ANGELES CITY, Philippines – A movement pushing Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to run for President has snowballed in the home province of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo three days after the burial of his mother, former president Corazon Aquino.

Yellow streamers, hung in several villages in this city and in the nearby Pampanga towns of Mabalacat and Magalang, said: “Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III for President Movement Ngayon Na!”

The streamers were displayed in the villages of Sto. Domingo, San Jose, Pampanga and Balibago in Angeles City.

These were also hoisted in Mabiga, Poblacion and Tabun in Mabalacat and in the town proper of Magalang.

Concepcion in Tarlac, the hometown of the senator’s father, slain senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., used to be part of Magalang.

Tricycle drivers near terminals where the streamers had been put up said they saw the banners being hung on Friday night.

A Philippine Daily Inquirer source in Malacañang said the campaign is being headed by two local Lakas-NUCD stalwarts, Pampanga Representative Carmelo Lazatin and Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales.

The source did not want to be identified because of his position in the Arroyo administration.

Lazatin did not return calls to confirm his part in the campaign.

Without confirming his role in the putting up of the streamers, Morales said many of his constituents were clamoring that the senator should run for President to “continue the legacy of his parents in democracy-building.”

‘Ninoy’ Aquino, the foremost opposition figure during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, was murdered upon his return from exile on August 21, 1983. The opposition fielded his widow, Corazon, in the 1986 snap elections.

Allegations of massive cheating by Marcos drove Filipinos to the streets, culminating in the People Power Revolution that ended Marcos’ 20-year rule and swept Corazon Aquino to power.

“It’s the call of the people,” Morales said of the streamers.

The Inquirer source said Lazatin and Morales met with village officials two days ago to listen to their clamor.

“Apparently, [Lazatin and Morales] are convinced. There are no good candidates and Noynoy has no bad track record. The large crowds that showed up during the wake and burial of Cory convinced them that the Aquino family has the support of the public,” said the source.

The young Aquino is seen as a prospective candidates of the Liberal Party for vice president, as running mate of Senator Manuel Roxas II. ■