There have been rumors, however, that Escudero and Evangelista, whose real name is Heart Ongpauco, will renew their vows which will be attended by her parents.
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Despite her age, Evangelista’s parents said she was still immature and “thinks like a young girl” who was easily “manipulated into going against her family”.
“Senator Grace and I will establish a government with heart through a detailed platform for each agency, which will be based on their yearly budget”, he said.
Escudero, accompanied by wife Heart Evangelista, announced his decision during an event at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan, which had served as a venue for historic events in the country such as the oath taking of Corazon Aquino as President after the fall of the Marcos dictatorship, and the announcement of then Senator Benigno Aquino III’s presidential bid.
Running as an independent puts a candidate at a disadvantage, and on the surface, such is the predicament now of Senator Grace Poe. “They love their daughter the same way we love our son”, she added.
At a brief rally yesterday, Ms Poe told hundreds of supporters that she chose Mr Escudero because “he is not just a friend, but someone we can trust, is capable, and has already served the country”.
For the 2016 campaign, Poe’s camp is looking at a possible coalition among members of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, Nacionalista Party, National Unity Party, and the Makabayan bloc.
Jalosjos said he was asked to support Vice President Jejomar Binay’s presidential bid but he declined. Jalosjos is one of the founders of TAPE (Television and Productions Exponents Inc.,) which produces the noontime show.
In declaring her presidency, Poe said she will continue what his father Fernando Poe Jr. started, referring to the 2004 election when her father ran for president and lost to current Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
[Translation: “I’m here for my husband”.
“Minimize discretion and we will be able to minimize corruption; eliminate it and we will be able to eliminate corruption”, he said.
A former chair of Senate finance committee, Escudero said the next administration will appoint more than 5,000 individuals to fill the vacancies in some 500 government agencies, which would cost P18 trillion over a six-year term. “It’s up to them to choose who they will support for the coming elections.”].
After Poe’s endorsement, Escudero declared his intention to seek the second highest post in the land.
As for Escudero, his fellow Bicol native said cryptically, “Dun na lang tayo kay Grace (let’s focus on Grace)”.
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Both Aggabao and Enverga were in attendance at the University of the Philippines-Bahay ng Alumni during Poe’s announcement. “Our party is the Philippines, and the members of our party are the Filipino people”, he added. Whatever Chiz’s ideas are-his ideology, beliefs, decisions, aspirations-as his ‘brods, ‘ we are here… “And we are here to help him achieve that dream”.
