UNA quietly starts first campaign day with Mass in Cebu

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) chose a quiet start to the often noisy campaign period when it opened its first official day to plead for votes with a Holy Mass in vote-rich Cebu. Two of the country’s top officials—Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile—joined UNA’s senatorial slate in a Mass officiated by Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. Former President Joseph Estrada, another UNA stalwart, was not able to join the slate at the Church, but was seen joining the convoy for the motorcade, which followed after the Holy Mass. UNA’s local allies from Cebu, such as suspended Governor Gwen Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, also joined the senatorial slate. Cebu has around 2.3 million voters for the upcoming midterm polls. The UNA senatorial ticket is expected to be officially launched at a proclamation rally at the Plaza Independencia in Cebu City later this afternoon. UNA’s senatorial bets include: Senator Gregorio Honasan II, the vice president’s daughter Nancy Binay, former Senator Miguel Zubiri, San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito, Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile, former Senator Ernesto Maceda Jr., and former Tarlac Governor Margarita Cojuangco. The administration ticket’s senatorial slate, meanwhile, is scheduled to hold its own proclamation rally at the historic Plaza Miranda in Manila this afternoon, to be attended by President Benigno Aquino III. - VVP, GMA News