Villar wows Surigao del Norte

SURIGAO CITY�Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar today kicks off his Mindanao presidential campaign in Surigao del Norte, a known bailiwick of the presidential candidate.

Shortly after arriving in the province early this morning, Villar and his running mate Sen. Loren Legarda conducted a press conference in Surigao del Norte's airport before proceeding to the provincial capitol complex to meet with Gov. Robert Ace Barbers and local members of NP.

With them were NP senatorial bets Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza, Gilbert Remulla, Ramon Mitra III, Susan Ople, and Gwen Pimentel.

The NP entourage then traveled to the Surigao City Public Market for their staple market tour before proceeding to mingle with students in two of the province's largest universities--the Surigao State College and Technology and St. Paul's University.

Villar and company then took their lunch at the provincial gym where they also held a caucus with NP political leaders in the province. A majority of incumbent local officials in Surigao del Norte are members of NP.

After lunch, the NP candidates will then proceed to the Del Carmen Gym in tourist hotspot Siargao Island to meet with allied local political leaders.

Late in the afternoon, Villar will continue the second leg of his Mindanao campaign in Butuan City, the regional center of the CARAGA region.

Here, the NP candidates will visit the CARAGA State University and the Calo Public Market.

In the evening, Villar will preside over a caucus with NP political leaders in the region and later facilitate the oath-taking of new party members at Dottie's Hotel.