CEBU CITY, Philippines – Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero shared light moments, shook people's hands and posed for selfies with some locals of Samboan in southern Cebu when they trekked there Saturday, March 5.
Instead of a political rally, the presidential and vice presidential candidates instead went on an early morning trek to Samboan's famous Aguinid Falls.
They arrived in Samboan on a private chopper and were welcomed by Mayor Raymond Calderon at his rest house in Barangay Poblacion.
Calderon is a Liberal Party (LP) member whose relative, Representative Joseph Ace Durano, requested him to take care of Poe and Escudero during the visit. Durano, who was tourism secretary during Gloria Arroyo's presidency, is Poe and Escudero's campaign manager.
"I like visiting some sites in the province but this also has significance, particularly when you are trying to promote eco-tourism. Tourism is one sector that we need to harness and improve," Poe said.
Some residents were waiting outside the mayor's rest house by the time the candidates arrived. The crowd was smaller than what usually gathers for campaign events in Cebu, but in a press conference, Poe and Escudero said they were there to see the scenery and present their platforms, particularly on eco-tourism.
Poe said she wanted to see how she can assist in improving the place.
In the lead
Although facing a disqualification case, Poe shares the lead in the latest Pulse Asia survey on presidential and vice presidential preferences. About 26% of the 1,800 voters surveyed last February 15 to 20 said they would vote for her. At least 25% chose Vice President Jejomar Binay. The survey's error margin is plus-minus two percent.
Escudero also leads the vice presidential candidates in the same survey, with 29% of the respondents. Ferdinand Marcos Jr followed with 26%.
During the visit, Escudero said it was an opportunity for the town to be showcased on a national level. He also urged Filipinos not to be strangers to the country's attractions.
Before the two could start exploring the falls, residents left their homes to greet them.
Linda Rocamora said she was happy to see the two, especially Poe, because she was a fan of her father's.
"Di masabot ang among kalipay nga nakita namo sila nga nianhi gyod sila bisan sa kasudlunon. Sila ang permiro nga mga kandidato sa national nga nianhi gyod mao nga mo-botar gyod mi nila kay tagsa ra kaayo mi suruyon diri," she said.
(You can't begin to understand how happy we are to see them here, considering how out-of-the-way we live. They're the first national candidates to visit us here, that's why I'm voting for them.)
A local tourist guide briefed the two senators about the falls before they started trekking up to the second level.
Welcome
Mayor Calderon was with them. He hoped their visit would boost tourism in their town, particularly Aguinid Falls. Calderon, however, said he would remain with LP.
"No matter what, they are still senators of our country. Of course, we should welcome them, that’s why I did not hesitate to say yes when they called," Calderon told reporters.
Calderon confirmed it was Congressman Durano who requested him to welcome the two candidates.
In an interview, Durano said that 90% of the members of Bakud Party, which is based on Cebu Province’s fifth district in the north, have agreed to support the Poe-Escudero tandem.
Aside from Samboan, Poe and Escudero also visited Bantayan Island in the north Saturday afternoon, where they met some fishers.
Poe explained that she wanted to figure out some local government initiatives for disaster risk reduction and management, since there was a proposal to put up a separate department for it.
During a press conference, the two also presented their platforms, which included the passage of a Freedom of Information (FOI) Law in their first 100 days in office, as a way to combat corruption.
The two also plan to change the image of some government offices like the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), which have been tainted with allegations of corruption.
No pockets
"Kung kailangan natin palitan ang uniforms ng BOC at BIR, halimbawa, bawal na ang bulsa, pangalawa papalitan natin ang mga furniture nila, bawal na drawers, dapat salamin lang ang kanilang mga lamesa. Simple na mga solution pero epektibo," Escudero said.
(If we have to, we can remove the pockets on the uniforms of BOC and BIR personnel and require them to use office desks that are transparent glass and have no drawers. These are simple but effective solutions [to fight corruption].)
The two said they were thankful for their survey ratings. Poe said these inspire her, even as she deals with her disqualification case.
"Mas nagkakaroon kami ng inspiration na umikot sa ating bansa hindi lamang para makita ng ating mga kababayan kundi pakinggan din sila kung ano ang nais nilang idagdag sa aming mga platform," she said.
(We are inspired to visit more areas not only to be seen, but also to listen to what people would like our platform to include.)
Escudero said their ratings are important to them, but that they continue to consider themselves as underdogs in the run-up to the May 9, 2016 elections.
“Ever since naman, running scared kami ni Grace, dehado kasi kami sa mga kalaban namin, sila lang ang may pera, partido at makinarya. Kami parehong independent," Escudero said.
(We've been running scared since the beginning. Our opponents have the money, party support and machinery. We both remain independent.) –Rappler.com
This story is republished under Rappler's content sharing agreement with the SunStar network in the coverage of the 2016 national and local elections.