http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100429-267113/Teodoro-openly-criticizes-surveys
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu, Philippines—Administration standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro on Wednesday lashed out at surveys saying that these were an insult to thinking Filipinos.
Speaking before an estimated crowd of 30,000 at the Cebu International Convention Center here, Teodoro, who has been struggling in the ratings, rallied supporters to vote for change and to break out against what he called as "arrogance in politics."
"We are here tonight to break out, to shout out against the arrogance that is happening today in politics. They say all of us here tonight do not have a chance. They say, let's not vote for Gibo because it's just a waste of votes, because they asked 2,000 people in the country but they failed to ask 90 million others," Teodoro said in his speech, openly criticizing survey firms.
Teodoro has remained consistently in fourth place in various presidential surveys.
"For me I think differently. I do not want to owe anything to those 2,000 people, nor to those survey firms. I will owe it to the 92 million Filipinos," Teodoro added, to the cheers and applause of the crowd.
Teodoro's campaign rally here culminated his two-day visit in Cebu province, where he was assured support by several influential local leaders, including Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia and her party, One Cebu.
The Garcias have promised to deliver at least a million votes for Teodoro.
On his visit to Danao City on Tuesday, Teodoro was also assured support by the influential Durano clan.
During his speech here, Teodoro said that it should be the collective voice of the people that should be heard and not just the results of survey firms.
"We are done with arrogance in politics. The people should come first," Teodoro said.
Teodoro's supporters braved the rains to listen to Teodoro's speech. Even the presidential aspirant and local leaders of the province were unfazed even as the rain started to pour in the open area of the spacious convention center.
Teodoro even joked about the weather.
"Sabi ng Diyos baka masyadong mainit na ang ulo natin kaya lumamig muna ang ulo natin (Maybe God thought we have become hot-headed and wanted us to cool down)," he said.
"Let us not forget our message of genuine national reconciliation and unity. But once in a while, you have to voice out your anger in a legitimate way and it's frustrating, sobra na ang mga arogante dito sa Pilipinas kaya wala tayong pinatutunguhan (the arrogant people here in the Philippines are too much, that’s why we are not going anywhere)," Teodoro said.
The presidential aspirant reiterated his platform of providing basic education, quality health care, environmental protection, and providing peace in conflict-ridden Mindanao.
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