VILLASIS, Pangasinan, Philippines -- The kids were hungry and wanted to eat camote. Is that vote-buying?

This was the retort of Nacionalista Party standard bearer Senator Manuel Villar on Saturday after being criticized for handing out P20 to two young children at a market while on a campaign sortie in Batangas City, on Saturday.

?First of all, what's wrong with giving [money] to children? They cannot vote. That's not vote buying. And that was money for them to buy camote,? Villar told reporters in Filipino following the induction of a local women's group at the jam-packed public gym here in Villasin.

?Pati ang mga bata na pinapakain na lang ng camote (Even kids who are just being helped so they could eat camote are dragged in intrigues). Kawawa naman. Hindi naman sinabi na bawal kumain ng camote kapag campaign (I pity them. There?s no law that prohibits the eating of camote during campaign),? he added.

Incidentally, the Inquirer has learned from Villar's Senate staff and younger brother that ?nilagang (steamed) camote? is the presidential candidate's favorite snack.

Villar also said that the distribution of scholarships to children at his ?Rockatropa? concert cum campaign on Thursday night, on the SM Mall of Asia grounds, was ?ceremonial.?

?Noon pa yun [scholarships] nabigay sa Wowowee, before the filing of the COCs (certificates of candidacies),? Villar said.