Wife campaigns for Magsaysay

MANILA, Philippines - The wife of Team PNoy senatorial candidate Ramon Magsaysay Jr. has made the rounds of wet markets to campaign for her husband among the masses.

Marilou Kahn-Magsaysay, a model turned entrepreneur, said she has chosen to visit wet markets to personally know the sentiments of common people who matter most to her husband.

“I am more inclined to go to the wet markets and know personally the sentiments of ordinary folks, especially women. They keep Jun and I abreast of current situations and the work that should be done for the greater good,” she said.

She also echoes her husband’s call to further empower Filipino women to accelerate the country’s inclusive development.

She said women sellers and buyers at the markets also deserve to be empowered given their industry and abilities.

“As Jun always says, women greatly matter in sustaining the economic growth of the country,” she said. “We need women to get more involved in stirring this growth – they should not be left behind.”

For the past weeks, Mrs. Magsaysay made the rounds of wet markets in Quezon City, Manila, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Makati, Pasay, Caloocan, Valenzuela, Navotas, San Juan, Taguig, Paraaque, Muntinlupa, Marikina, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite. 

She also visited depressed areas, joined by long-time colleagues from the Philippine Ballet Theater, former models and childhood friends. 

Salceda’s remark ‘improper’

Meanwhile, Magsaysay yesterday said that the remark of Albay Gov. Joey Salceda – who heads the Liberal Party (LP) in the Bicol region – that he will vote for United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial bet Nancy Binay is improper.

“That does not look nice. It is a setback more for him than for us because we are consistent. He is the one deciding on it as a party official. The issue is his, not ours,” Magsaysay told reporters.

“It has no effect on us, the freedom is with the voters. They would think on why would this LP official do this. He’s riding on the other party. That does not show party discipline, does not show a good example as a party leader,” he added.

In spite of the remark, Magsaysay believes that it is not necessary to sanction Salceda, a close friend and former economic adviser of detained former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo whose Lakas party he left when Aquino, his former classmate in Ateneo, ran for president in 2010.

“No need. He is a mature leader, mature man. He does not need to be sanctioned, but he should explain himself,” Magsaysay said.