Gibo's mom says only son enough gift for her

MANILA, Philippines - She already had all the material things in life but for Merceditas Cojuangco-Teodoro, the best gift she ever had is her only child, Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro.

Gibo, namesake of his late father Teodoro Sr. who served as former president of the Social Security System, is running for president under the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

And being a Mother’s Day today, Mommy Merceditas said she could not ask for more than to pray for the success of her son.

She said she would continue praying that her son, in everything he will do, will always be in the right path of life.

“It is enough that he is my son. I don’t expect any material gift (from him),” the Teodoro matriarch said.

Mommy Merceditas made the interview just after she attended the Lakas miting de avance of Teodoro and running mate Edu Manzano at the Rizal track and field oval in Manila late Friday.

Like any doting mother to their children, Mrs. Teodoro said that she always wanted the best for her son and for this, she has been very active in her own way helping him in his campaign to win in the elections.

Asked if she had a gift for her “unico hijo” this Mother’s Day, she said what she had for Gibo this day and onward is her love, her prayers and her support through hardwork (campaigning).

For his part, Teodoro said he is very much thankful for her mother’s sacrifices.

“For my mother, I am most grateful for the love, kindness and sacrifices for me,” Teodoro said.

For 86-year-old Curita Bamba Villar, all she wants for Mother’s Day is for her son, Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. to succeed in his bid to become the country’s next president.

The Villar matriarch has appeared on television as she cried in denouncing the allegations against her son’s claims that they started out being very poor.

She decided to come out in public to tell her side of the story, corroborating the one told by Villar over and over again during his campaign for the presidency.

Villar has been selling himself to the masses as one who rose out of poverty to become one of the most successful businessmen and politicians in the country.

Nanay Curing, as she is fondly called, reiterated her statements about her son Manny being sincere and capable of making good on his vow to end poverty in the country.

The family started out living in the slums of Tondo, Manila and made a living selling shrimps at the Divisoria market until they were able to work their way out of poverty.

Nanay Curing advised his billionaire son to put his faith in God amidst all of the challenges and adversities in his bid for the highest post of the land.

“Like me, Manny’s faith in God is very strong. I taught him to let God deal with his critics and detractors. He has been blessed with a successful life because he is hardworking and helpful,” she said.

Nanay Curing may have lost her sight because of glaucoma last year.

But for this Mother’s Day, she is expecting to be with all her children once more, hoping that one of them succeeds in becoming the president of the country, before she fades away. –With Marvin Sy