Nacionalista Party (NP) president Senator Manny Villar last Thursday urged Pasig residents to vote on the basis of leadership and managerial skills, and not on popularity which, he said, will only drag the nation to further hardships.

Villar posed this challenge before the Pasig residents when the city's local executives led by Mayor Robert "Bobby" Eusebio and Vice Mayor Rosalio “Yoyong” Martirez defected from Lakas-Kampi to the NP and formally took their oath before Villar at the Tanghalang Pasigueño.

Villar said the next leader of this country must demonstrate from Day One of his presidency that he is capable of managing the many crises the country is facing including poverty and the breakdown in peace and order.

The NP standard bearer strongly emphasized that political freedom is useless unless the people are freed from the bondage of hunger and poverty, issues he vowed to address once he is elected.

Aside from Eusebio and Martirez, all councilors of the city were formally sworn in as NP members to signify their all-out support to Villar's presidential bid.

In a statement, Eusebio said, “We join the Nacionalista Party because we share its most important advocacy of fighting poverty, under the tested leadership of Senator Villar, whose track record sets him apart from other presidentiables.”

Eusebio and his fellow Pasig local officials are the latest political defectors to NP, boosting the NP bid to win big in Metro Manila.

“We are most grateful for your demonstration of support which further fortifies our efforts at uplifting our country's poor, of which I was one. Having experienced such life makes me able and determined to help our people break out of survival mode,” Villar said.

After the oath-taking in Pasig, Villar also swore as NP member at the Laurel House in Mandaluyong City a priest of 21 years who will be running for governor of Bukidnon in May, 2010 elections.

Fr. Diosdado “Dodge” Tabios, 46, who is noted for educating and helping the “lumads” fight for land ownership in Bukidnon, said, “We want to help change significantly the current troubling social and economic situations in the province molded by past leadership.”

In joining the NP, Tabios said that among those running for president, it is Villar who has frequently visited Mindanao to present his Mindanao agenda as priority of his leadership.

Meanwhile, Villar said he will file his certificate of candidacy (CoC) at the Commission on Elections on November 30.

Villar said the party will hold their proclamation rally to present its complete lineup of senatorial candidates on Sunday.

"Tuloy na tuloy na tayo. The commemoration of Bonifacio Day is a fitting date to file for my candidacy and seal my utmost intention to serve the country and make a difference in the lives of my fellow Filipinos like Andres Bonifacio. November 30 would have a deeper significance to me,” said Villar.

“Habang ako ay nag-aaral sa Mababang Paaralan ng Isabelo de los Reyes na malapit sa Tutuban, naging inspirasyon ko na si Gat. Andres Bonifacio. Hanga ako sa kanyang sipag at tiyaga na nagsilbing gabay ko sa buhay. Sa kabila ng kahirapan, hindi nagpabaya ang ating dakilang bayani sa pagpapalawak at paghubog ng kanyang angking talino,” said Villar in his speech during a previous celebration of Bonifacio Day.

Villar and his family, as well as supporters and fellow Nacionalistas including running mate Sen. Loren Legarda will hear mass at the Manila Cathedral before filing his CoC in Comelec.