HONGKONG - Influential El Shaddai leader, Bro. Mike Velarde, made a virtual endorsement of Nacionalista Party's standard-bearer, Senator Manny Villar at a gathering of El Shaddai members here on Sunday.
"You can't serve both God and money...Say it again, money," Velarde told his followers, some of them were wearing orange and white, the campaign color of Villar and his running mate, Senator Loren Legarda, respectively.
His mention of the word "money," which sounded like the name of the senator, drew cheers from the crowd.
Villar, with wife, Las Pinas Representative Cynthia Villar, and Legarda were standing in front of the stage when Velarde was making those remarks.
"If ever somebody asks you: why are there no other candidates in HongKong? Just tell them, they failed to remember us. The one who remembered us is here, joined us in celebrating Valentines Day," he said.
While El Shaddai does not endorse any candidate during elections, Velarde told his followers to thoroughly examine all candidates before they vote in the May, 2010 elections.
But when he called Mrs. Villar to speak on the stage, Velarde addressed her as "Madam, Fist Lady."
Velarde meanwhile described Legarda as Villar's "second inspiration."
And when he introduced Senator Villar to the crowd, Velarde described him as his long time friend.
"I am happy to introduce to you my long time friend, the Manny you want," Velarde said.
Velarde told his followers that they will have their candidate for president by Easter Sunday.
Earlier, Mel Robles, spokesman for Velarde said the El Shaddai leader “has a way of showing preferences.”
Robles said Villar is the only presidential candidate invited to attend the prayer rally at the Central business district Sunday noon.
"Bro. Mike and Senator Villar are close friends and they go back a long way, noong hindi pa sila parehong sikat sa kanya-kanyang field (when they were not yet famous in their respective fields). Dahil si (Because) Bro. Mike kasi (was a) real estate developer (while) Manny was starting also as a businessman so magkakakilala na sila (they know each other)," he said.
"So as far as I know, they are very close noon noon pang hindi pa natin sila parehong kilala (from way back when they were not yet famous)," he added.
Asked if this was an indication that Velarde preferred the senator over candidates, Robles said, "Well that's something different. He's the only one invited. It's different because yun na nga, there are other candidates, sya lang in-invite (he was the only one invited)."
"He (Velarde) doesn't endorse, yan ang sasabihin ko (that’s what I’ll say). But on the question if he is supportive of Senator Villar's presidency, the answer is they have been together for a long time," he added.
For his part, Villar hinted that he got the support of the El Shaddai leader.
"Well, siguro hintayin natin bukas pero matagal na namang sinasabi ni Bro. Mike yan, pero mas gusto ko na sa kanya manggaling (Let’s just wait until tomorrow, but Bro. Mike has been saying that for a while. I want the endorsement to come from him)," Villar said in an interview with reporters Saturday night when asked if he would be endorsed by Velarde when he attends the El Shaddai's prayer rally here.
Aside from El Shaddai, Villar was also courting the support of other religious groups, like the Iglesia ni Cristo.
"Inimbita naman ako sa Iglesia subalit hindi naman natin masasabi kung sino ang kanilang sinusuporta sa ngayon. Syempre, alam naman natin ang Iglesia Ni Cristo ay sa bandang huli pumipili at malalaman natin mga bandang Mayo (Iglesia also invites me in their activities, but for now we can’t say who they’re supporting. Of course, we know that the endorsement of the Iglesia Ni Cristo comes around May)," he said.
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