Noynoy Aquino to run for President in 2010 Election

After his spiritual retreat at the Carmelite Monastery in Zamboanga City, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III finally announced on wednesday his bid for presidency on the coming 2010 presidential election to “continue the fight” for democratic reforms and the legacy that was started by his parents, Ninoy and Cory, who became the country’s democratic icons against the infamous dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

“Tinatanggap ko ang hiling ng sambayanan” (I accept the call of the people), “Tinatanggap ko ang responsibilidad na ituloy ang laban para sa bayan” (I accept the responsibility to continue the fight for the people), “Tinatanggap ko ang hamong mamuno sa labang ito” (I accept the challenge to lead this fight), Aquino told supporters.

“Bayang Pilipinas, tatakbo ako sa pagka-pangulo sa darating na halalan” (I will run for president in the coming election), said Noynoy who made the announcement during the 40th day after the death of his mother, former President Corazon C. Aquino.

“I want to make democracy work not just for the rich and well connected but for everybody,” Aquino added.

Noynoy will now become the standard bearer of the Liberal Party (LP) after Sen. Manuel “Mar Roxas” made a “supreme sacrifice” last week when he declined his bid to run for the highest governtment position in the country and decided to give way to Noynoy.

Senator Noynoy made the announcement at the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills in San Juan City where his mother, the late Corazon Aquino, took her oath as president after the February 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution that ended the 20-year rule of strongman Marcos.

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Meanwhile, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, former chairman of the Liberal Party, and Franklin Drilon, the current party chairman, embraced each other and shed tears minutes before Aquino delivered his speech announcing his candidacy for the presidential race in 2010.

It can be remembered that Pangilinan disassociated himself from the party during the 2007 senatorial election and aligned itself on the opposition coalition of the deposed President Joseph Estrada.

Drilon on wednesday said he appreciated Pangilinan’s gesture, saying the latter’s move had solidified the party.

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On another story, two presidential hopefuls, former President Joseph Estrada and El Shaddai leader Bro. Eduardo “Eddie” Villanueva, expressed their strong will to seek the highest position in the land and remain unshaken by Senator Aquino’s speech.

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Also shortly after his announcement to run for president next year, Noynoy castigated his former economics professor at the Ateneo University, who happens to be President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, of her alleged misuse of the country’s resources saying “Unfortunately, this professor of mine seemed to have forgotten the lessons that she taught me. I kept my notes,” he added ““As an economist by training, efficiency and maximum utilization of resources is a priority,” he said on a press conference at Club Filipino.