Who is the genuine Ilonggo?
“Sin-o gid bala (Who's the real one)?”
The pre-campaign sorties of Senators Manuel “Mar” Roxas and Manuel Villar in Iloilo have triggered and exchange over who is the “real Ilonggo” between the two presidential aspirants in an apparent bid to woe the Ilonggo vote in 2010 elections.
In a recent visit here, Roxas urged supporters and leaders of the Liberal Party here to work hard to ensure that an Ilonggo would be in the Palace after the next elections. The LP leaders included Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. and town mayors.
Roxas said that he was confident by 2010 a voice in Malacañang would be answering the phone: “Hilooo. Sin-o ni (Hello, Who's this)?” mimicking a Visayan-accented voice.
When asked later by reporters by his remark, Roxas, a native of Capiz province and one of those being touted as a presidential candidate, said he's statement was clear.
But when pointed out that Villar, president of the Nacionalista Party, is also claiming to be an Ilonggo, Roxas took an apparent swipe at Villar.
“There are many who claim to be an Ilonggo native. But you all know who is a genuine Ilonggo. Maybe they only know (how to say) 'good morning, good noon and good evening'. But can they speak in the dialect without a script?” said Roxas in fluent Hiligaynon.
He said it was good that many are claiming to be Ilonggos so that there would be also many who will help Iloilo. But he repeatedly stressed that he was answering questions in the dialect.
Villar who topped the senatorial candidates in the 2007 elections in Iloilo has repeatedly cited his Ilonggo roots during his campaign and in his speeches here. He said his father's roots is from Cabatuan and Balasan.
When asked for comment on Roxas' remark, Villar said in a separate interview that they are both Ilonggos.
“The difference is that I come from a poor Ilonggo family while he belongs to a rich Ilonggo family” said Villar.
Western Visayas has the fourth biggest number of voters next to Region IV-A (Calabarzon), the National Capital Region and Region III (Central Luzon), according to statistics of the Commission on Elections.