GUIGUINTO, Bulacan – Wowed by the huge turnout of supporters at the Guiguinto Municipal Arena, here, officials expressed their confidence Tuesday that the UniTeam tandem of presidential candidate former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte will best their respective rivals in the vote-rich province.
“Kitang-kita po sa dami ng mga nagpunta ngayon dito kung ano ang pulso ng Bulacan,” said Vice Governor Willy Sy-Alvarado, a gubernatorial candidate, referrring to the massive rally attended by Marcos and Duterte.
In his speech at the Guguinto campaign rally, Sy-Alvarado proudly introduced former senator as “the next president of the Philippines” and “the captain of the ship”.
“Isa pong malaking karangalan na ipagkaloob sa inyo ang susunod na pangulo ng ating bansa, ang magiging kapitan ng barko na siya pong magtatawid sa atin upang marating natin ang ating pangarap na kapayapaan at kaunlaran para sa ating bayan,” he said as the rally attendants roared in approval.
Marcos is the standard-bearer of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), while Duterte is the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats’ (CMD) bet for the vice presidency.
Another local official who was stunned by the large and lively crowd was Guiguinto Mayor Boy Cruz.
Cruz, who is running for a seat in the House of Representatives, said the rally organizers informed him of the event just two days ago.
It is for this reason that he only expected a modest crowd for the rally.
But when he finally saw the turnout of people, he “had goosebumps”.
“Alam po ninyo noong tawagan tayo para magpapa-meeting dito dalawang araw lang, sabi ko, ‘Ano kami, magic?’ Pero natamaan ang buong lalawigan
kung gaano ko kamahal si BBM at Sara, kaya narito kayong lahat,” Cruz recounted.
‘Tumitindig ang aking balahibo, damang-dama ng buong lalawigan ng Bulacan kung papaano niyo minahal ang BBM-Sara,” added Cruz.
The Guiguinto rally was the first of three UniTeam rallies scheduled Tuesday in Bulacan.
The other two were to be carried put at the Meycauayan College Annex, Barangay Malhacan in Meycauayan; and at the open space, Barangay Santa Clara in Sta. Maria.
Filipino rap legend Andrew E. performed for the crowd in Guiguinto.
A key province in Luzon, Bulacan has an estimated two million registered voters.
Marcos won in Bulacan during the 2016 vice presidential race.
