TARLAC CITY – Thousands of Tarlaquenos welcomed Nacionalista Party (NP) standard bearer Senator Manuel “Manny” Villar during his visit here over the weekend.

Villar, who likewise attended the 9^th National Convention of the Philippine Guardians Brotherhood, Inc. (Guardians) at the Tarlac State University gymnasium here, he conducted his “meeting” at the place of Tarlac City mayoralty candidate Sherwin Rigor with throngs of his orange-clad supporters attending.

The former Senate President, who is trying to get the support of Tarlaqueño voters, said in his speech that he is seeking the presidency because he would like to alleviate the plight of the poor.

“I came from a poor family. I was raised in Tondo and I was able to experience hardship in life,” Villar said in the vernacular. He added, “Ayaw kong maranasan ng ating mga kapwa Pilipino ito at ang aking plataporma ay nakatuon sa pagpapa-unlad ng ating bansa.”

Villar further said that “Filipinos will vote for him not because he is the son or a sibling of famous personalities.”

Rigor, who topped the two consecutive commissioned surveys of a group of local Filipino-Chinese businessmen here, for his part, said he is glad and elated to gain the support of Villar and the NP.

“I thank Senator Manny Villar and the party for supporting my mayoral candidacy,” he said. Rigor took his oath of office as a member of the NP before Villar.

Gov. Vic Yap, who is the Nationalist Peoples Coalition gubernatorial bet, said he welcomes all of those who would like to visit or campaign in Tarlac, irregardless of party affiliation.

 “I welcome all of those who are seeking national elective posts who would like to campaign here,” he said.

“I was amazed by the warm reception accorded to us by Tarlaquenos. With the support of Sherwin, I am confident that we can have our fair-share of votes here,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NP has adopted Yap as their party’s candidate for governor together with the entire council line-up of Rigor.

“The NP adopted me as their candidate because they have no bet for governor here and I thank them for that because their adoption has no strings attached…I was adopted while Sherwin affiliated himself to the NP that is why he took his oath,” the governor explained.

Yap was also adopted by the party-list group 1-UTAK-PGBI led by Senator Gringo Honasan as their bet for governor.

Noted personalities who attended the Villar sojourn are NP Senatorial candidates Senator Pia Cayetano, former Cavite Congressman Gilbert Remulla, Gwen Pimentel, Yap, Concepcion Mayor Noel Villanueva, the city council team of Rigor, NP candidates province-wide, incumbent and former barangay captains and councilors, members of civic and religious organizations and members of the media.