Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=554196&publicationSubCategoryId=63
By JAIME LAUDE
MANILA, Philippines - - Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. starts his day with a prayer.
A devoted family man, the 46-year-old “Gibo” cooks for his wife Nikki and son Jaime during breaks in his hectic campaign schedule. Last week, he made it a point to return to Manila – even if it meant chartering a plane – after barnstorming the Solid North.
In his campaign signature green polo shirt and denims, Gibo has been hitting the campaign trail all over the country, carrying his “Galing at Talino” slogan. In markets, malls and schools, people crowd around him to get their picture taken to post on Facebook.
At the Don Mariano Marcos University in La Union, forum organizers declined requests from other candidates to speak before the students, saying the event was exclusively for Gibo, the only Ilocano-speaking presidential candidate.
“With the warm reception we are getting from the public, the more we are determined to wage our campaign and we intend to cover every inch of the country,” Teodoro said.
When he was defense secretary Gibo woke up at 4 a.m. and ended the day watching movies on DVD to lull him to sleep.
However, when he started campaigning, his wife had to wake him up every morning. He has also been skipping meals.
Born on June 14, 1964 to Mercedes and Gilberto Sr., Gibo enjoyed a carefree youth. He grew up mostly under the guidance of his uncle, Nationalist People’s Coalition chairman emeritus Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr.
Teodoro said he realized the importance of family after the death of his father.
“My father was very strict then, that’s why I chose to spend most of my time with my uncle (Danding), only to realize how important he is to me when he was already on his death bed,” Teodoro said. Gilberto Sr. was Social Security System administrator during the Marcos administration.
“That’s why now, my personal life is concentrated on my son and my wife,” he said.
Teodoro said his experience should serve as a lesson to the young.
“First of all, after God, family is the most important,” he said in Filipino.
“That’s why we should not fail to show our love and care for our parents, or else it might be too late.”
Although he has not been doing well in the surveys, Teodoro said he and his slate are determined to play catch up and expect their public approval rating to improve as elections draw near.
But Gibo, a reserve officer of the Philippine Air Force with the rank of lieutenant colonel, has been topping mock polls among students and groups of professionals.
Gibo believes surveys are mere guides and the results do not represent the sentiment of the majority of 92 million Filipinos.
He also believes that once the party machinery starts running, he has an edge over other presidential candidates.
“Our campaign is going smoothly,” he told The STAR as he was mobbed by shoppers during one of his mall tours in Pasay City recently.
He has already covered 25 to 30 percent of the country and he intends to cover as many provinces as he can until last day of the campaign.
Firm leader
Firm, straightforward, and decisive, Teodoro has his heart in his job, and runs his campaign as if managing a huge firm.
A strategic thinker, he does not settle for mediocrity and is unforgiving when it comes to poor performance, even with grammatical lapses.
He maintains the highest degree of professionalism, an attitude that endeared him to the people around him, including those who served under him at the defense department.
At the height of tropical storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng,” Teodoro was on the job 24 hours a day, seven days a week, either at his office at the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) at Camp Aguinaldo or in the field at the forefront of relief and disaster operations,
He fired one of his key officials because he was not at his desk at the NDCC while Ondoy was pummeling Metro Manila.
As defense secretary, Teodoro’s anti-corruption campaign has won him admiration for having ordered the cancellation of approved but questionable deals.
For bringing government to far-flung communities, Teodoro earned the respect of Muslim leaders and the military in Mindanao.
He says the reason there is conflict is because all the people there know is war, not development.
Teodoro has been trying to convince the public that he is his own man, and will not be working under the shadow of anybody, least of all President Arroyo.
Teodoro said his presidency would not be vindictive but he will lead a government of healing and unity.
“This is the best move for any leader to take for the country to move forward,” he said.
“The coming election is the most saturated in the country’s political history.
“I therefore encourage every voter, before deciding whom to vote as their next leader, to examine the capability, the credibility and sincerity, and most importantly, the track record of every presidential candidate.”
By JAIME LAUDE
MANILA, Philippines - - Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. starts his day with a prayer.
A devoted family man, the 46-year-old “Gibo” cooks for his wife Nikki and son Jaime during breaks in his hectic campaign schedule. Last week, he made it a point to return to Manila – even if it meant chartering a plane – after barnstorming the Solid North.
In his campaign signature green polo shirt and denims, Gibo has been hitting the campaign trail all over the country, carrying his “Galing at Talino” slogan. In markets, malls and schools, people crowd around him to get their picture taken to post on Facebook.
At the Don Mariano Marcos University in La Union, forum organizers declined requests from other candidates to speak before the students, saying the event was exclusively for Gibo, the only Ilocano-speaking presidential candidate.
“With the warm reception we are getting from the public, the more we are determined to wage our campaign and we intend to cover every inch of the country,” Teodoro said.
When he was defense secretary Gibo woke up at 4 a.m. and ended the day watching movies on DVD to lull him to sleep.
However, when he started campaigning, his wife had to wake him up every morning. He has also been skipping meals.
Born on June 14, 1964 to Mercedes and Gilberto Sr., Gibo enjoyed a carefree youth. He grew up mostly under the guidance of his uncle, Nationalist People’s Coalition chairman emeritus Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr.
Teodoro said he realized the importance of family after the death of his father.
“My father was very strict then, that’s why I chose to spend most of my time with my uncle (Danding), only to realize how important he is to me when he was already on his death bed,” Teodoro said. Gilberto Sr. was Social Security System administrator during the Marcos administration.
“That’s why now, my personal life is concentrated on my son and my wife,” he said.
Teodoro said his experience should serve as a lesson to the young.
“First of all, after God, family is the most important,” he said in Filipino.
“That’s why we should not fail to show our love and care for our parents, or else it might be too late.”
Although he has not been doing well in the surveys, Teodoro said he and his slate are determined to play catch up and expect their public approval rating to improve as elections draw near.
But Gibo, a reserve officer of the Philippine Air Force with the rank of lieutenant colonel, has been topping mock polls among students and groups of professionals.
Gibo believes surveys are mere guides and the results do not represent the sentiment of the majority of 92 million Filipinos.
He also believes that once the party machinery starts running, he has an edge over other presidential candidates.
“Our campaign is going smoothly,” he told The STAR as he was mobbed by shoppers during one of his mall tours in Pasay City recently.
He has already covered 25 to 30 percent of the country and he intends to cover as many provinces as he can until last day of the campaign.
Firm leader
Firm, straightforward, and decisive, Teodoro has his heart in his job, and runs his campaign as if managing a huge firm.
A strategic thinker, he does not settle for mediocrity and is unforgiving when it comes to poor performance, even with grammatical lapses.
He maintains the highest degree of professionalism, an attitude that endeared him to the people around him, including those who served under him at the defense department.
At the height of tropical storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng,” Teodoro was on the job 24 hours a day, seven days a week, either at his office at the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) at Camp Aguinaldo or in the field at the forefront of relief and disaster operations,
He fired one of his key officials because he was not at his desk at the NDCC while Ondoy was pummeling Metro Manila.
As defense secretary, Teodoro’s anti-corruption campaign has won him admiration for having ordered the cancellation of approved but questionable deals.
For bringing government to far-flung communities, Teodoro earned the respect of Muslim leaders and the military in Mindanao.
He says the reason there is conflict is because all the people there know is war, not development.
Teodoro has been trying to convince the public that he is his own man, and will not be working under the shadow of anybody, least of all President Arroyo.
Teodoro said his presidency would not be vindictive but he will lead a government of healing and unity.
“This is the best move for any leader to take for the country to move forward,” he said.
“The coming election is the most saturated in the country’s political history.
“I therefore encourage every voter, before deciding whom to vote as their next leader, to examine the capability, the credibility and sincerity, and most importantly, the track record of every presidential candidate.”
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