MANILA - Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Wednesday announced that he will be going on a retreat this coming weekend for "divine guidance" for his plans on the 2010 presidential elections.

"This weekend, starting tomorrow actually, I will be going on a spiritual retreat as I pray for discernment and divine guidance," Aquino said in a prepared speech.

He also implored his supporters to pray with him, and said he hoped people are one with him in the "difficult struggle ahead."

"I urge you to pray with me so that you too can assess your own readiness to take part in the difficult struggle ahead. We are hopefully in this together," he said.

"Hindi ko po tatalikuran ang hamong ito, sana'y kasama ko kayo sa labang ito," Aquino said.

"Sa mga nalalabing araw ng aming pagluluksa at pagdadalamhati sa pagpanaw ng aming mahal na ina, sisikapin ko pong taospusong sagutin ang katanungang ito. Sana maunawaan po ninyo ang bagay na ito," Aquino said.

Aquino made his announcement in front of members and supporters of the Liberal Party at a press conference at Club Filipino in San Juan.

Noy thanks Mar

Aquino's announcement came a day after Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas II announced his withdrawal from the 2010 presidential race to give way for an Aquino candidacy under the LP.

In his speech on Wednesday, Aquino first thanked Roxas for his "sacrifice" in withdrawing from the 2010 race, in favor of party unity and the sake of the nation.

"Umaapaw po ang paghanga at paggalang ko kay Mar sa kanyang pagsasaaalangalang ng kanyang personal na ambisyon para sa pagkakaisa ng aming partido at para sa higit na mataas na mithiin na kapwa namin inaasahan para sa aming taumbayan," Aquino said.

"Senator Roxas's sacrifice is the finest example of selflessness that our nation sorely needs in this morally troubled times," he said.

He also echoed Roxas' call for personal sacrifice.

"Tulad po ng kanyang sinabi kagabi, kalimutan po natin ang ating mga sarili dahil ang laganap na pagtingin sa pansariling kapakanan ang mismong ugat ng kasakiman at pagkawatak-watak na sumisira sa ating lipunan," he said.

Noy, Mar one in their fight

Aquino said he and Roxas will be one in their fight.

"Kasama po ako ni Mar sa malaking laban na ito. At sana, kasama rin naman ang bawat Pilipinong naniniwala sa aking kalinisan ng loob, at ng karamihan ng ating mga kababayan at naghahangad ng isang bansang tunay nating maipagmamalaki," he said.

He also said that this is not really an issue about him or Roxas.

"Ang usapin pong ito ay di tungkol sa akin o kay Mar. Ang mahalaga pong malaman ay kung kasama namin kayo sa misyon ng tunay na pagbabago. Hindo po madali ang misyong ito dahil matindi ang kabulukukang bumabalot sa ating lipunan. Nguni't hindi imposibleng makamit ang ating mga pinakamimithi para sa Pilipinas. Ito ay magsisimula sa bawat isa sa atin," he said.

He made his announcement at the historic Gabaldon Room, where his mother, the late former president Corazon Aquino, took her oath of office in 1986.