PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., batted for unity, the common thread that emanated from the voices of her running mate Mayor Inday Sara Duterte and the UniTeam’s senatorial candidates in a jampacked IATF-complying proclamation rally at Philippine Arena.
Marcos, who had to interrupt several times his speech, following roars of approval from the 25,000-strong crowd, said that the whisper for unity that started when the Uniteam launched its run for this year’s elections, reverberated over the land as the team made its campaign sorties over the archipelago, snowballing into shouts that hit fever pitch as the populace realized that united together, a new dawn comes by for the country with Filipinos’ sense of self-worth intact.
“Ating isabuhay ang pagmamahal at pagkakaisa,” Marcos Jr. said adding that it is unity that will allow the country to move forward, especially with the pandemic’s disastrous effects on the economy.
The theme on unity was also evident even in the dance intermission which showed the meeting of minds of North and South with Bongbong Marcos later on being handled a Philippine flag before he spoke before the adoring crowd.
Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, the Uniteam’s vice presidential candidate, similarly harped on the unity theme as she bared that the country can look forward to a great future ahead and asserted that the country as a result of unity will “bounce back like never before, “ citing the tandem that offers also “wisdom and experience.”
This kind of experience that the the two top aspirants offer, Sara said, will mean “sustained growth and a more prosperous future.”
“Lahat tayo Filipino, “ Sara said, “walang mayaman, walang mahirap, walang matanda, walang bata, and with the Uniteam tandem, “ the government can do better and the Filipino will stand tall.
The senatorial aspirants also dwelled on the theme of unity with lawyer Larry Gadon asking the voters to help each other, “magtulungan para sa ikauunlad ng Filipino, Gibo Teodoro citing that “lahat tayo, iisa” and sought for a united stand for a forward-looking governance, Senator Win Gatchalian seeking for help for the Uniteam which has the interest of the country, from free education to more jobs, Senator Migz Zubiri telling the crowd that he liked the overarching reach for unity of the Uniteam.
“Kailangan magkaisa Filipino, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Zubiri said, to a thunderous applause, while former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista echoing the Uniteam’s “sama-sama tayong babangon muli,”
TV host Toni Gonzaga emceed the affair and she had to -admonish the crowd five times to observe social standing as the attendees stood and jostled for a better view of the stage leading Gonzaga to remind the crowd to go back to their assigned seats. The 55,000-capacity Philippine Arena was allowed to just have 25,000-strong audience to conform with IATF mandates. There were also others who were not accommodated and were seen outside the arena.
Bongbong Marcos said that our pagkakaisa should not stop after the elections but should continue afterwards, reiterating the theme of unity that has captivated the citizenry. Ituloy natin ang pagkakaisa muli ng sambayanang Filipino, he said, adding that “we should not stop towards a better future and ending it with his signature, “sama-sama tayong babangong muli.” LITO GAGNI