MANILA, Philippines – Weeks before voters troop to the polls, Vice President Jejomar Binay released a new political advertisement to remind them that he is the tried and tested presidential candidate they should support on May 9.

In his new ad, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard-bearer and his running mate, Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II, are seen driving a train across a vast rice field. 

An excited crowd is waiting for them on the platform – students, a senior citizen on a wheelchair, a young boy who throws an empty tin can behind him as he sees the train approach.

“Para sa ’yo, sa kanya, sa ating lahat, sino ba talaga ang nagpapahalaga sa buhay natin (For you, them, and all of us, who really values our life)?”

The UNA tandem then invites the people to enter the train. The smiling passengers find their seats inside. 

“Sino ba talagang tumulong at patuloy na tutulong sa atin (Who has already helped and will continue helping us)?”

The camera is then focused on a family of 5 reluctant to enter the train. Binay notices them and encourages them to join the ride. 

“‘Di ‘ba ‘yung presidenteng nognog, pandak, at laki rin sa hirap ang maghahatid sa atin tungo sa ginhawa (Isn’t the president who is dark-skinned, short, and who grew up in poverty like us, will bring us to progress)?” 

The Vice President carries the youngest child of the couple briefly before handing him back to his parents who are now inside the train. 

A montage of the train’s route follows, with the passengers seeing housing projects, a developed city, a university, and a hospital through the windows.  

“Kaya sa May 9, ang ating presidente…sino ba? Only Binay! (So on May 9, who else will be our president? Only Binay!)”  

Binay and Honasan are again seen manning the train themselves at the end of the video. 

The advertisement is a reiteration of the UNA tandem’s anti-poverty and inclusive growth platform, which Binay would constantly include in his speeches. (READ: An anatomy of Jejomar Binay’s campaign speeches) 

The Vice President would say that he has the experience and the capability to lead, based on his 30 years in public service but also on his personal experience of poverty growing up. (READ: Cinderella Man and The Bandit King)

His campaign promises include free education and healthcare for all, expanding the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, reducing income tax for those earning P30,000 and below, and expanding the railway system across the country.  

Both Binay and Honasan, however, are trailing behind their opponents in the latest election polls.

The Vice President is statistically tied with Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II for 3rd place in the latest ABS-CBN survey led by   Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and followed by Senator Grace Poe.

In the vice presidential race, Honasan was at the bottom of the survey rankings. – Rappler.com