara said.

 Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano said the President must find his “Lani”, referring to his wife and current mayor of Taguig City.

“Good things come to those who wait. I hope even if it’s not sooner but later, PNoy will get lucky like me and find his Lani, the ideal wife – someone who is not only beautiful inside and out, someone who loves this country as much as we cherish our own relationship,” Cayetano said.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said PNoy must find both the time and the date to enable him to have a relaxing Valentine’s dinner while listening to his favorite music.

Grace Poe, meanwhile, has a unique wish for the President: more time for himself.

“I wish him some ‘me’ time, a date with himself, to do everything he loves us to do but has not been able to do because he has been too busy being president,” Poe said.

“I remember that last Christmas, PNoy said he enjoyed getting a three-hour break and a chance to load songs to his iPod. The President badly needs some ‘me’ time,” Poe added.

Risa Hontiveros, a former Akbayan representative, said: “In line with the administration’s flagship program, the Public-Private Partnership or PPP, I wish PNoy PPP – Pag-ibig Palagi sa kaniyang Puso.”

Former Rep. Cynthia Villar, meanwhile, said: “We wish you good health and more blessings, as you lead our country towards greater growth and progress.”

“Ako ay nagagalak na makasama sa Team PNoy at maging bahagi ng pagtuloy natin sa pagtahak sa matuwid na daan para sa ikauunlad ng ating bayan,” Villar said.

Umali, Joson ink covenant for peaceful polls in NE

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, February 12, 2013–Reelectionist Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali and his political rival, outgoing three-term first district Rep. Josie Manuel-Joson signed yesterday a covenant for peaceful elections in the province, one of the 15 identified hot spots.

          Umali and Joson led provincial and city bets in the peace signing at the  Benigno Aquino Freedom Park here which was highlighted by a prayer rally and a unity walk to pledge their full commitment to the holding of a Secure and Fair Elections (SAFE) this coming polls.

          Also attending the covenant signing was Cabanatuan Mayor Julius Caesar Vergara and his rival, Board Member Emmanuel Antonio Umali, younger brother of the governor as they took part in a multi-faith peace forum jointly sponsored by the Church and other religious leaders, the provincial police, the Commission on Elections, the military, the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Education and Culture.  

          Also witnessing the historic peace pact-signing were several local and barangay officials, including, Gapan city mayor Christian U. Tinio, Llanera Mayor Lorna Mae Vero and Munoz Science city vice mayor Ester Lazaro.

          “This is our dream. This is a good scenario,” said Rev. Sofronio A. Bancud, Bishop of the Diocese of Cabanatuan and chairperson of the Nueva Ecija Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

          Prior to the affair, a unity walk was simultaneously launched by different groups in four different take-off points within the city, to symbolize the province’s four districts, and which subsequently converged in the main road leading to the Freedom park, led by Gov. Umali along Mabini street and Vergara and Joson, along Zulueta street.

          Umali and Joson, both released a white dove purportedly signifying  peace. Umali said the event is good for the province where political violence used to be its trademark.    

          Also gracing the event were provincial police director, Senior Superintendent Crizaldo O. Nieves, 7^th Infantry Division commanding-general Brig. Gen. Gregorio P. Catapang Jr.; city police chief, Supt. Eli G. Depr;, Dr. Abraham A. Pascua, DILG provincial director; Atty. Lydia Florentino-Pangilinan, provincial election supervisor; and Department of Education superintendent of schools Edna S. Zerrudo. (Manny Galvez) 

Legarda’s Brand of Service: Work with Compassion

MANILA, February 12, 2013-As the campaign season officially starts today, Senator Loren Legarda bared her plans should she win another term in the Senate, stressing that she will continue to provide the kind of service she has been known for—work with compassion.

“Education, health care, improvement of working conditions of our Filipino workers, and safer and disaster-resilient communities—these are what I plan to prioritize if given another term as a senator. I would like to continue to provide for the needs of all Filipinos while still giving due focus to equally important issues such as environmental protection and cultural preservation,” said Legarda.

“I have been known for my hard work but I always do it with compassion. I have eagerly worked for the Universal Healthcare Coverage Bill, which we hope to be enacted soon, but I will continue to monitor and ensure that all our citizens especially the poorest will have access to free healthcare services.”

“While improvements in our education system is underway, we will work for the expansion of college scholarship programs for many more indigent but deserving Filipino youth.”

“The continuous improvement of the working conditions of Filipino workers here and abroad is another priority. I am certain to file a bill that will increase and standardize the hazard pay of our uniformed personnel and also pursue other measures that will benefit other workers.”

Legarda said she will also continue to bring the information and education campaign on disaster preparedness to more communities by conducting disaster risk reduction workshops to the 42,000 barangays in the country.

“I will continue to advocate for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction until each and every community in the country is safe from the dangers brought by extreme weather events.”

“I am proud to have made laws and pushed for advocacies that has helped and will help our people. Work with compassion, this is my brand of service for the Filipino people. I am hopeful for a new term, which I will use for all the work that still needs to be done for the citizens and for our country,” Legarda concluded.