In Makati, Mayor Jejomar Binay led the countdown to usher in 2009 and bid goodbye to the troubled year that was 2008.
“If New York (the United States), Sydney (Australia) and Moscow (Russia) have their own grand celebration, this is our version,” Binay said.
“This is also our way to share love and to lead Filipinos in welcoming 2009 with hope and optimism.”
In neighboring Bonifacio Global City, streaks of red, yellow and green lit up the sky above The Fort where the Taguig city government threw a New Year countdown and street party for around 5,000 people, highlighted by a spectacular 15-minute fireworks presentation by the award-winning La Mancha pyrotechnics group.
DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines—Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay this week signed sisterhood agreements with three towns and two cities of vote-rich Pangasinan but he said this was not meant to push his bid for the presidency in 2010.
Binay said Makati has been signing sisterhood agreements with various local governments even before he announced his interest to join the presidential race last month.
He said Makati has forged sisterhood ties with at least 130 cities and towns in the country.
MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Vowing to take the fight outside the country’s financial district, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay announced his bid for the presidency on Tuesday as he marked his 66th birthday in city hall.
More than 2,000 supporters from the city and the provinces carrying streamers like “Obama of the Philippines” and “Jojo Binay for President” gathered at 7 a.m. for a Thanksgiving Mass as they waited for the mayor to make the declaration.
In his speech, Binay, who is also the United Opposition president, criticized the Arroyo government by bringing up issues like the national broadband network scandal and the fertilizer fund scam and said there was need for another “revolution.”
MANILA, Philippines – Former President Joseph Estrada on Tuesday said Mayor Jejomar Binay’s performance as Makati City’s chief executive indicates he has the capacity to run the country in the future.
“Si Mayor Binay din naman ay may kapasidad, may abilidad. Napakita ni Mayor Binay yung kanyang kakayahan bilang chief executive ng premier city ng Pilipinas (Mayor Binay has the capacity and the ability. He has shown this as the chief executive of the country’s premier city),” Estrada said in an interview over QTV’s Balitanghali.
Earlier in the day, Binay declared his presidential bid for the 2010 elections during the celebrations of his 66th birthday at the Makati City Hall.
MANILA, Philippines — Reelectionist Mayor Jejomar Binay and his entire ticket were proclaimed winners early Thursday, sweeping all elective posts in the financial capital, 20-0.
Binay emerged as the victor in the mayoral race by an overwhelming margin, capturing 198,814 of the votes cast from the city’s two districts against administration Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid’s 22,462.
His other little-known opponent, Elias Dulalia, had 1,243 votes, based on the final count of all 1,834 precincts canvassed at the Makati Coliseum by the local Commission on Elections office.
