NUEVA ECIJA, Philippines – One typhoon-hit town, two leading presidential candidates. 

Both Vice President Jejomar Binay and Manuel Roxas II were in Nueva Ecija on Tuesday, October 20, days after Typhoon Lando unleashed its wrath in the province and nearby areas, destroying homes and displacing thousands on its way. 

Despite being in the same city at around the same time, however, the two presidential hopefuls did not see each other in separately-planned trips to visit those affected by the typhoon. 

Binay arrived in Cabanatuan mid-morning on Tuesday but did not stay for too long. After a quick visit to the city hall and a nearby market, the Vice President, who is also chairman of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), went on to visit nearby towns as well. 

Before arriving in Cabanatuan, Binay was in the towns of Gerona and Pura in Tarlac. “The Vice President discussed with local leaders the extent of damage wrought by the typhoon and vowed to help expedite the resolution of their issues,” the Office of the Vice President said in a press statement. 

Roxas, on the other hand, visited Cabanatuan after a quick stop in Baler, Aurora. Accompanying Roxas was his running-mate, Camarines Sur Representative Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, former Aurora representative and incumbent Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, current Aurora Representative Bella Angara, and Quezon City Representative Jose Christopher “Kit” Belmonte. 

Not campaigning?

The two were quick to dismiss speculation that their visits were a form of campaigning. 

“Bawal magkampanya. ‘Di ba sabi nila huwag magkampanya? Sa akin naman, hindi pa panahon ng pag-iikot. Kung hindi ako una, isa ako sa una na nakakarating kaagad para tumulong sa mga nasasalanta,” Binay told reporters in a chance interview in Cabanatuan City. 

(Campaigning isn’t allowed. Didn’t they say you can’t campaign? As far as I’m concerned, now is not the time to go around. If I’m not the first, I’m among the first who arrived here to help the victims of Lando.)

Binay, who declared his plans to run for president as far back as 2010, said this has been the way he’s operated since day one. And besides, Binay said, a personal visit is the best way to assess post-disaster needs.

Roxas made it a point to wear white, and avoid the trademark yellow of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), where he is president-on-leave. Robredo likewise wore blue. 

“This is not about us. Hindi naman ito tungkol sa amin, hindi naman ito tungkol sa aming kampanya. Tungkol ito sa tulong sa pagtugon sa pangangailangan, matinding pangangailangan ng mga natamaan ni Lando (This isn’t about us or about our campaign. This is about addressing the needs of those devastated by Typhoon Lando),” said Roxas. 

Even if media pressed on the happy coincidence of two leading presidential bets visiting the same city on the same day, both Binay and Roxas made light of it. “Everybody that can help ought to help,” said Roxas. – Rappler.com