Up to last day of campaign, Bongbong Marcos sticks to unity message
PARAÑAQUE CITY, Philippines — In Philippine Arena back on February 8, the first day of the campaign, presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. made clear his battle cry for the 2022 national elections: For Filipinos to unite.
Three months later and two days before the elections, Marcos Jr. made his one last appeal to the public, sticking to his unity strategy while also thanking those who have joined him in what he now calls a “movement”.
Right before delivering his final speech before his supporters in Paranaque City on Saturday, Marcos Jr. carried a Philippine flag—a similar scene to when he launched his campaign at the Philippine Arena 90 days prior.
“Mula po nung nag simula ang kampanyang ito ang Uniteam po ay anim na buwan ng umiikot sa buong Pilipinas, at dala ang mensahe ng pagkakaisa dala ang mensahe ng pagmamahal, at pagtutulungan ng bawat Pilipino,” Marcos Jr. said.
“Dahil po sa aming pananaw ito ang kailangan natin sa panahon na krisis kagaya ngayon, at tinanggap po ninyo ang mensahe namin tungkol sa pagkakaisa, naunawaan po ninyo kaagad na ang pagkakaisa ay magiging bunga ng pagmamahal ng bawat Pilipino sa isa’t-isa,” he added.
From small meetings with different sectors to grand rallies attended by thousands of his supporters, Marcos Jr.’s campaign has circled around his call for unity.
Marcos Jr. stressed that unity is the first step for the country to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
Initially, Marcos has dubbed his message as a “call for unity”, but later on, the presidential bet said it has transformed into a “movement”, claiming that more Filipinos are joining the call to unite as the campaign season progressed.
“Ang taumbayan ay hindi na nag-antay [sa halalan] at pinalabas ulit ang tunay na puso ng Pilipino at sinimulan na ang pagkilos ng pagkakaisa,” Marcos Jr. said.
“Kayo na ang nangunguna sa kilusan ng pagkakaisa, kami po ang magsisilbi lamang sa inyo upang ipagpatuloy ang inyong sinimulan, upang ipagpatuloy ang dahan-dahang pagkakaisa ng sambayanang Pilipino,” he added.
In the past, he has mentioned his push to strengthen the agriculture and tourism sectors as well as the improving infrastructure in the country.
Organizers of the Marcos-Duterte miting de avance estimate that over one million supporters attended the Paranaque event.
On election day, Marcos Jr. will vote in Ilocos Norte.