It's Gibo for Pastor Quiboloy

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Evangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ the Name Above Every Name congregation last night endorsed Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro for president in the May 10 elections. Quiboloy also endorsed Liberal Party’s Sen. Manuel Roxas II for vice president.The pastor repeatedly said in earlier interviews that the presidential candidate he would choose would be the “Father God’s choice” as it would not only be his own choice but that of his entire congregation which has more than six million voters.

In reaching his decision, Quiboloy reportedly secluded himself in intense prayer at his Prayer Mountain in Barangay Tamayong this city for the past three days, before coming down for his church’s global worship services last night attended by more than 50,000 followers.

The pastor had deferred to last night the announcement of his chosen presidential bet which supposedly was to take place last April 25 when he celebrated his 60th birthday. Teodoro, as Quiboloy’s chosen presidential bet, was already clear as early as April 25 when the pastor hinted that his personal choice is somebody who is “magaling at matalino” which jibes with Teodoro’s “Galing at Talino” campaign slogan.

Teodoro was among the presidential candidates who attended Quiboloy’s Disney-themed birthday celebration aside from Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino’s Joseph Estrada; Nacionalista Party’s Manuel Villar; Senators Richard Gordon and Jamby Madrigal, fellow evangelist Eddie Villanueva, and environmentalist Nicanor Perlas.

Liberal Party presidential candidate Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III did not attend Quiboloy’s birthday party and also snubbed the pastor’s Sukatan 2010 presidential forum held here last March 9.

In a phone interview shortly after he arrived on a Learjet at the old Davao International Airport, Teodoro told The STAR he did not know exactly what to expect except that there would be some “revelation” during last night’s Global Thanksgiving and Worship Presentation of Quiboloy’s congregation held at the open field of the ACQ compound.

“There would be some kind of a ‘revelation’ during the prayer service, I was told. But I am really thankful to the good pastor from whom I also seek spiritual guidance,” Teodoro said, adding that he was indeed invited to the congregation’s worship services last night.

Quiboloy’s announcement last night was also viewed worldwide over satellite television as the congregation also owns the Sonshine Media Network Services with channels in different continents in the world.

Teodoro was said to be among the first presidential candidates who paid Quiboloy a visit on separate occasions since the official campaign period last Feb. 9.

Quiboloy earlier told newsmen that Teodoro was the only presidential candidate who really spent time with him, the whole day of Feb. 10.

Teodoro first visited Quiboloy at the ACQ compound near the Davao International Airport in the morning. They had lunch at the prayer mountain in Tamayong and ended the day with dinner back at the airport compound.

Gibo downplays survey results

Teodoro, meantime, also stressed yesterday said he does not only answer to the 2,000 faceless individuals who were asked in surveys, but most importantly, to the millions of Filipinos across the country.

Speaking before an estimated 6,000 people at the Siquijor capitol, Teodoro said in Filipino, “There are those who are saying that there’s no need to talk to the people because they’ve already won. They ask 2,000 people and that’s it, they serve only 2,000 people.”

“I will no longer just ask the 2,000. I will face all of you personally, 90 million Filipinos, I answer to you. I’ll go straight to you,” he said during the rally a week before the May 10 elections.

“We will all stand and we will not agree not to be heard, no matter how poor a person is, because his vote is sacred, and nobody can say that that vote is taken for granted,” he said.

Locals lined the streets, cheering and waving green flags, and trooped to the capitol square to show their support for the ruling party bet.

Teodoro’s spokesman, lawyer Michael Toledo, said the administration standard-bearer went straight to the issues at hand, “disdaining mudslinging which has been the campaign trend of late among certain candidates in this year’s balloting.”

For the picturesque island of Siquijor, Teodoro focused on the need to boost its ecotourism potential.

“Three hundred tourists arrive here every day, so that’s almost 90,000 tourists a year. That’s a good sign,” he said.

Siquijor Vice Gov. Andre Cortes said people in his province support Teodoro because he does not resort to mudslinging and instead sticks to his platform.

Cortes said Siquijor’s six municipalities and all 134 barangays will go for Teodoro.

“We expect a landslide for Gibo (Teodoro’s nickname) here. We have done our own verification on the ground, and more than 80 percent of votes will go to Gibo,” Gov. Shane Fua said.

Teodoro also campaigned in Dumaguete City on Saturday where local leaders likewise vowed to give him victory in the elections. - With Paolo Romero

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