The administration senatorial line-up under the banner Team Unity filed their Certificates of Candidacies before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) today, February 12.

Team Unity includes Senators Edgardo Angara, Joker Arroyo, Tessie Aquino-Oreta, Ralph Recto, Tito Sotto, Representatives Juan Miguel Zubiri and Prospero Pichay, Governors Vic Magsaysay, Jericho Petilla and Chavit Singson, former Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor and Sultan Jamalul Kiram III. Team Unity, which stands for Together Everyone Achieves More Unity emphasized on the importance of local government units (LGUs) in the development of economy.

Their slogan, “tulong tulong sa pagsulong” stressed on working together to achieve reconciliation and peace in the government. Before proceeding to the COMELEC, the Team Unity attended a mass at the Manila Cathedral and held a press conference at Villa Immaculada where they had their first campaign speech.

After the press conference, the candidates proceeded to the COMELEC. Outside the commission, the crowd was a festivity of supporters waving their placards, wearing t-shirts provided by their senatorial bets and accompanied by an ati-atihan band. Among them are various housing organizations who benefited from Mike Defensor’s housing projects, supporters of Vic Magsaysay, Miguel Zubiri and Chavit Singson, and the Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas.

EDGARDO ANGARA
Supporters of Sen. Ed Angara were dressed in yellow and blue printed with “Ang Gara ng Buhay” and Philhealth. In his speech, Angara stressed the importance of health insurance for young Filipinos. He believes that our country should move for decentralization to achieve better service. He also said that the Team Unity is powered by LGU-masters who are armed with youth and vigor.

JOKER ARROYO
Sen. Joker Arroyo may have the shortest speech among the candidates but his views encapsulated the whole agenda of Team Unity. He ensures that their group will not overthrow the administration and destabilize the government. He believes that everything should be based on the constitution. He points out that the Team Unity’s perspective is for economic progress for the common good. In the end, the challenged the opposition to come up with their agenda.

MIKE “TOL” DEFENSOR
Sec. Mike Defensor has the most number of supporters and placards during the activity. His posters showed the masa aspects of Mike: “fighting tol”, “standing tol” and “walking tol”. In his speach, he reiterated his effort to strengthen the government and continue the reconciliation. He sighted the decreasing number of laws passed by Senate due to the disunity in the government. In the end, Mike made women squeal from the back when he promised to provide housing to Filipinos by saying “ibabahay to kayo”.

SULTAN JAMALUL KIRAM III
Seeming to be the only Muslim in the whole Senatorial candidates, Sultan Kiram provided a way for Muslims to have a representative in the Senate. Joining the unity stance of his ticket, he promised to focus on the needs of muslims to gain peace in Mindanao.

VIC MAGSAYSAY
Working as a public official for almost 30 years proves that Zambales Governor Vic Magsaysay is indeed a veteran politician in the local government. As such, he said that he will be a yardstick or measure for public service. He holds the legacy of Magsaysay public officials and vows to strengthen local governments.

TESSIE AQUINO-ORETA
A prominent ally of Erap, Senator Tessie Oreta explained why she joined the unity ticket. She said that there comes a time in the life of a politician that she needs to move forward and address the more pressing needs of the country. Thus, she vows to advocate in the modernization of education.

JERICHO “ICOT” PETILLA
Leyte Governor Icot Petilla may be new name in national politics and that is what he stressed – we need new politicians to run the government. He said that as a governor, he knows and understands the needs of the people because he deals with them directly. Thus, he points out the need to envigorate LGUs for them to provide more local services.

PROSPERO “BUTCH” PICHAY
Pro-Pinoy is the campaign slogan of Surigao del Sur Representative Prospero Pichay. He says that he is neither administration nor opposition. What is important is the welfare of the Filipinos.

RALPH RECTO
Still bringing up the Vilmanian effect, Ralph Recto first greeted his fellow Vilmanians. He also said that politics now should go beyond the Erap and GMA struggle; instead, he insists on having a 20/20 vision of the future. He said that the population is growing, thus, the number of hospitals, educational facilities and social services should be doubled. His projects would center on HEARTS (health, education, agriculture, roads, technology and security).

CHAVIT SINGSON
Although Governor Singson was not present in the press conference since he was on his way from the hospital, his banner was distint in the area; it tells that he is the champion of truth. Many of his supporters dressed in green were present.

TITO SOTTO
Senator Tito Sotto, a re-electionist, claims that he still has unfinished businesses in the Senate and he vows to help unite the country.

JUAN MIGUEL “MIGZ” ZUBIRI
Amigo ng bayan, kampeon ng kalikasan is the campaign slogan of Rep. Zubiri. He said that he is a son of Negros and grew up in Mindanao. He said he may look like Magellan but he has the heart of Lapu-Lapu. He tells that he himself is exhausted with the political struggles in the country so he want to achieve unity within the government. A proponent of the Biofuels Act, he vows to protect the environment.

Note: First time ko magsulat ng news so please please bear with my writing. Hehe.