Arriving at around 3:30 p.m., Lapid, dubbed “Bida ng Masa” (champion of the masses), was mobbed by the throng of people as he made his way to the stage at the covered court with the theme song of his movie “Leon Guerrero” playing in the background.
The gathering had all the elements of a circus with a band, celebrity singers, a cowboy mime painted in gold, scantily clad sexy dancers, comedians and magicians completing the carnival atmosphere.
The crowds’ attention was maintained with timely raffle draws for prizes such as bicycles, cell phones and various appliances.
Backstage, Lapid said he came just to extend his birthday greeting to Lazatin whom he said is both a friend and an ally.
“Bumabati lang tayo ng Happy Birthday sa kanya (Lazatin). Alam mo na kaibigan natin at kukumustahin ko lang ang mga Angeleno (I am just extending a Happy Birthday greeting to him.
You know he is my friend and I would just also like to greet the Angelenos),” the senator said. Lapid said it’s now final.
He will run for mayor of this city.
“Totoo na ngayon, kasi marami ang nagdududa… dahil dalawang beses ako na postpone na hahabol ng mayor dito mula ng 2004. Kaya lang nagpatulong ang ating mahal na pangulo na kakandidato siya ng president at bilang Kapampangan sinamahan kuna muna siya at sinakripisyo ku muna yung ambisyon ko.
Pero ngayon siguro tutal wala na rin siya tapos na rin ang term niya ako naman siguro kase gusto ko sumerbisyo dito sa Angeles (It is true that I will now run for mayor because twice in the past my ambition was postponed since 2004. Back then, I was asked by our dear president (GMA) who ran for election as president for my help and as a Kapampangan I opted to join her and sacrificed my ambition.
But now since she is no longer around… her term expired, I can now run to serve the people here in Angeles),” Lapid said.
However, when asked of his plan for Angelenos or what things he would want to change, Lapid just shrugged off the question. “Tsaka na natin pag usapan yan (Let’s just talk about that later),” he said.
Lapid said his line-up for the 2016 polls is already complete. “Sobra pa nga, nagbabawas, ini-screen pa namin although nakukuha ng iba yung mga kasama namin (We even have extras. We are still in the process of elimination and screening candidates although some of our colleagues are being pirated by the other candidate),” he said.
For his part, Lazatin (who will turn 81 on June 28) said his birthday wish is for longer life and the victory of Senator Lapid.
“Ngayon walang talo, siguradong panalo. Nakikita naman ninyo ang mga tao (Now there is no way to lose because we are sure to win as you can see with these people),” he pointed out.
“Sasakit ang ulo ni Mayor Ed (Pamintuan) ngayon (Mayor Ed will be having headaches now),” said Lazatin, a former three-term mayor here who lost to Pamintuan in his return bid in 2013.
Lazatin said he is still finalizing his own political plans for 2016 because his first priority is to help Lapid win the mayorship.
Meanwhile, Mayor Pamintuan said he is unfazed by the Lapid bandwagon in Malabanias, a known bailiwick of Lazatin since its incumbent chair, Barangay Captain Rey Gueco, is a longtime Lazatin ally.
“For me, the only thing I have is my contract with the Angelenos which will expire in 2016,” Pamintuan said when asked for his comment during an event at SM City Pampanga on Monday.
Many good things happened in Angeles for the past several years, he said.
“I am happy because I will have a worthy opponent,” he said pointing out that Lapid is a senator and a former governor.
Also present at the Malabanias Barangay compound aside from Lapid, Lazatin and Gueco were Councilor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, former councilor Louie Reyes and Atty. Willie Rivera, Lapid’s presumptive running mate.
