Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — United Nationalist Alliance standard bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay visited two major markets in Quezon City on Saturday (March 5) — Mega Q Mart in Cubao and Kamuning Market.
Since day one of his campaign, Binay has shown a preference for wet markets.
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While in Mega Q Mart on Saturday (March 5), the vice president saw a woman wearing a shirt bearing Liberal Party tandem Manuel Roxas II and Leni Robredo’s names.
Binay raised the woman’s hand and joked that she will vote for him.
He said he sees himself as a “batang palengke” or raised among simple folk.
“Natural na natural yan. Walang ka-plastikan. Batang palengke ako,” Binay said.
[Translation: “It’s natural, I’m not faking it. I am among the simple folk.”]
He even aimed jokes at other candidates who, he said, get dizzy when they visit markets.
Roxas used to style himself as “Mister Palengke” for his habit of visiting markets when he was still the Trade and Industry secretary.
Related: Roxas projects himself as “Mr. Palengke” once more
But the market vendors said they hope whoever wins in the elections would genuinely help them.
“Puhunan sa pagtitinda, yun ang malaking problema namin kasi kinukuha namin, 5-6,” Belle Bacagiua, a vendor, said.
[Translation: “Our biggest problem is capital funding, because right now, we get it through loans under the 5-6 scheme.”]
The 73-year-old Binay also dropped by two barangays, including a wake for a 17-year-old girl who died of asthma.
Meanwhile, traffic along E. Rodriguez Avenue swelled as Binay and his entourage made their rounds.
