Gordon-BF to harness volunteerism for 2010 bid

They boast of their and their wives’ successes in local governance

Senator Richard Gordon and recently resigned Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Bayani Fernando on Tuesday formalized their team-up and filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) for president and vice president, respectively.

They filed under their newly formed party, Bagumbayan-Volunteers for A New Philippines (Bagumbayan-VNP), to symbolize how they succeeded in harnessing community action during their stint as local officials.

Gordon, as mayor of Olongapo City for 11 years and chair of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, was known to have led the rebuilding of the area’s economy after the the American military bases closed down. He was succeeded as mayor by his wife, Kate.

In running for president, Gordon will be facing his nephew, Olongapo Councilor JC delos Reyes, who filed his COC a few days earlier.

Fernando also turned Marikina from being a crime-ridden city into a model in basic service delivery and investor-friendliness during his mayorship for 9 years. He was succeeded by his wife, Marides.

Fernando earlier expressed his intention to run for president, but failed to get the nomination of his party, the ruling Lakas.

Vote 1, take 4

Gordon said that he and Fernando possess the same values, vision, and political will. He said they have “proven leadership” that can inspire Filipinos “to face the challenges of indifference and apathy.”

“Walang tamad sa tambalang ito, walang tanga sa tambalang ito (Nobody’s lazy, nobody’s stupid in this teamup),” Gordon said of their “transformational leadership.”

Gordon said that he and Fernando have no big funders or backers, but they still have enough resources to sustain their cam[aign. This way, he said, they can avoid becoming “pedigree, money-class politicians.”

In voting for their tandem, Gordon said, “You buy one, you take four mayors.”

The newly formed party has no senatorial slate, but Gordon said have fielded candidates in some localities. By Reynaldo Santos Jr., ABS CBN Newsbreak