'Noynoy a sure winner in Bulacan'

MALOLOS CITY , Philippines  – Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III need not campaign in Bulacan because he will win by a landslide in the province.

Aquino’s allies in Bulacan gave this assurance, saying he has consistently topped surveys conducted in the province and that people are looking for a leader with an untainted background.

“Noynoy no longer needs to campaign in Bulacan because he will surely win here,” said former governor Josie de la Cruz in Filipino.

De la Cruz is running anew for governor under the banner of the Partido del Pilar, which has forged a coalition with the LP.

Del Pilar is fielding candidates in 21 towns and three component cities of the province.

De la Cruz said Aquino has consistently topped surveys they have conducted in Bulacan since last year.

She said they were not surprised by the survey results since Aquino is one of the presidential candidates who have never been involved in any anomaly.

“Bulakenyos also know that Noynoy is part Bulakenyo,” she said, noting that Aquino’s grandfather Jose Cojuangco was born in Malolos in 1896, the same year when the family moved to Tarlac.

Historian Jaime Corpuz said Jose Cojuangco’s parents Melencio Cojuangco and Tecla Chiochioco both hailed from Malolos.

The Cojuangco family still maintains their ancestral house in Barangay Liang, Malolos City.

For her part, Linabelle Villarica, a congressional candidate of Del Pilar and the LP for the fourth district of Bulacan, said she is overwhelmed by the Bulakenyos’ support for Aquino.

She said Aquino will undoubtedly get the majority of votes in Bulacan, adding that his running mate, Sen. Mar Roxas, is also a Bulakenyo.

“They have a very strong tandem that can trace their roots in Bulacan,” Villarica said.

According to Corpus, Roxas’ grandmother Trinidad de Leon-Roxas hailed from San Miguel, Bulacan.

Historians said the late President Manuel Roxas and Trinidad de Leon-Roxas even had their second wedding ceremony in a chapel in San Miguel town.