Christian Bishops support Gordon’s campaign for good governance

Bagumbayan presidential bet Sen. Richard Gordon has gained the support of members of the Christian Bishops and Ministers Association of the Philippines (CBMAP) in his campaign for good governance.

Gordon signed a covenant with the Christian organization led by its chairman, Bishop Benjamin Ramos, during the CBMAP Presidential Forum at the Manila Yacht Club. Among the presidential candidates, it was only Gordon who attended the event.

“I agree with what is written in this covenant. But do you agree, as well, to campaign with me for good governance?” Gordon asked the CBMAP members after signing the covenant.

The response was a loud “Yes” from the members, who also prayed over the Bagumbayan presidential bet.

The covenant which the two parties signed primarily states that Gordon, when elected President, shall seek God’s will and wisdom in carrying out his plans and decisions as the leader of the country; while the CBMAP shall support him by strengthening the moral fiber of the nation.

Gordon said he had always asked for God’s wisdom whenever he makes a decision, especially as a leader of his community.

“During the Mt. Pinatubo explosion, I asked Him to give me strength. I did the same when the US military left the Subic naval base. I always ask for God’s wisdom and strength when I make such decisions for the people,” he said.

“I know I am capable of doing what needs to be done in our country, but I cannot do it alone. The public’s role is to be part of the government. You must inform me of what is happening so that I can act right away. I can lead, but people must be part of the process of change. That is how we can have the cleanest, most honest and most effective government,” Gordon added.

To rivals who backed out of Harapan tandem debate: “You cannot handle the pressure of facing the people’s questions”

Bagumbayan Party presidential bet Sen. Richard J. Gordon expressed disappointment with his fellow candidates who backed out of ANC’s Harapan tandem debate.

Gordon pointed out that candidates who refuse to face questions from the people and from their fellow candidates are afraid that the public might see the reality behind the television ads.

“I’m sorry na nangyari iyan. Ang kaibahan ng eleksyon ngayon ay kailangan ipakita ng kandidato yung kakayahan nila. Hindi lang yung kakayahan nilang gumastos ng pera o kakayahan nilang gamitin ang impluwensiya ng kanilang pamilya,” he said when asked to comment on candidates who backed out of the debate.

“Kung hindi humarap ang kandidato ibig sabihin hindi niya kaya ang pressure na humarap sa mga tanong. Siya ay naniniguro na siya ay mananalo dahil sa ginagawa nilang pag-kondisyon sa utak ng mga tao na siya ay panalo na,” he added.

The Bagumbayan standard-bearer stressed that it is a big mistake on the part of those candidates because the people are beginning to see the need for discernment in choosing the country’s next leaders.

“Nakikita ko nagbabago na ang pag-iisip ng mga tao, nakikita na nila na ang kandidato kailangan meron talagang maipapakita na kaya niyang gawin,” he said.

“Kapag hindi humarap ang kandidato, nawawalan ang tao. Malaking pagkakamali nila iyan na dapat singilin ng taongbayan. Dapat malaman nila kung anong klaseng leader ang magiging presidente nila. Pag hindi natin nakilatis ang presidente at puro TV ads lang, ang nakikita lang natin ay yung make-up, yung make-believe world,” he added.

ABS-CBN’s “Harapan: The Tandem Presidential Debate” scheduled for Sunday night was cancelled, after several presidential and vice-presidential candidates declined to participate.

The only presidential and vice presidential tandems to have confirmed attendance are Gordon and his running mate former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando, and Bangon Pilipinas tandem of Bro. Eddie Villanueva and former Securities and Exchange Commission chief Perfecto Yasay.(30)

Gordon wins UP system-wide mock polls

Bagumbayan presidential candidate Sen. Richard Gordon is the top choice as the next President of the Philippines according to the recently-concluded system-wide mock elections of the University of the Philippines.

Gordon, a graduate of the UP College of Law class 1975, was elated with the results, stressing that such mock polls challenge the results of pre-election surveys conducted by survey firms.

“I’m happy because this is not a survey, it’s a mock election. And it is in mock elections like this where you can see the real pulse of the voters. This is much different from surveys, where you don’t know who commissioned it, what questions were asked and what was the methodology used,” he said.

With his impressive track record in public office, Gordon was chosen by the majority of the voters from the various UP campuses. Based on the final results of the mock polls titled Botong Isko 2010, which was conducted from March 18-25, Gordon got 1,236 votes (31.23%).

He was followed by Gilbert Teodoro (923); Sen. Manny Villar, Jr. (698); Sen. Benigno Aquino, III (591); Eddie Villanueva (100); Nicanor Perlas (79); Sen. Jamby Madrigal (32); Joseph Estrada (22); JC De Los Reyes (15); and Vetellano Acosta (3); while 259 of the voters are still undecided.

When he was a student of UP College of Law, Gordon topped the UP Student Council Elections in 1969. He is the chairman of the UP Alumni Association-Olongapo Chapter, and was the President of the UP College of Law Alumni Association in 2008.

Furthermore, his achievements had been recognized by the university when he was given the following awards: 1983 Professional Award in Public Administration and the 1997 Most Distinguished Alumnus (highest award) by the UP Alumni Association. 

A member of the oldest and prestigious  fraternity the Upsilon Sigma Phi, he was also awarded during its diamond year the 1993 Luminary Award for Exemplary Achievement in Public Administration and in 2000 the Upsilonian Noble and Outstanding (UNO ) its highest honors, by the Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association.

Gordon has remained an active supporter of the university. As a senator, coinciding with the UP Centennial Celebrations of 2008, he partnered with the University Student Council (USC) for the renovation of the Vinzon’s Hall and provided a P5 million financial assistance to the UP Alumni Association for the restoration and upgrade of the UP Carillon.

Meanwhile, in a separate mock poll, Gordon was chosen by executives of multinational corporations operating in the Philippines as the best person to run the country over the next six years.

He topped a the poll participated in by 35 business executives and diplomats who attended the quarterly roundtable of the Wallace Business Forum in Makati City last March 18.

“There is where we see the big difference between mock polls and surveys. We have to be wary of those paid surveys. We have to put in mind that it is the competence, integrity and track record of the candidates that we must consider in choosing the next leaders of our country,” Gordon said. (30)

Their difference from other candidates: Gordon-Bayani offer proven change, track record

Bagumbayan Party Presidential bet Sen. Richard J. Gordon said that he and running mate Bayani Fernando's edge over other presidential and vice-presidential aspirants is that they are capable of effecting change as proven by the successful transformation of the respective communities they have governed.

Gordon, speaking before barangay officials and other leaders of society in Pansol, Laguna, said that unlike the rest of the candidates, he Fernando are offering concrete measures to attain the transformational change that they envision.

"Tiyak magbabago lahat kapag umupo kami. Gordon-Bayani pagbabago, sigurado. Itaga niyo sa bato," he said when asked how they differ from the other presidential candidates who are also pitching their campaign on change as the tone for their campaign.

"Kami ang tinatanong kung kaya naming gawin sa buong Pilipinas ang pagbabagong nagawa namin sa Olongapo, Subic at Marikina. Bakit hindi niyo tanungin sa ibang kandidato kung nagawa na ba nilang baguhin ang mga bayan nila?" he added.

Gordon and Fernando dubbed their tandem the "Transformers" - their partnership, a fusion of two action men who aim to transform the hearts and minds of the people to build character and communities to create a better Philippines.

The two are former executives who both boast of a formidable track record of transforming their turfs into model cities. Gordon and Fernando are former mayors of Olongapo City and Marikina City, respectively.

Gordon is also the founding chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, who transformed the former American naval base into a Freeport and turned it into a model for successful bases conversion.

Fernando, on the other hand, is a former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman who successfully rid Metro Manila of sidewalk vendors who create obstruction and improved vehicular and human traffic flow in the metropolis.

"Kaya nating alisin ang lahat ng problema basta pumili tayo ng mga epektibong lider. Bakit yung ibang bansa, nagagawa nila? Darating ang araw tayo na ang magmamay-ari ng mga barkong ginagawa sa Subic. Taas-noo nating maipagmamalaki sa ibang bansa na tayo ay Pilipino," Gordon stressed.

Warm reception in Laguna elates Gordon

Laguna--Bagumbayan Party Presidential bet Sen. Richard J. Gordon, who was the first presidential candidate to bring his campaign to the historic province, was elated by the warm welcome he received in the Laguna towns he visited in their two-day sortie.

Gordon, who was joined by his running mate Bayani Fernando later in the day, was hopeful that the warm reception meant that people are now more discerning in their choice of presidential candidate.

People rush excitedly outside their homes to get a glimpse of the senator, calling out "Si Idol, si Idol," as the motorcade passed the inner roads of Laguna on the way to the city or municipal halls of the towns that Gordon visited.

"Malakas si Gordon dito. Mas natuwa pa kami dahil siya mismo ang talagang pumunta dito sa amin para ipaliwanag niya ang kanyang mga programa kapag siya ay maibotong president," said an employee in the San Pablo City Hall, the first city visited during the sortie.

"Mabuti pa si Gordon. Siya pa lang ang pumunta dito para makipag-usap sa mga tao rito," the employee added.

Gordon, though elated by the warm reception he received, urged the people to weigh the candidates well before casting their votes on May 10 as he noted that the country has been steadily going downhill because the people have been electing the wrong kind of leaders.

"Ang masasabi ko lang, dapat mag-isip na tayo.Bumubulusok tayo pababa. Bastos ang pulitika dito sa atin dahil ginagawa nating laro. Subukan nating seryosohin, makakakuha tayo ng matinong lider," he said at a meeting with barangay officials and other leaders of the Pansol, Laguna society.

"Kaya nating alisin ang lahat ng problema basta kumuha tayo ng mga lider na epektibo. Tiyak mababago lahat kapag umupo si Dick Gordon. Gordon-Bayani, pagbabago, sigurado. Itaga niyo sa bato," the Bagumbayan standard-bearer added at the meeting held before retiring for the night.

Gordon gets another touching moment in campaign sortie, MV Asuncion survivor thanks Gordon for taking care of her

When Bagumbayan presidential bet Sen. Richard J. Gordon visited Camarines Sur over the weekend, he did not expect that another touching moment would come his way--a reunion with a sea tragedy survivor he once took care of.

During a campaign sortie in the province last Saturday, the senator was approached by a tearful Maritess Maderal at the Milaor Elementary School. A surprised Gordon embraced the woman.

"I am really happy, and at the same time surprised, to see her. The last time I saw her she was still very young," Gordon said, recalling that he had almost adopted Maderal back then.

When the MV Asuncion sank off Zambales coast in December 1985, Maderal was one of the survivors. Gordon, who was then Mayor of Olongapo City, saw her when she was brought to a hospital in the town.

At that time Maderal was unaware if anyone from her family--parents and two siblings--survived the accident. Gordon decided to bring her and another girl, Lilibeth Acar, who lost her family in the same sea tragedy, to his house.

Maderal recalled that Gordon, along with his wife and children, treated her and Acar like their own family. Gordon was planning to adopt the two girls, but after eight months, Maderal's father arrived to fetch her. He proceeded to adopt Acar, who is now a physical therapist.

Last Saturday's incident is like what happened to Lilibeth Layno and Resty Sarmiento when Gordon visited Davao City and Bataan, respectively.

Layno, who is now a volunteer in Gordon's campaign, met the senator last January in Davao City and personally thanked him for helping her daughter, who was diagnosed with scoliosis, undergo surgery.

Meanwhile, Sarmiento, a professor at the Bataan Peninsula State University in Dinalupihan, approached Gordon after the latter's speech at the academe last February and expressed his gratefulness to the senator for giving him the opportunity "of helping himself achieve his goals."

Policemen used to go after Sarmiento when he was still a guava vendor in Olongapo City. Then Olongapo Mayor Gordon gave him a chance to work with dignity by giving him, and other co-vendors, a place in the market. He recalled that Gordon would even visit them at the market to see how they were doing.

Gordon said he feels so blessed to reunite with people he once helped, like Maderal, Layno and Sarmiento, stressing that such incidents give him the assurance that he is doing the right things and is on the right track.

"The passion, the drive to help intensifies because I know I am capable of doing it. I feel blessed because I am able to help," Gordon said.

Gordon to ensure development of agriculture, protection of farmers

TUGUEGARAO CITY - To ensure improved food production, Bagumbayan Party presidential bet Sen. Richard Gordon will prioritize the development of agriculture and the protection of farmers once elected to the highest post in the land.

Gordon, speaking before students of the Central Colleges of Tuguegarao, underscored the importance of keeping abreast with the latest technological innovations in agriculture to improve food production so the country could stop importing.

"Malaking bahagi ng ating agricultural lands ang hindi fully irrigated o hindi irrigated. Pag na-irrigate mo lahat iyan, we don't have to import rice," he said.

"Dapat yung mga eskwelahan, tulungang i-train ang ating mga farmers sa makabagong pamamaraan ng pagsasaka para ma-doble ang ani. Maglagay ng mga post harvest facilities, gaya ng silo at drying facilities para hindi sa highway nagbibilad ng palay," he added.

Noting that due to climate change, the El Niño and La Niña phenomena, alternately take turns in holding the country in its grip, the senator proposed the creation of water catchment basins in the agricultural areas to hold the rainwater so it can be used to irrigate lands during the dry season.

Gordon said inmates in minimum security prison can be allowed to come out to dig the water catchment basins and repair the irrigation systems. They can be given an allowance or the days they will work would be taken as points for good behavior as reward for their hard labor.

The Bagumbayan standard bearer added that his administration will ensure the protection of farmers because they feed the people.

"My first rule is that the farmer has to be protected because they are in-charge of the country's food security. Kaya dapat bigyan mo ng lahat ng gamit yung farmer, gaya ng post-harvest facilities," he said.

"I am not adverse to subsidizing agriculture. Bakit yung ibang bansa pwede, tayo hindi? Sa Japan, subsidized ng gobyerno ang agriculture kaya ang farmers protected," he added.

Change in Mindanao must begin with the people Land of promise has become graveyard of broken promises due to ineffective governance

Davao City--Bagumbayan Party presidential candidate Sen. Richard Gordon called on the Mindanaoans to take part and be involved in the process of change if they want to achieve peace and progress in Mindanao

"If you want change, you have to demand it, and change begins with you. You have to ask yourself what is your role. If change is to happen, it must be up to us," Gordon said during the Panaghisgut-hisgut Mindanao Presidential Forum at the Ateneo de Davao University.

Noting the diverse faith and culture of the people living in Mindanao, he added the importance of having a leader that is caring. "The president must show that he cares. There's a lot of exclusion going on in our country. We must learn to respect, understand and accept one another because we are all Filipinos."

He also stressed that peace and progress in Mindanao could be achieved if education is prioritized and if the people are provided with opportunities and options.

The senator explained that Mindanao, known as the land of promise, has become the graveyard of broken promises because of ineffective governance. He stressed, therefore, the importance of choosing the most qualified and most competent candidate to lead the country.

"How do we get Mindanao moving again? The answer is effective governance. If we do not think about the effectiveness of our leaders and you just go by the surveys, you go by what you see without analysis, you're gonna have more of the same thing," Gordon said.

The Bagumbayan standard bearer has been actively advocating programs and measures that would recognize the role of Muslims and indigenous groups in nation-building and would ensure the development of the whole of Mindanao.

Gordon is a co-author and sponsor of the proposed Mindanao Economic Development Authority (MEDA) Act, which would primarily carry out economic and social reforms in Mindanao to ensure the growth and development that the island deserves.

He also spearheaded projects aimed to develop Mindanao. One of these projects is the Fruits of Hope, which provided better profits for fruit farmers of Sulu, Basilan, North Cotabato and other parts of Mindanao when their harvest were flown to Manila where they were picked up by two supermarket chains.

Furthermore, Gordon, author of the Amended Automated Elections System Law, pushed for the automation of the August 2008 election in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which was the first peaceful, speedy and orderly elections in ARMM where there were no election protests arising from the exercise.

Ateneo de Davao University dialogue

DAVAO CITY: Bagumbayan Party presidential candidate Sen. Richard Gordon and his running mate, vice presidential bet Bayani Fernando (not in photo), conduct a dialogue with the students of Ateneo de Davao University, prior to a presidential forum hosted by the academe. Gordon urged the students to be ready to face the future by ensuring that they are equipped with skills and have developed leadership qualities, which are acquired not only through lessons inside the classroom but also by getting involved in extra curricular activities.

Gordon beats rivals at launch of 7-Eleven promo, student mock polls

Despite his low ranking in political surveys, Bagumbayan Party presidential bet Sen. Richard Gordon won hands down as the most preferred next president of the country at the launch of the latest 7-Eleven promo and at various student mock elections.

At the launch of the 7-Eleven promo, wherein customers pick up a 160z Gulp Cup that bears the colors and image of their presidential bet, Gordon won with 31%, followed by Gilbert Teodoro (20%), Sen. Noynoy Aquino (18%), Sen. Manny Villar (13%), Bro. Eddie Villanueva (5%) and former President Joseph Estrada (4%). Nine percent abstained.

In a recent open-source mock polls, Gordon was also picked by students from the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Mass Communication (CMC) to be the next president of the Philippines.

"I'm happy that I was No. 1 in UP. It's not a survey, it's a mock election. Tunay na eleksyon yun. Ang nangyari, mababa si Noynoy, sumunod sa akin si Gibo. Doon makikita na nag-iisip ang tao. That's what we need to do," he said.

A survey result conducted by the Department of Journalism, which was released last week, showed Gordon garnering a total of 139 votes, representing 37.57% of the 370 enrolled students of the CMC who participated in the mock presidential polls.

Teodoro came in second in the survey with 107 votes, Aquino was third with 48 votes, and Villar placed fourth with 37 votes.

Last January, the Bagumbayan standard bearer also topped the mock elections at the Lyceum University, recognized by 40% of the attendees of the Lyceum Presidential Forum as the most capable among all the presidential aspirants today.

Gordon received 59 votes, followed by Teodoro (23), Aquino (20), Villanueva (17), Nicanor Perlas (10), Estrada (9), Villar (7), and Olongapo Councilor JC Delos Reyes (2).

Meanwhile, Gordon advised the public to be wary of paid surveys as they often cause the conditioning of the minds of the electorate and, eventually, steal the people's right to choose the best and most capable candidate.

"We have to be wary of these paid surveys. We do not even know if all our names are there, who commissioned the survey, what was the methodology and what were the questions asked. We must not let these surveys take away our right to choose who among the candidates is the most capable to be the next president," Gordon stressed.

"We have to put in mind that it is the record of service, the track record, and not the surveys, that matter in choosing the next leaders of our country," he concluded.

RP will have cleanest, most honest and effective gov't in Asia

Cebu City--Bagumbayan Party presidential bet Senator Richard Gordon today said that when he becomes president, his aim is for the Philippines to have the cleanest, most honest and most effective government in Asia.

Gordon, who was in Cebu for a two-day sortie with his running mate Bayani Fernando, said that a leader must, first, have an aim, which he would share with the people and which he would make happen with the people.

"Today there is no governance in our country. In fact, the government has become the refuge of the scoundrel. This has got to stop, we have to change the system, and that is why I want to be President of this country," he said.

"Leadership by example--that's how we're going to make the people part of the process of change. We have to work with the people and fight corruption with the people. A leader must motivate the people. Bayani and I will do that and we will make sure that we will have the cleanest, most honest and most effective government in the whole of Asia," Gordon stressed.

The Bagumbayan Party standard bearer explained that in order to achieve such kind of government, corruption must be eradicated.

Gordon explained that there are several ways to stop corruption, such as, electing rather than appointing the Ombudsman so that he is beholden only to the people; having 24 hours open government offices so that corruption and other illegal practices can be reported right away; impose tougher penalties and stricter enforcement of law; and ensure that there would be no pardon for anyone convicted of corruption.

"Ineffective governance causes abject poverty and hopelessness. When there is no effective governance, there are only dreams. Under a Gordon-Bayani administration, there will be good and effective governance. That is not an empty promise," Gordon said.

LOST GIRL AT PANAGBENGA

LOST GIRL AT PANAGBENGA: Baguio City— Bagumbayan Party standard bearer Sen. Richard Gordon helps out eight-year-old Evelyn Guinnor, who was seen crying at the Burnham athletic compound after she was separated from her mother during the Panagbenga Festival Flower Parade. Gordon left the child in the care of Department of Tourism-Cordillera Administrative Region officials, who looked for Evelyn’s mother, Nena. The senator also told the administration of the Burnham Park to put up a public address system so that important and immediate concerns such as incidents of missing persons could be promptly dealt with.

TRANSFORMERS INVADE TARLAC CITY

TRANSFORMERS INVADE TARLAC CITY: Tarlac City—Welcomed by their local supporters clad in red shirts, the transformers tandem of Bagumbayan Party presidential bet Sen. Richard Gordon and vice presidential bet Bayani Fernando, visited Tarlac City and continued their consultation type of campaign. The tandem went around and stayed long at the Tarlac City public market, where most of the local folks were. Inset photo shows Gordon and Fernando aboard their new campaign truck.

CANCER PATIENT’S WISH

CANCER PATIENT’S WISH: Bagumbayan Party presidential bet Senator Richard J. Gordon visits Alfonso Sepulveda, 12 years old and battling with Stage Four Leukemia. Sepulveda recently wrote to the senator expressing his strong admiration for Gordon’s tough stance against corruption which has been prominently on display since he took over as chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee. Sepulveda also expressed a wish to meet Gordon in person.