2 PNoy bets attend PTA gathering; Bam Aquino,Villar court Cebu voters

CEBU, Philippines - Senatorial candidates of Team PNoy recognize the importance of Cebu for national candidates, saying Cebuano voters are smart.

“Siyempre importante ang Cebu. Malaki ang Cebu and Cebuanos are smart voters,” said senatorial candidate Cynthia Villar who was in Cebu yesterday to grace the 15th Founding Anniversary of Cebu City Parents, Teachers Association Inc.

She said that other Team PNoy senatorial candidates will be coming to Cebu on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of their 90-day campaign sorties nationwide.

LP Cebu standard bearer Hilario Davide, though, said that the “tight schedule of the President and the senatorial candidates” will prevent the LP slate from holding a rally in Cebu City. Its ally in Cebu City, the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, will hold a rally at the Cebu Coliseum on February 18 but the Team PNoy will not be there.

The day after, however, LP will have a rally (February 19) at 5 pm in Talisay City which will be attended by President Aquino. Another rally is scheduled on February 20 at the Tayud Sports Complex but this will be without the President.

Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, another Team PNoy senatorial candidate, said that Cebu is the largest voting bloc in the country, an importance that cannot be ignored.

Aquino said that since they had their proclamation rally in Manila, it’s not about who between Team PNoy and the United Nationalists Alliance have a bigger crowd in Cebu.

“Hindi naman yan padamihan ng tao. What is important is that you will be able to deliver the message and communicate with the Cebuanos,” he added. (It’s not a contest on who has the bigger crowd.)

Meanwhile, Villar and Aquino believe that for people to rise from poverty, it is important not to rely only on being a wage earner but by becoming a social entrepreneur.

“Be an entrepreneur muna if you cannot find a job yet. Kahit maliit na negosyo lang and from their you can start building your own business,” said Villar to those who will graduate this coming March.

Villar, who earned the monicker “Misis Hanep Buhay” said it is difficult to look for a job especially for a fresh graduate and being a social entrepreneur is the answer to earn a living while jobs are not yet available.

Aquino, on the other hand, who had a dialogue with the various urban poor groups under the Pagtambayayong Foundation, also encouraged them to become social entrepreneurs and offered help through micro-financing to those who cannot afford a capital.

Aquino also urged the government to fast track the processing of business in the country for the sake of small-time businessmen.

“Ngayong nakatutok na ang buong mundo sa Pilipinas dahil sa umaarangkada  nating ekonomiya sa Tuwid na Daan, dapat naman nating padaliin ang proseso ng pagnenegosyo dito sa bansa,” he said. (The world’s attention is on us.We need to cut bureaucracy for the sake of investors.)

Aquino added “Kung tutulungan sila ng gobyerno para lumago at magtagumpay, mas mabibigyang-lunas natin ang kahirapan sa bansa at mapapaganda ang buhay ng mas maraming pamilyang Pilipino.” (If the government would help investors to succeed, more people would have better lives.)  â€” /JPM (FREEMAN)