Thousands cheer Gibo in miting de avance

MANILA, Philippines - Thousands of Gilberto Teodoro’s supporters almost filled to capacity the Olympic-sized Rizal Track and Field Oval during the Lakas-Kampi-CMD miting de avance last night.

A former administrator of the Rizal Sports Complex said the last time the track oval was filled with spectators was during the Far-Eastern Games between Japan and China in 1930.

Millions of Teodoro supporters nationwide also joined the grand event via live satellite feed.

Supporters had converged from various points in Manila before marching towards the Rizal Football Stadium along Pablo Ocampo street (formerly Vito Cruz).

Teodoro said he had chosen May 7 for the Lakas-Kampi-CMD miting de avance because it was the birthday of his late father, former SSS administrator Gilberto Teodoro Sr.

“Setting it on May 7 will also allow our delegates, supporters and volunteers who drove or planed in from the provinces enough time to return to their respective voting places so that they can exercise their constitutional right on May 10.”

Mike Toledo, Teodoro’s spokesman, said the miting de avance was the final show of force of the silent majority rooting for Teodoro.

“The silent majority for Gibo finally broke their silence and decided to actively show their 100 percent support for him by leaving the comfort of their homes and offices and braving the scorching heat in a final show of force for the man they believe will best lead the country to a better and more vibrant future beyond 2010,” he said.

Toledo said the “imminent poll victory” of Teodoro is founded on the overwhelming support for him from a wide gamut of sectors ranging from young voters plus sectoral and party-list groups like the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) to religious groups like the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus.

Present at the grand event were Teodoro’s vice-presidential running mate Edu Manzano and their six senatorial candidates: Silvestre Bello III, Raul Lambino, Rey Langit, Ramon Guico, and Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and Lito Lapid.