Press Release
February 28, 2010

Aquino flattered by copycat moves by rival camp

CEBU CITY - After seeing his ads and campaign materials imitated by the rival camp, Liberal Party standard bearer Senator Benigno S. "Noynoy" Aquino III predicts that Sen. Manny Villar may soon imitate even his hairstyle.

Aquino noted here Saturday night that orange ribbons similar to his yellow ribbons had been tied to posts along some roads here. Orange is Villar's campaign color.

"Yung sabi nga, lahat raw ay nakuha na. Siguro sa akin nakuha na rin ang sa ating talumpati, kanina napakinggan ko sa radio may panata ako, may panata ang aking katunggali. Bigyan ninyo ng isang buwan pati hairstyle ko kukunin din nila," Aquino said, referring to his balding head.

He said this was aside from new ads of Villar imitating Aquino's "panata (vow)."

Aquino has, on occasion, poked fun at himself over his hairstyle, once likening it to the country's vanishing forest cover during a presidential forum in Makati City.

He made light of the situation, however, calling the copycat moves "the sincerest form of flattery."

Still, he added he will not be surprised if Villar comes out with a song similar to "Tie a Yellow Ribbon."

On the other hand, Aquino also hurled similar "copycat" accusations against President Arroyo, this time for imitating the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

"Si Marcos noong araw, akala niya kaya tayong lokohin ... Yung nandoon sa palasyo ngayon, nangongopya, copycat. E alangan bang nakalimutan natin, paano natin tinuruan ng tamang asal ang ginagawa sa atin. Gising na ang sambayanan, mulat ang mamamayan, maninindigan ang taumbayan," he said at a rally, amid cheers from supporters.

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