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El Shaddai's founder and servant leader, Bro. Mike Velarde, announced to the media that he is not endorsing any candidate for the coming elections
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Over the years, Velarde has endorsed political candidates and it's quite shocking that he has decided to not endorse anyone this time
Mike Velarde with current president of the Philippines, Benigno Ninoy Aquino III and 2016 presidential candidate Mar Roxas
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During the prayer vigil held at the Amvel Park in Paranaque City last 30 April, Velarde gave the El Shaddai members the opportunity to discern who to vote for in the coming elections. The presidential and vice-presidential candidates were given the chance to speak in front of the whole congregation
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Grace Poe was the first to give her speech. "*Bilang isang nanay, bilang isang babae, itataguyod ko ang pangangailangan ng pamilya sapagkat dito nabubuo ang kamalayan ng isang tao at ng isang Pilipino. Kailangan sa pamilya may sapat at permanenteng kita, kailangan makapag-aral ang mga anak, kailangan may sapat na pagkain. 'Pag ako'y naging pangulo, libre na ang pananghalian sa lahat ng public elementary schools, ang anak ng mahihirap ay dapat makapagtapos sa* state universities and colleges *na hindi nangangamba, lahat ng ito pati ang permanenteng trabaho para sa inyo ay kailangang ipaglaban sapagkat yun ang nararapat, yun ang makatarungan*," said Poe, according to [Manila Bulletin] (http://www.mb.com.ph/el-shaddai-leader-to-endorse-candidates-on-tuesday/).
Jejomar Binay, who was introduced by Velarde as someone who was "one step away from presidency" was the next to give the speech. "*Mas mahalaga sa akin ang pamumuno na kumikilala, gumagalang at tumatalima sa salita ng Diyos… Pamumuno na gumagalang sa mga kababaihan, pamumuno na magandang halimbawa para sa mga bata. Pamumuno na tumutulong at paglilingkod sa mga mahihirap at hindi ko ipagyayabang ang pagpatay ko sa kapwa. Ginagalang, nirerespeto ko ang buhay ng bawat tao, yan ang pamumuno na ibinigay ko sa Makati, at aking ibibigay sa ating bansa sa inyong mainit na pagtangkilik at sa biyaya ng Panginoon, yan po ay magkakatotoo. Aangat ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino, uunlad ang bansang Pilipinas*," said Binay, according to [Manila Bulletin] (http://www.mb.com.ph/el-shaddai-leader-to-endorse-candidates-on-tuesday/).
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Image via Twitter @VPJojoBinay
"*Sa darating na mga araw darating tayo sa isang sangangdaan. Mabigat po ang ating pagpapasyahan. Tayo po ba ay magpapatuloy sa landas kung saan malayo na ang narating natin? O kaya naman tayo ay mag U-turn balik sa zero? Gabayan nawa tayo ng Panginoon sa ating pagpapasya*," said Roxas, as reported by the [Manila Bulletin] (http://www.mb.com.ph/el-shaddai-leader-to-endorse-candidates-on-tuesday/).
After the candidates gave their speeches, Velarde asked the El Shaddai members, "My question to you now is, who did you check in the survey? Were you able to choose?"
"In the survey ballot, members were asked who they are going to vote for president with the choices: Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senators Grace Poe and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, or whoever it is that will be chosen by their leader," according to [Manila Bulletin] (http://www.mb.com.ph/el-shaddai-leader-to-endorse-candidates-on-tuesday/).
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After the prayer rally, the charismatic leader sent out fill-out survey forms to the El Shaddai members to know which candidate they are voting for
"Tayo ay magdasal para sa mapayapa, malinis at maayos na halalan sa ating bansa sa darating na Mayo 9. Nawa'y pagpalain niya and lahat ng tao; bigyan nang ibayong liwanag ang kanilang kaisipan, damdamin at bigyan nyo po ng maayos na pagdesisyon at pagpili ang bawat isa sa amin kung sino ang nararapat mamuno sa aming bayan na ayon sa nasusulat na ikaw ang may-akda ng lahat," said Velarde, according to the [Philippine Star] (http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/05/01/1578741/el-shaddai-announce-candidate-endorsements-tuesday).
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