A crowd estimated at 170,000 during its peak lights up the Rizal Park in front of the Quirino Grandstand Saturday night to mark the 25 anniversary of the El Shaddai Catholic charismatic movement. Bro. Mike Velarde, servant leader and spiritual adviser.

El Shaddai spiritual leader Mariano “Bro. Mike “Velarde remained non-committal about his supposed political plans during the charismatic group’s 25th anniversary celebration at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, which was attended by around 170,000 at its peak Saturday night and the affair
stretching until early Sunday.

Velarde explained that, so far, the most compelling reason why he is still hesitant about entering politics is his family, who is apparently against it.

"Hati sila. May gusto, may ayaw," Velarde said.

In an interview with members of the media during his birthday celebration last Thursday, he said there was a 50 percent chance that he would run for the highest position of the land. Velarde, who just turned 70, said that the odds have now gone down dramatically.

Even his ally, Bishop Teodoro Bacani, spiritual adviser of El Shaddai and Bishop Emeritus of Novaliches, seemed to echo the sentiments of most of their members not to let Bro. Mike run.

"Mawawalan kasi kami e. Si Brother Mike ay napakalaking kawalan sa Prayer Partners… he is the embodiment of Prayer Partners and an inspiration to other leaders," Bacani said, referring to the foundation that runs the affairs of El Shaddai.

Asked about his supposed "secret deal" with former President Joseph Estrada, Velarde said that there was no such deal, and everything was merely said in jest.

"Pabiro lang naman sinabi yun… walang seryosong usapan," the spiritual leader said. "Sabi ko sa kanya, bilang kaibigan, pinapayuhan ko siya na wag na lang tumakbo."

"We're friends; I was trying to convince him not to run. But he is bent on running," he said. "Kaya sabi ko kung ayaw mong magpapigil, sasabayan kita."

Estrada supposedly then asked him why he said that, to which Velarde answered: "Para pag na-disqualify ka, ako na lang ang suportahan mo."

The statement was taken to mean by many that Velarde was running for president.

The former president himself did not take Velarde’s words seriously. He arrived during the El Shaddai gathering and talked on stage for around two minutes after arriving at around 2 a.m.

"Dapat pala nakinig na lang ako sa payo ni Bro. Mike na wag akong tumakbo, para di na ko nakulong," Estrada said, eliciting laughter and cheers from the crowd.

Velarde said he tried to set up a reconciliation meeting between Estrada and President Arroyo during his birthday, but Mr. Estrada did not make it to the affair.

"Still, my desire is magkabati ang dalawa," he said. "Pag nagkabati na ang dalawang yan, magu-unite na ang sambayanan, then we will achieve progress.”

“If I can do that, then I wouldn't need to run for president," he added.

When asked about Jesus is Lord (JIL) leader Eddie Villanueva's plans to run, he said: "Everybody's a potential candidate until the November 30 deadline."

Other personalities who attended the El Shaddai gathering, aside from Estrada, were Senators Manny Villar and Richard Gordon, NBN-ZTE whistleblower Joey De Venecia, TV personality Cory Quirino and some local officials.

Manila Police District Station 5 and ground commander Superintendent Romulo Sapitula said that at its peak, at around 9 p.m. Saturday, the estimated crowd was pegged at around 170,000.