By Alastair McIndoe, Philippines Correspondent
Children dressed as Cupid pointing mock arrows at a picture of Mr Villar during a campaign in Manila yesterday. Mr Villar, a property tycoon who grew up poor, is running a well-funded campaign wooing poor voters. Mr Aquino is in the lead in the presidential race, according to opinion polls. He is appealing to younger voters in the 18-29 age range. --
MANILA - THE official campaign period for May's elections got off to a customarily colourful start yesterday, with a self-made millionaire and a political blue blood dominating the presidential race.
One of the nine presidential candidates unfurled a 180m long flag of the Philippines at a rally in the capital. Another hit the campaign trail in a heavy truck customised to look like an 'autobot' from the Hollywood film, Transformers.
But it was senators Benigno Aquino III, the son of late president and democracy icon Corazon Aquino, and Manuel 'Manny' Villar, a property tycoon from a poor background, who are the clear front runners for the presidency as the official three-month countdown to the vote begins.
Had the elections been held a few months ago, Mr Aquino, 50, would have seemed set for a clear win. Opinion polls showed a surge in support for his bid for leadership after the death in August last year of his popular mother, who is fondly known as 'Cory' among Filipinos.
But as the polls draw nearer, voters seem to be taking a more critical look at Mr Aquino's ability to tackle the challenges of reducing poverty and energising the economy.
'The election is now getting down to brass tacks and Aquino has not yet connected his (campaign) platforms with voters', and especially the masses, said Mr Ramon Casiple, director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform.
