Presidential candidate Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos Jr. said their movement for unity that will lead the nation to greater progress is growing stronger and stronger as seen in the thousands of people at their UniTeam rally at the Bacolod reclamation area Wednesday night, February 23.
Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer informed Marcos and his runningmate Sara Duterte Carpio that 28 out of 31 mayors of Negros Occidental are supporting them, at a breakfast meeting also attended by the UniTeam senatorial candidates at Stonehill Suites in Bacolod City Wednesday morning.
Not seen at the meeting were mayors Alfredo Marañon III of Sagay City, Salvador Escalante of Cadiz City and Gina Lizares of Sipalay City.
Negros Occidental representatives Gerardo Valmayor – 1st District, Francisco Benitez – 3rd District, Juliet Marie Ferrer – 4th district and Marilou Arroyo – 5th district, Rep. Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod), and former representatives Mercedes Alvarez and Alfredo Abelardo Benitez were present.
“I am overwhelmed by the expression of support and trust that you have given the UniTeam,” Marcos told the Negros Occidental officials.
“Our call for unity has started with many political forces coming together with the real understanding that unity is the first step towards progress,” he said.
“What we are all committed to is the betterment of the lives of ordinary Filipinos, especially after the pandemic,” he said, when focus must be made on reviving the economy.
Marcos, at the rally, said he will work to create more jobs, and improve the country’s economy and health services.
Their unity team is committed to continue the reforms started by the current administration, Carpio said, citing its build build build infrastructure development spending program.
Marcos said the huge crowds along the highway as his caravan drove from Silay City towards Bacolod City, and at the reclamation area shows the people’s support their call for unity.
People on the side of the road shouted “BBM, BBM” as the song “Bagong Lipunan”, which became famous during the Ferdinand Marcos Sr. era, played in the background. However, amid the festive mood a small group in Talisay City was heard shouting “magnanakaw, magnanakaw (thief, thief)” as Marcos’ caravan drove by.
Ferrer claimed that the crowd at the reclamation hit their target of 80,000 and thousands more lined the streets from Silay to Bacolod.
“If you ask me the elections are over…but let us not stop supporting the UniTeam“, he said.
The rally participants arrived on busses, sugarcane trucks and jeepneeys early Wednesday afternoon.
The vice governor led the crowd in singing “Bagong Silang,” another song from the Marcos Sr. era.
UniTeam senatorial candidates at the rally were former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista, lawyer Larry Gadon, Deputy House Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, former senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, former Public Works chief Mark Villar, former defense chief Gilbert Teodoro, former Information and Communications Technology secretary Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, and movie actor Robin Padilla.*