MANILA - A plaza in Tondo area in Manila became a virtual sea of orange on Sunday as the Nacionalista Party (NP) held its proclamation rally, a day before most of its candidates file their respective certificates of candidacy.

Orange is the color adopted by NP standard bearer Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar II.

NP members, supporters and most of the candidates at the rally held at Macario Sacay Public Park in Moriones in Tondo, wore orange shirts. Some even had orange “bandanas” with Villar printed on it.

Even the water bottles given to the rally attendees have the NP standard bearer’s name and picture printed on it.

Villar's old hometown in Tondo did not disappoint him, with thousands of residents and supporters coming out to support the NP proclamation rally. Manila police said the crowd had swelled to 20,000 as of 6:30 p.m.

The rally was festive as several drum and lyre bands welcomed the NP candidates. More so when entertainers took the stage including Andrew E and Valerie Concepcion. Popular TV host Willie Revillame and veteran actor Dolphy also appeared later in the evening.

A bus with an LCT screen mounted at the back was also provided by rally organizers.

A slight drizzle did not dampen the festiveness of the rally as the NP’s candidates for the national elections each went to the stage for their speeches on their respective platform.

During the rally, NP unveiled its senatorial slate for the 2010 elections.

The slate included reelectionist Sen. Pia Cayetano, lawyer Adel Tamano, Ex-Marines Col. Ariel Querubin, former labor and unemployment undersecretary Susan Ople, Gwendolyn Pimentel, daughter of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. and Ramon "Mon-Mon" Mitra III, son of the late House Speaker Ramon Mitra Jr..

Also included in the slate are Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan and guest candidates and reelectionist senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.

Of the NP’s slate, Revilla was not present while Querubin who is detained on mutiny charges at the Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City was represented by stepson Martin.

The NP slate however is still 3 candidates short.

NP spokesman Gilbert Remulla said they are leaving 2 slots open for party-list representatives Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza and the third, for a still unidentified guest candidate.

As of posting, the crow was waiting for NP vice presidential bet Sen. Loren Legarda and Villar to take the stage. With reports from Sol Aragones and Lynda Jumilla, ABS-CBN News