VLOG: UNA fails to live up to hype in Baguio sortie

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) fails to draw a huge crowd as it campaigns here.

Despite its challenge to administration Team PNoy to gather a big audience in the so-called Baguio showdown, UNA is not even able to fill up its own campaign venue, the Baguio Convention Center.

Ayee Macaraig filed this video blog.

They said the heat is on but is it really?

The opposition sortie here in Baguio City fails to live up to its hype, drawing a crowd of just about 3,000 people.

The United Nationalist Alliance fails to muster a huge crowd in its so-called showdown with Team PNoy, as the two hold simultaneous rallies here in Baguio.

UNA says it opted for a smaller venue, the Baguio Convention Center, because of weather concerns but it fails to fill up even this space.

The thing is it’s UNA that has been making an issue out of crowd sizes, taunting Team PNoy in the run-up to this event.

JEJOMAR BINAY

VICE PRESIDENT

Eh tingnan niyo na lamang basta’t kami sa lahat ng napuntahan namin, nung nagsimula kami sa Cebu, libu-libo ang dumalo, ‘di bababa sa 50,000, sa Cagayan de Oro, sa Bukidnon. ‘Di pa yata kami nakakatikim ng paisa-isang libo.

JOSEPH ESTRADA

FORMER PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT

Sila nga Plaza Miranda, ang liit-liit, ‘di pa napuno. Kami sa Cebu, ang dami.

Still, former President Joseph Estrada gets a warm welcome from the crowd, which responds to his jokes and antics.

Estrada questions his defeat here in 2010 despite his support for city projects when he was still president.

Erap connects with the voters along with UNA’s Ilocano senatorial candidates.

The candidates point out problems like drugs and informal settlers, promising to address these if they win Senate seats.

Another UNA crowd drawer, Vice President Jejomar Binay, skips the rally as he prepares to leave for the Vatican for the inaugural Mass of Pope Francis.

Still, the lesson for UNA is to manage expectations, not just of the public but also its own.

Ayee Macaraig, Rappler, Baguio City. – Rappler.com