Noynoy joins 2010 race

MANILA, Philippines - After days of soul-searching, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III finally declared yesterday that he will run for president in 2010 to “continue the fight” of his parents and unite the country against an unpopular but well-entrenched administration.

In declaring his candidacy, Aquino also acknowledged the tough fight ahead as he would have to battle it out with other opposition candidates, several of whom have long been unofficially on the campaign trail.

Aquino is the only son of the late president and democracy icon Corazon Aquino and Marcos nemesis senator Benigno Aquino Jr.

“I accept the call of the people,” Noynoy Aquino told supporters gathered at Club Filipino in Greenhills. “I accept the responsibility of continuing our fight for the people. I accept the challenge to lead this fight,” he said.

“I want to make democracy work not only for the rich and the well connected but for everyone,” Noynoy said.

Noynoy was with his sisters as well as girlfriend Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad when he made the announcement in the same hall where his mother took her oath of office shortly after the 1986 People Power revolution that ousted the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

After his announcement the crowd sang “Bayan Ko” while raising their hands in the “L” sign for laban or fight.

President Arroyo, who lost the support of the Aquinos over charges of corruption and election fraud, is scheduled to step down in June 2010 after serving more than nine years. She is not allowed to run for re-election but is widely believed to be scheming to extend her stay in office with the help of her supporters in Congress.

“Tinatanggap ko ang hamong mamuno sa labang ito. Bayang Pilipinas, tatakbo po ako sa pagka-pangulo sa darating na halalan. Itutuloy po natin ang laban. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Nawa’y pagpalain tayo ng Poong Maykapal (I am accepting the challenge to lead this fight. Philippines, I will run for president in the coming election. We will continue the fight. Long live the Philippines. May God bless us),” Noynoy said to wild cheers.

The declaration came on the 40th day of Mrs. Aquino’s death. The massive outpouring of sympathy for Aquino after her death from colon cancer last month prompted supporters of her son to urge him to run for president.

Noynoy and the Liberal Party where he belongs are primarily banking on his name, but the senator said he has his own track record and that he would no longer need to brag about his qualifications.

Own track record

A three-term congressman and an economist by training, he said that if elected he would ensure that government resources are utilized efficiently, criticizing Mrs. Arroyo – his former economics professor – for “forgetting what she has taught me.”

He said he witnessed during his mother’s funeral the yearning of the people for true democracy and freedom that his parents had fought for all their lives.

“Nakita natin ang pagbabalik ng pagmamahal sa bawat isa at handang magsakripisyo para sa ikabubuti ng nakararami. Maraming boses ang narinig sa mga sumunod na mga araw pagkatapos ng libing ng ating ina (We saw that love for one another and the readiness to sacrifice for the sake of others have come back. We heard a lot of calls following the death of our mother),” Noynoy said.

Noynoy said one man had egged him to run and offered one to two million signatures but he said he did not “take it seriously then.”

One prominent columnist sent him a text message about déjà vu of what transpired in 1986.

He said he also drew inspiration from fifth-graders he met during his spiritual journey.

He said it was the mounting calls for him to run that made him decide to go on a spiritual retreat in a Carmelite monastery to seek discernment and divine guidance.

“Somebody told me that once I had made the right decision, the path for you to take would already be easy,” Noynoy said.

Noynoy said the withdrawal from the race of long-time LP standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Roxas II made him reflect more on his options.

He praised Roxas for his “selfless act” and said he would like him to be his running mate.

It’s about time

The senator’s eldest sister, Maria Elena “Ballsy” Aquino-Cruz, said they already allowed Noynoy to make the announcement about his plan since he had made up his mind and had prayed over it, along with the whole family.

Ballsy said it was better for Noynoy to reveal his decision now than to keep the people waiting.

Noynoy said his opponents had started their “branding,” or image-building in their trips to the provinces to be with local leaders long before he even thought of joining the game.

“(I am late) if we run a traditional campaign. I think in this case the people will be the ones to carry the burden and as I moved around, I was able to verify there was indeed a clamor and the people would be the ones to push this forward,” Noynoy said in a press conference later at the Senate.

At Club Filipino in Greenhills, Noynoy was presented with coins as contributions for his campaign. Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, who as armed forces chief had helped the Aquino administration repulse several coup attempts, vowed to serve him with dedication and symbolically offered P100 contribution.

At the Baclaran Church in Parañaque City where a Mass was held to mark the 40th day of his mother’s death, Noynoy was mobbed by the people and he was applauded as he entered the hall. The choir sang “Bayan Ko” and a small piggy bank with a yellow ribbon tied around it was presented to him.

The priest said he was hoping that Noynoy would turn his back on corruption and serve the people with love and compassion.

LP stalwart and former Batanes Rep. Florencio Abad said they were counting on volunteers to help in Noynoy’s campaign.

Opposition unity dim

Noynoy’s entry in the presidential derby is not affecting the preparations of other parties with their own presidential candidates.

Noynoy said he is open to unity talks but said he is not sure if he has the right to call for a meeting, being the newest in the ball game.

He agreed with Sen. Loren Legarda that having one candidate for the opposition is ideal but difficult to achieve at this time.

Legarda is herself pining for her party’s endorsement of her presidential bid. Her party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition, has yet to decide if it’s she or Sen. Francis Escudero who will represent the party in 2010.

The Nacionalista Party, on the other hand, has Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. as standard-bearer.

Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino is also not giving way to Noynoy and will field former President Joseph Estrada.