MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III bared yesterday that celebrities from show business and sports had promised to help him and Sen. Manuel Roxas II in their campaign as the Liberal Party’s presidential and vice presidential bets, respectively, for free.
Aquino made this disclosure at a party where they were interviewed by their possible endorsers.
Aquino also said he was coming out with an infomercial with his sister, Kris Aquino-Yap, other showbiz personalities and basketball players to promote an advocacy.
He mentioned popular young actor Dingdong Dantes and young actress Marian Rivera as two of those who would appear in the infomercial. Aquino said that actor, host and singer-composer Ogie Alcasid also vowed to support him.
He had not seen the final version of the infomercial because technical aspects were still being attended to by his sister and would not want to “pre-sell” it or he would catch the ire of the volunteers for their television advertisement.
He said they would only have a few slots before the Nov. 30 deadline of filing the certificates of candidacy because they did not have much funds for the airtime.
Aquino was very thankful to those who volunteered their services and even turned down offers from their rivals. He said the efforts and the kind of work that people in the television and advertising industry poured into his infomercial were admirable.
He said the shoot lasted until the wee hours of the morning, from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. and that he was overwhelmed with the work everyone put in.
In his case, he said he had to “project” before the cameras and was amused that after long hours of work, all they would have was either a 15- or 30-seconder infomercial.
Aquino said even members of the production crew no longer asked for fees and “donated” their services.
“We had some expenses too but they were too small if we would have to pay for everything,” Aquino told reporters when he met local officials from the Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela area and other provinces at the LP headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City.
Aquino said he was touched by the continuous outpouring of support for them. A young boy donated his allowance for their campaign during the short meeting.
Aquino stressed those who were aligning with them were those who really wanted change and were counting on him and Roxas to lead and effect reforms in the country.
“It makes the pressure for us not to disappoint them really harder,” Aquino said.
During the party, Aquino said the celebrities who would endorse them asked questions and conveyed their desires for the country.
“They were not there just because I am the brother of Kris,” Aquino said.
He said their friend, host Boy Abunda also helped them in the campaign and in the infomercials, which would capture what their campaign was all about, “what we’re fighting for” and aspiring for “in a short span of time.”
He added that young actress Bea Alonzo told them she did not mind paying taxes but would like to see where they were going.
Aquino said comedienne Ai-Ai de las Alas also asked tough questions.
Dantes will lead a campaign with the youth and will be the spokesperson for Advocacies of Youth and Students for Noynoy Aquino or Ayos Na, the senator said.
“He (Dantes) hopes to get 500,000 card-carrying members,” Aquino said.
Aquino said celebrity endorsers were important to get attention but “if what they will say has no substance,” their endorsements would not mean anything.
“I was really impressed with the questions they asked us,” Aquino said.