In his speech, he said that Noy has made it clear to him that he wants to carry the torch of leadership. The passing of our beloved former President Aquino has reawakened a passion among us. He also added that he personally acknowledged this as fuel to bring us fellow Filipinos to the realization of our dream: Good will triumph over evil.

“Country above self. Bayan bago sarili,” Roxas said at the beginning of his speech.

However, Noy has not yet decided whether he would take this opportunity to carry the torch of leadership for 2010 election. If he finally makes his decision to run for president, Senator Mar Roxas would definitely his vice-president.

Both Aquino and Roxas families have deep roots in the Liberal Party. Mar Roxas’ grandfather and former president Manuel Roxas, founded the Liberal Party in 1946. He was the first president of the Philippine Republic. Mar Roxas’ father, former Senator Gerardo M. Roxas, became president of the Liberal Party from 1969 to 1982.

Public sentiments for Aquino to run for president are extremely high after the death on August 1 of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino. She had been a democratic icon for leading the “people power” revolution that ended the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, then using her subsequent six-year term as president to consolidate democracy.