Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. (left), Las Piñas City lone district Rep. Camille Villar (Facebook)

With the official start of the campaign period for local candidates last March 28, members of the administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate are beginning to get more explicit endorsements from local officials during their sorties.

Admitting to be inspired by gaining such endorsements were reelectionist Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and House Deputy Speaker Las Piñas City lone district Rep. Camille Villar.

Revilla received the endorsement of One Cebu--Cebu province’s most influential local party--as he joined the party’s campaign launch in Cordova, Barili, Sibonga, Dalaguete, and Alcoy in Cebu on March 27 to 29.

One Cebu is led by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who assured Revilla of his landslide victory in the most vote-rich province in the country. There are 3.7 million registered voters in Cebu for the May 12 mid-term elections. 

In a recent interview, Revilla--a member of national party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD)--expressed his gratitude for the warm reception he received from the people of Cebu. He also emphasized his commitment to continue working for the welfare of Filipinos nationwide.

“Kayo ang dahilan kung bakit patuloy akong lumalaban!...Kayo ang inspirasyon ko! Magkaisa tayo para sa mas maliwanag na kinabukasan ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino (You're the reason why I continue to fight!...You are my inspiration! Let's unite to achieve a brighter tomorrow for every Filipino family)," Revilla said.

Meanwhile, Villar, a Nacionalista Party (NP) stalwart, received an endorsement from Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon during Saturday night’s proclamation rally in the city.

Villar thanked Biazon and the people of Muntinlupa for the support. She said they were very close to her heart since her grandfather, Dr. Filomino Aguilar, was a barrio doctor in Muntinlupa and Las Piñas during his time.

“Kaya naman po, kayo din po ang inspirasyon ko para pagbutihin ang aking pagseserbisyo-publiko (That's why you are also my inspiration for improving my brand of public service),” said Villar, who vowed to push for projects and legislation focused on job creation, financial literacy, maternal and reproductive health, housing and education.

The congresswoman's father, former Senate President Manny Villar, was the lone representative of Muntinlupa and Las Piñas from 1992 to 1998. It was  Manny Villar who authored Muntinlupa’s cityhood in 1995.

She added that her mother, incunbent Senator Cynthia Villar, was born in the city, and later studied at the Muntinlupa Elementary School.