SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – While the nation slows down during Holy Week, election stakeholders can’t afford to lose their momentum with the May 13 polls fast approaching.
In the capital, the politically neutral Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle washes the feet of election stakeholders, and prays for clean elections.
The scene is different in Batangas, with Archbishop Ramon Arguelles preparing for a so-called Holy War to prove the power – and existence – of a Catholic vote.
Politicians, of course, continue exposing each other’s sins and trumpeting their supposed virtues, while courting Filipinos’ sacred votes. Here’s the Holy Week in election quotes.
Tagle’s prayer, Brillantes’ pedicure
“Ang bayang naglalakbay sa dilim, matagal nang naghihintay ng liwanag ng katotohanan, kalinisan, integridad, lalo na sa pamamagitan ng malinis na eleksyon.”
(The nation journeying in the dark has long been waiting for the light of truth, purity, integrity, especially through clean elections.)
– Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle in his Holy Thursday homily, with election stakeholders like poll chief Sixto Brillantes Jr in the audience
“Sabi ko, pupunta ako. Magpapa-pedicure muna ako bago ako pumunta doon bukas. Nakakahiya naman.”
(I said I will come. I will probably get a pedicure before I go there tomorrow. Otherwise it’s embarrassing.)
– Commission on Elections chair Sixto Brillantes Jr, speaking to reporters in jest, on agreeing to have his feet washed by Cardinal Tagle
Careful with his vote?
“It’s not all about the money. Sometimes we need to look much further than that, if we want this country to be a great country… It’s our responsibility to put people who can help the Philippines.”
– Popular actor Richard Yap, known as “Ser Chief” of the ABS-CBN hit “Be Careful with my Heart,” on endorsing Team PNoy bet Ramon Magsaysay Jr for free
‘Not insecure’
“My father’s life is an open book. Whatever shortcomings he had for his children, he always makes up for it in some other way. That’s why I never felt insecure. Do you think I’m insecure? No, I’m not.”
– UNA senatorial bet Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on his complicated relations with the different families of his father, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada
Pacman’s champs
“I know these candidates. Their heart goes out to the poor. They understand the poor’s needs and they are ready to respond to the problems in Mindanao. This is why I am endorsing all the candidates of UNA nationwide.”
– Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao on endorsing UNA bets, along with candidates Bam Aquino and Eddie Villanueva
‘Outright lies’
“Rep Evardone was a former newsman so he should know the importance of checking the facts. His propensity for ignoring the facts, twisting the true and foisting outright lies is an embarrassment to the media profession.”
– UNA secretary general Toby Tiangco on Team PNoy spokesman Ben Evardone’s alleged twisting of facts about the wife of UNA president Jejomar Binay
Catholic vote?
“What we are trying to do is to make it.”
– Batangas Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, who wields political influence locally, on laying the groundwork for a powerful Catholic vote by 2016
– Compiled by Paterno Esmaquel II/Rappler.com
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