By Maria Michelle C.Diaz
September 30, 2009, 11:55am
TV host Kris Aquino, sister of presidentiable Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, praised yesterday another presidentiable Senator Manny Villar for rescue efforts for victims of storm “Ondoy’’ which battered Metro Manila and a wide area of Luzon.
“Mabuhay ka Manny Villar! Wala muna tayong politics,’’ said Aquino, during a telethon launched by ABS-CBN aimed at raising funds for flood victims.
Aquino thanked Villar for the 30 dump trucks sent last Saturday night.
At the telethon, Aquino has earlier asked presidentiables to set aside politics and help the flood victims.
Together with TV host Willie Revillame, Villar visited relief operations using a helicopter in Pasig, Marikina, Cainta, Marcos Highway, San Mateo and Montalban.
“We have already rescued and transported 1,700 people, fed 2,650 and we are still continuing to send relief goods,’’ Villar and Revillame said.
Senators Aquino and running-mate Mar Roxas also cut shot their trip in Mindanao to attend to relief operations.
They launched from Mindanao a campaign to assist and provide relief to victims of the storm which lashed Metro Manila and Regions 3 and 4, flooding vital parts of the metropolis and displacing thousands of families.
“Ang pondo pong nalikom mula sa Piso Para kay Noynoy ay ilalaan natin para pambili ng mga relief goods gaya ng bigas, de-lata at iba pang kailangan ng mga kababayan nating nabiktima ng bagyong Ondoy,” Aquino said after sorties in Tagum City and Bukidnon province,’’ they said.
Later in the day, Revillame called Kris Aquino in the showbiz-oriented show “The Buzz’’ and thanked her for recognizing their efforts, especially Senator Villar.
Last Saturday night, Revillame told Kris Aquino that he and Senator Villar distributed packed foods to flood victims in Cainta, Rizal.
Roxas also announced he and Aquino are converting their headquarters in Expo Centro in Farmers Market in Cubao, Quezon City to accept donations and relief goods for distribution to the victims of the typhoon.
Meanwhile, Presidential Peace Adviser Sonny Razon yesterday spent his 57th birthday in a most unusual but very meaningful way – providing much needed relief to his fellow residents of Manila who were affected by storm “Ondoy.’’
At the break of day, Razon started going to evacuation centers with truckloads of relief goods, mostly grocery bags containing foodstuffs such as rice and canned goods.
“This is the best way to spend one’s birthday, helping people who need it most,” said Razon, for whom it has become a tradition to spend his natal day rendering public service, from health missions to distributing basic goods.
Razon’s first stop was the Del Pan Sports Complex in Tondo, Manila, where some 300 residents in the area took refuge. He then proceeded to the Manuel Roxas Elementary School In Paco and Zamora Elementary School in Pandacan, with 150 and 200 evacuees, repectively.
The evacuation centers that were scheduled for distribution of relief goods by Razon were: Bagong Barangay Elementary School in Pandacan; Tecson Elementary School, Moises Salvador Elementary School and Geronimo Elementary School in Sampaloc; Villamor Elementary School in Sta. Ana and Epifanio Elementary Delos Santos Elementary School in Malate; Tambunting in Sta. Cruz; and, Barangay 177 and Happyland, both in Tondo.