CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Vice President Jejomar Binay wanted so much to get his message across clearly that he tapped the services of a voice coach and a personality development institute, aside from consulting scholars and experts to prepare for Sunday’s first televised presidential debate.
According to Binay’s daughter Senator Nancy Binay, her father tried to develop the best arguments and strong positions on every gut issue ahead of the face-off.
Senator Binay said the vice president was “more than ready and in his usual good mood” while preparing for the debate.
Binay was the first presidential candidate to arrive in this city on Saturday and started his day acceding to the “dry run” asked by the debate organizers led by the Commission on Elections at the debate venue.
He attended mass at a local Catholic Church after the dry run.
“My father believes he is addressing the nation and the public will put him under close scrutiny. He has to accord them with respect and give them importance. He needs to convey his message to them truthfully and sincerely. He has to present his platform of government, his track record and show that his economic and social service policies will surely make a difference for the country and greatly improve the lives of the poorest of the poor,” Senator Binay said.
The senator said Pocholo Gonzales, known as “the man with a thousand voices,” extended his services as a voice coach to Binay for free.
He was also advised by experts from the John Robert Powers personality development institute.
Binay spokesman former Cainta Mayor Mon Ilagan said the vice president underwent breathing exercises to improve his vocal quality and stage presence.
Senator Binay recounted that during the 2010 vice presidential race, which he won, Binay also underwent training and took lessons from John Robert Powers to correct his posture and speech delivery.
“My father used to slouch and when he was slouching, the delivery of his speech is adversely affected,” Senator Binay said.
But what took most of Binay’s time was studying UNA’s policies and how efficient he can implement them in the first 100 days of his administration, should he win the presidential race, the senator said.