Lakas-Kampi CMD standardbearer Gilberto “Gibo’’ Teodoro Jr. hit the campaign trail Tuesday vowing to go to towns and places he has not visited before while drawing inspiration from the Star Trek’s going “where no man has gone before.”

“Aside from continuing my campus visits to explain my platform of governance to our youth groups, we are planning to go to the provinces and meet sectors we haven’t visited yet,” Teodoro said.

Green was the color of the day as thousands of supporters packed the Ynares Center in Antipolo City for the proclamation rally of the Lakas bets led by Teodoro and his running mate, Edu Manzano.

The campaign theme color symbolizes “interfaith,’’ “unity,” and “concern for the environment,’’ he said.

Teodoro said he believed his public opinion rating among presidential candidates will go up as the 90-day campaign progresses and when local officials of the ruling party start their campaign this March. Over 70 percent of local government officials nationwide are Lakas-Kampi CMD members, most of whom are seeking reelection.

He dismissed poll pre-election surveys placing him far off the race leaders, saying he would “prefer to lose every time in the surveys but win decisively on election day itself."

NP elated by outpouring of support in Calamba
CALAMBA CITY – At the opening salvo of the “90-day campaign period,” the Nacionalista Party candidates were elated with the “outpouring of support” that was showed by the people of Laguna during the motorcade and the rally later in the afternoon attended by thousands of supporters.

A known bailwick of the NP, Laguna is claiming two candidates as its daughters – NP vice-presidential bet Loren Legarda and guest senatorial candidate Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza.

Legarda and Maza have their roots in San Pablo.

NP senatorial candidate and spokesman Gilbert Remulla, in an interview before the rally, admitted that they are not that strong in Metro Manila and the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon provinces) area, owing to the “Cory euphoria” created by the media, especially by the ABS-CBN.

“We have a very strong start... sa motorcade pa lang maraming lumalabas,” Remulla said.

Under the sweltering heat, NP senatoriables barnstormed through the towns of Laguna, starting with a motorcade that “market-hopped” through Binan, Sta. Rosa, and Cabuyao.

Only eight of 12 NP senatorial bets managed to join the motorcade: Senator Pilar Juliana Cayetano, former congressman Gilbert Remulla, lawyer Adel Tamano, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, Ramon "Mon-Mon" Mitra, Gwendolyn Pimentel, and Susan Ople. (Rolly Carandang)