Aquino passed through Commonwealth en route to the Batasan Pambansa Complex where both Houses of Congress assembled to listen to him deliver his first State of the Nation Address.

In his speech, Aquino said his government was inheriting empty coffers, and government corporations whose board members were fat cats who rewarded themselves with huge compensation packages.

But leaders of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and affiliated groups were disappointed at what they called his lack of vision and long term solutions to the country’s pressing problems.

VERA Files’ Mario Ignacio mingled with the protesters and filed these photos.

The inaugural ceremonies were held at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, with Aquino’s sisters and their families standing by him as he was sworn into office.

Two former presidents—Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada—in attendance, as were members of the judiciary, the diplomatic corps, congressmen, senators, and showbiz personalities.

About  500,000 Filipinos filled the area in front of the grandstand.

VERA Files’ Mario Ignacio covered the event and filed these photos:

On Wednesday afternoon, Congress proclaimed Sen. Benigno Aquino III and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay winners in the May 10 presidential and vice presidential races, capping eight days of canvassing votes cast in the country’s first nationwide automated elections.

VERA Files’ Mario Ignacio captures the jubilant mood in the halls of the House of Representatives in the following photos:

THE Commission on Elections proclaimed nine winning senators Saturdays at the Philippine International Convention Center. In attendance were Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla, Jose ‘Jinggoy’ Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, Pia Cayetano, Tito Sotto, and Ralph Recto. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Miriam Defensor Santiago, and Franklin Drilon did not attend the ceremonies.

Bangued-based journalist visited Tineg with the Diocese of Abra’s roving team and took the pictures below.

THE Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) of the Commission on Elections held its “Final Test and Sealing” of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines in Marikina, Makati and Parañaque precincts Thursday.

At Parang Elementary School in Marikina City, a mock election with 10 voters per cluster of precincts was held at the field test. After the printing of the election results, a manual count was conducted to check the accuracy of the PCOS machines. The manual count tallied with the results from the PCOS machines.

One of the 20 PCOS machines at the school malfunctioned while printing the elections results.

Below are the images from the final testing.

Estrada showed up with him teammates: running mate Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, and senatorial candidates JV Bautista, Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza, Apolinarion “Jun” Lozada, Jose “Joey” de Venecia III, Francisco “Kit” Tatad, Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Jinggoy Estrada.

VERA Files‘ Mario Ignacio was at the rally and shares his photos:

CAVITE CITY.—Former President Joseph Estrada  of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) showed  he has not lost his “masa “ appeal despite having been ousted from power and convicted of plunder.

About 5,000 people on Tuesday  crammed the vacant lot in front of the public market here to hear  Estrada, who turned 73 the day before, vow to recapture Malacañang in this year’s elections.

Estrada attributed his improved ratings in a recent survey to the masses’ unwavering faith in him. A survey commissioned by the Manila Standard showed him statistically tied with Nacionalista Party presidential candidate Manuel Villar.

It was a rally-cum-TV talk show as Strictly Politics of ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) held its fifth miting  de avance live during the rally.

At exactly 7 p.m. the candidates stopped delivering speeches and people watched as host Pia Hontiveros interview Estrada, his running mate Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and  six of  PMP’s  senatorial candidates: former sectoral (Sanlakas) representative JV Bautista, NBN/ZTE whistleblower  Joey de Venecia, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, former  Negros Occidental Rep. (5^th district)  Apolinario Lozada, Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza, and former Sen. Francisco Tatad.

Estrada said he is going to sign a manifesto together with other presidential candidates calling on the Commission on Elections to conduct a parallel nationwide manual count for the elections.

Enrile said he is 99 percent there would be no failure of elections. In case winners of the May 10 elections would not be declared before June 30, he said he would give up the Senate presidency so a new Senate president could be elected from among those whose term will end in 2013 to prevent a power vacuum.

The Senate president is third in the line of succession in case the presidency becomes vacant.

Inday Garutay, Tia Pusit and Marisa Sanchez provided the entertainment. Estrada sang “Saan ka man naroon.”