(19 Jan 1998) English/Nat

The Philippines' largest opposition party on Sunday formally proclaimed its candidates for general elections, scheduled for May.

LAMMP's vice president Joseph Estrada, a former film actor, was chosen as the party's bet in succeeding President Fidel Ramos.

Running with Estrada for the vice presidential seat is Senator Edguardo Angara.

They've been backed by a bizarre alliance that includes the son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos and members of the Aquino family - the late Marcos' arch foes.

Hand in hand they waved, as the thousands who attended the national convention of the country's biggest opposition party on Sunday cheered and threw confetti.

They were cheering L-A-M-M-P vice president Joseph Estrada, who, running with senator Edguardo Angara, is the opposition's bet for the highest post in the country.

This seaside convention hall filled with supporters who came to witness the formal proclamation of Joseph Estrada - a former movie star running for the presidential post.

One-time Senate President Edguardo Angara will run for vice president.

The Struggle of the Nationalist Filipino Masses, commonly known by its Filipino initials, L-A-M-M-P, also proclaimed candidates for the Senate.

The opposition party was formed out of three opposition groups last year to challenge the ruling Lakas-N-U-C-D party in the May 11 polls.

In his acceptance speech, Estrada expressed his gratitude to everyone supporting him despite his humble background.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I am indeed humbled by your presence today. This humility springs from the
realisation that this ordinary mortal, this college dropout, this movie actor, this small town mayor, has finally been judged worthy to seek the highest position with the gift of the Filipino people."
SUPER CAPTION: Vice President Joseph Estrada, LAMMP presidential standard bearer

Estrada will be running against at least six other contenders, but this man, house speaker Jose de Venecia, is viewed to be his main opponent.

De Venecia, a traditional politician, was handpicked by President Fidel Ramos last month to run for president and be his successor.

Estrada's down-to-earth image when he was a movie star has made him the darling of the masses.

Recent surveys show him at the top of the list, with de Venecia lagging behind.

But the administration candidate believes this race is more than just a popularity contest.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Q. Do you see Erap Estrada as your stiffest opponent because he is a movie actor and he is popular among the masses?)
Yes, but so is Tiger Woods...he's also very popular all over the Philippines and we have
more movie actors who are really loved by the people.
Q. Is that why it's attracting them to run?
Yes, but at the end of the day, the Filipino people will go for the politics of achievement
and the politics of performance."
SUPER CAPTION: House Speaker Jose de Venecia, LAKAS-NUCD presidential candidate

At least 100-thousand candidates are expected to run for over 17-thousand national and local posts in one of the country's most crowded elections on May 11.

While de Venecia is running with the strong backing of the Ramos administration, Estrada seems to be content just to have the endorsement of his best friend Fernando Poe Junior - the action king of Philippine movies.

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