PHVOTE 2013

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines - The opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) hits the campaign trail in Northern Mindanao, the bailiwick of former President Joseph Estrada.



UNA highlights the Sabah standoff and political turncoatism as it courts votes in Cagayan de Oro City, Bukidnon and Iligan. 



But is this enough for voters? Ayee Macaraig reports.

Former President Joseph Estrada returns to Mindanao, this time not as presidential candidate but endorser.

The man who topped the 2010 presidential race in the region again courts the vote of Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon and Iligan but now for his senatorial candidates in the opposition United Nationalist Alliance.

Estrada and Vice President Jejomar Binay rouse the crowd on the campaign trail.

But amid the deadly Sabah standoff, it’s their candidates who make noise against the Aquino administration.

MITOS MAGSAYSAY

ZAMBALES REPRESENTATIVE

Alam naman nilang mageexpire ang lease ng Sabah nitong March, one year prior dapat may ginawa na silang paraan kung paano masettle between stakeholders concerned. Kaya lang yun ang problema mukhang lahat ng focus ng administrasyon pamumulitika this May 2013 eleksyon.

While Estrada and Binay hesitate to criticize the President, there’s no holding them back from hitting his allies in the Liberal Party.

JOSEPH ESTRADA

FORMER PRESIDENT

Sino nandaya kay FPJ nung counting sa Senado, sino ang senate president noon: si Drilon at assistant niya si Pangilinan, puro sabi noted. Ngayon atake sila nang atake kay GMA. Kung may aatake kay GMA, ako di sila.

JEJOMAR BINAY

VICE PRESIDENT

Kung magsalita akala mo sila lang ang ‘di balimbing. Nandoon ang maraming balimbing.

UNA aims for a repeat of the Estrada-Binay 2010 victory in Northern Mindanao for its slate.

Candidates woo voters by promising to focus on the Mindanao power crisis, and citing their efforts to help victims of Typhoon Sendong that battered the region.

Despite the promises and label of an Erap country, residents here say that with the poverty and disasters they face, there’s more to their vote than words.

Sendong victim Miriam Magdalang is a Red Cross beneficiary from Iligan who’s asked to attend the UNA rally here.

But she says her presence doesn’t mean a vote for Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon or his ticket.

MIRIAM MAGDALANG

SENDONG VICTIM

Kinsa tong maayo mao among buhataran, kinsa tong nakabuhat ug matarung ug kinsa mahakabuhat, makita namo ang ilang binuhatan bitaw, ang ilang mga project ilang matuman. Mao na’y among tabangan. Ug dili mi mga tao, di man sila madaog.

(Whoever did well, we will vote for that person, whoever did good. We should see what they did, their projects. Those are the people we will help. If not for us, they will not win.)

With the fanfare and mudslinging in full swing, Mindanaoans remind candidates they have problems more urgent than political fireworks.

Ayee Macaraig, Rappler, Cagayan de Oro. – Rappler.com