In the yellow trail

Bencyrus Ellorin

ILOILO City–Panay Island or at least half of it turned yellow last Feb. 9 as the administration’s Daang Matuwid slate launched its campaign in Roxas City, Capiz and Iloilo City.

Ilonggolandia is tauted as yellow country, Mar Roxas, the administration’s standard bearer traces roots in Roxas City and Senate President Franklin Drilon, a reelectionist is from Iloilo.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III was in high spirits as he endorsed Roxas, vice presidential bet Rep. Leni Robredo and the12-person slate for the Senate.

The Capiz Gymnasium was filled to the brim with around 6,000 people. Outside, a huge TV screen was set up where another 5,000 or so were watching the speeches intently.

After lunch, the candidates had a three-hour caravan to Iloilo City.

Supporters lined the streets of town centers waving yellow flaglets as the caravan passed.

At the Freedom Grandstand in downtown Iloilo around 40,000 people joined the rally.

Ecstatic over the huge crowd turnout, President Aquino said, “Sa dami ninyo ngayon, pwede ba election na bukas?” He was in such a jovial mood, he digressed from his prepared speech to tell stories.

When it was Mar Roxas’s turn, he shouted in Hiligaynon: Daug na! (Victory has come). Through out the day, the mantra was “Oras na! Roxas na!”

There were many interesting sideshows. Strange bedfellows Leila de Lima and Panfilo Lacson shared stage and were civil back stage. De Lima in 2009 filed a criminal case against Lacson, prompting the incumbent senator to hide.

Survey leaders came in with their full machinery. Mark Lapid brought his father Sen. Lito Lapid to the stage before starting his speech.

People were also intent on listening to less popular Cris “Mr. Coop” Paez and Yna Ambolodto. Paez came with cooperative leaders.

Although, having meager funds, cooperatives chipped in to print streamers and posters, enough for the diminutive Paez, a three-term congressman of Coop Natcco partylist to be visible in the mamoth crowd.

At the Freedom Grandstand cooperatives brought in a drum corps for Paez and a number carrying placards declaring support to Mr. Coop.

After the rally, Paez had dinner meeting with around a hundred cooperative leaders. The call was sort of dire. With survey numbers low, Paez and the cooperative movement needs to work hard.

“If we fail to show good numbers on election day, the cooperative movement may not only lose face, but will become vulnerable,” said Sammy Billanes, general manager of the Western Visayas Alliance of Cooperatives and chairperson of the National Cooperative Development Council.

Paez himself admits he has embarked on a mission impossible of sorts.

But he remains confident, he could surmount the odds, if the cooperatives work together to push his candidacy.

“Have faith. It is Paezible,” said the candidate who traces his roots in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte.

E-mail: bency.ellorin@gmail.com