After using the mass-based popularity of movie star Nora Aunor, President Arroyo continued to woo the bailiwick sector of her deposed predecessor when she motored all the way to Lipa City, Batangas where actress-Mayor Vilma Santos welcomed her.
Mayor Vi, as she is fondly called by her constituents, came to grace the De La Salle Centrum in commemorating the 32nd General Assembly of Lincoma Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Lipa City where Mrs. Arroyo was the special guest speaker yesterday.
Speaking in Filipino, Mayor Vi expressed her full support to the Arroyo administration.
"To our beloved President, we convey to you our full support, especially to your development programs for the people that will provide livelihood and employment," Mayor Vi told Mrs. Arroyo before the swooning crowd of her constituents cum fans.
"It is a clear example on how you (put) value in government programs that provide employment," Mayor Vi added.
Mayor Vi’s personal endorsement of Mrs. Arroyo came after her fellow superstar actress Nora Aunor came out with her own two-minute infomercial asking the Filipinos to support the President as the mother of the land.
Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao confirmed yesterday Mrs. Arroyo has been deliberately trying "to woo" every group and sector of society, including the El Shaddai Movement of Bro. Mike Velarde.
Tiglao, however, strongly refuted claims that such all-out wooing by Mrs. Arroyo was in preparation for the May 2004 presidential elections.
"She (President) has really been trying to woo every group because she wants this for national unity and prosperity," Tiglao pointed out.
In Lipa City yesterday, the popular actress was accompanied by her husband, Sen. Ralph Recto, who it will be recalled, won his first congressional seat in Batangas capitalizing on his wife’s vote-rich popularity and signed up under the alias "Mr. Vilma Santos" in the Commission on Elections. — Marichu Villanueva