THE senatorial candidates of the “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas” have reached the finish line of the grueling 90-day campaign period for the May 12 midterm elections.
The administration’s senatorial ticket will hold its miting de avance today at 6 p.m. at Nueve de Febrero corner Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City, the bailiwick of former interior secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., who is part of Alyansa’s senatorial ticket.
The Alyansa has been working double time to pull the ratings of some of its candidates who have been lagging behind in surveys such as Abalos, reelectionist Sen. Francis Tolentino and former senator Manny Pacquiao.
“This miting de avance is the final rallying cry of a campaign powered by the people,” said campaign manager Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco.
“From the first rally in Laoag to the final stage in Mandaluyong, the message has been the same Filipinos want a Senate that delivers for them,” he added.
Since launching its campaign on Feb. 11 in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte – the bailiwick of the Marcos clan – Alyansa has held 15 other high-energy rallies across the country, each led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The other Alyansa members are reelectionist Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Pia Cayetano and Lito Lapid; former senators Panfilo Lacson and Vicente Sotto III; Rep. Erwin Tulfo (ACT-CIS); Makati City Mayor Abby Binay and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar.
During the miting de avance, the candidates will have the final opportunity to discuss their platforms and convince voters to support them since the election period will officially end on Saturday.
Some Alyansa candidates attended a grand rally of the Tingog party-list in Tacloban City, Leyte.
The “unity rally” held at the Tacloban Astrodome was graced by Speaker Martin Romualdez, husband of Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez, the region’s governors, district congressmen mayors and other local officials.
Among the governors who attended the event was Damian Mercado (Lakas, Southern Leyte).
The event was also attended by some 10,000 community leaders and volunteers.
The Speaker aimed to deliver some three million Waray votes for the administration’s senatorial candidates by consolidating the support of all political parties in the Eastern Visayas allied with the administration.
“We believe in leadership that listens, in governance that includes. That’s what each of these 11 candidates represent, and that is why we will work day and night to send them to the Senate,” Tingog said in a statement.
Tolentino and Abalos were able to attend the event, along with Tulfo while Binay was represented by TV host and Makati City Councilor Jong Hilario, who sang and danced for the crowd after discussing Binay’s achievements as mayor.
Cayetano was represented by lawyer Jacqueline Gan while Revilla’s wife Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla represented him in the event.
“This is the unified voice of a region that has found strength and clarity in President Bongbong R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of a Bagong Pilipinas. When leadership takes root in the grassroots, governance flourishes at the national level,” Tingog said.
Before the grand rally, Tingog led a motorcade through Tacloban City.
Just last Wednesday, Marcos joined Alyansa and local officials in a campaign rally at the Bulacan State University in Malolos City.
Pacquiao thanked Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando and Vice Governor Alex Castro formally for vowing to rally local leaders and constituents behind the administration slate.
Last Tuesday, Pacquiao and bumped into a rival senatorial candidate, former senator Paolo Benigno Aquino, during a campaign stop in Butuan City.
The crowd erupted in cheers as Pacquiao and Aquino hugged in front of their supporters.
Aquino, a member of the opposition, smiled as he approached Pacquiao and exchanged pleasantries with the boxing icon.
In Cavite, Dasmariñas Mayor Jenny Barzaga and her Team Dasma slate endorsed Binay’s senatorial bid.
Binay, a daughter of former Vice President Jejomar Binay, vowed to work to give regular salaries and pensions to barangay officials if elected.
Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, a stalwart of Marcos’ Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), said Eastern Samar is for the Alyansa ticket because “we need are leaders in the Senate who will fight for development in the regions, uphold local voices and ensure that progress is shared across the country.”
“These are our barangay leaders telling us who they trust. And the answer is clear: they want senators who will partner with them, not leave them behind. Our support for the Alyansa slate is grounded in hope. We will hold these candidates to the same standard of excellent service we ask of ourselves,” Evardone told reporters.
