GIRLFRIEND SAYS: Aquino pleased with Cebuano support

CEBU, Philippines - With huge attendance during the recent proclamation rally of Liberal Party in Cebu, Senator Benigno Aquino III was pleased with the support he is getting from Cebuanos and is looking forward to strengthening his candidacy here.

Aquino’s girlfriend, Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad, said they are happy with how their campaign is moving forward, especially in the Visayas.

Soledad said the large crowd during the rally, which was organized by Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, shows that they not only have the support of local politicians but from the public as well.

“That attendance alone shows the strong support from (people of) Cebu,” Soledad said.

She stressed that the crowd of over 60,000 were not given any incentives to attend but that they came to the rally on their own will.

She explained that Cebu is always very important because Cebuanos are very “intelligent voters” and the province’s huge population can “make or break any presidential campaign.”

Soledad also said Aquino has seen the important role that Cebu wields in the economic growth of the country.

But even with the Cebuano support, Soledad said Aquino has not made any promises since the senator is not resorting to making promises in certain areas, as he is after the general change of the country.

Aside from Cebu, Soledad said they are happy to have the votes of the younger generation. She emphasized that Aquino has long advocated the empowerment of the youth as participants in decision-making for the country’s development.

Soledad, along with other members and supporters of LP, visited the University of Cebu as part of their Cebu visit yesterday.

Although Aquino was not with her during her campaign sorties in the provinces, Soledad said they make sure to bare Aquino’s platform based on “a mission and not a personal ambition.”

She clarified that although Aquino is not always seen in Cebu, he strongly supports Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Vice Mayor Michael Rama and all the BOPK candidates, as well as former councilor Hilario Davide Jr., who is running for governor.

Soledad said they are not worried about reports on Aquino sliding down in surveys since surveys only serve as guides in their focus on reaching the public better.  

She, however, did not escape questions from the media about her relationship with the senator, saying that what she likes about Aquino is his good sense of humor. — AJ de la Torre/LPM(FREEMAN NEWS)