By Jennifer P. Rendon, Rjay Zuriaga Castor, and Mariela Angella Oladive
Thousands of Ilonggos welcomed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as he arrived Tuesday for the grand rally of the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates at the Gaisano Capital-Iloilo City Center grounds in Mandurriao district.
The event followed Alyansa’s first political rally on Feb. 11 at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag, Marcos’ home province. The slate includes former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Makati Mayor Abigail Binay, Senator Pia Cayetano, former Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senator Lito Lapid, boxing icon and former senator Manny Pacquiao, Senator Bong Revilla, former Senate President Tito Sotto, Senator Francis Tolentino, Representative Erwin Tulfo, Representative Camille Villar, and Senator Imee Marcos.
Iloilo City Lone District Cong. Julienne “Jam” Baronda led around 20,000 supporters in welcoming the president and 12 senatorial candidates.
“PBBM and most of the senatorial candidates have extended infrastructure and soft projects to our beloved Ilonggos. It is our time to be grateful by making them feel the love of the City of Love,” Cong. Baronda said. “That is why Team Sulong Gugma, including former Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Love Baronda, and DP-FORCE-GMZ, is here to join our people in welcoming them.”
Clad in white, vice mayoralty candidate Love Baronda and Team Sulong Gugma councilor aspirants—Doc Von Deveza, Atty. Kesha Pesina Tupas, Pastor Stanley “Big Bro” Flores, Peter Oñate, GM Ariete Ramos, Jun Capulot, Mor Espinosa, Atty. Boots Gerochi, Sheen Marie Mabilog, and Bryant Zulueta—joined Rep. Jam Baronda and former Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who led their red-clad supporters in welcoming Marcos and the candidates.
“The heart of the Philippines made the president and the 12 senatorial candidates feel the love of the people this Valentine’s and in return for the gugma (love) of the government that we have been receiving,” leading vice mayoralty bet Love Baronda said.
Seeking ‘Yellow Country’ Votes
It was initially estimated that the rally crowd will be at about 50,000, but later reports from the Philippine National Police placed attendance at 35,000 as of 5 p.m. The Iloilo City Operations Center pegged the number at 20,000.
While Iloilo and the rest of Panay Island have been a Liberal Party stronghold in past elections, Alyansa candidates expressed optimism about gaining votes in the vote-rich Western Visayas region.
Iloilo City has around 319,000 registered voters, while Iloilo province has approximately 1.6 million.
Senator Imee Marcos acknowledged the province’s political history but emphasized the need to separate politics from governance.
“Para sa akin, isang bagay ‘yung pulitika… isang bagay ang pamamahala ng pamahalaan. On one hand, you have politics that comes every election period. On one hand, there’s governance. Nandyan ‘yung public service,” she said.
She urged an end to political division after elections.
“Pagkatapos ng election, pack up na ‘yan. Wala nang away-away. Isantabi na ang pagbanat sa isa’t isa,” she said.
Despite discouragement from some quarters about campaigning in Iloilo, Imee Marcos said she remains committed to engaging with the province’s voters.
“Ang sabi ng iba, desperado ka yata. Punta ka nang punta d’yan. Wala ka namang boto d’yan. At talagang Dilaw ang mga tao d’yan. Pero ‘di ako naniniwala d’yan. Loyalty is also earned,” she said.
She added that consistent public service could help win over Ilonggos.
“If nakita naman na nagseserbisyo ka at nakita naman na may malasakit ka at may tulong ka, palagay ko makukumbinsi naman,” she said.
In the 2019 senatorial elections, Imee Marcos received 230,000 votes from Iloilo.
Alyansa Candidates Appeal for Support
Former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos pointed out that no Ilonggo candidate was running for senator this year and urged voters to support the Alyansa slate.
“Kaya sana hinihiling ko na ampunin niyo kaming labing-dalawa,” he said.
Rep. Erwin Tulfo noted that Alyansa candidates could still gain ground since only a handful of senatorial bets are running under the Liberal Party banner.
Iloilo was among the 15 provinces where LP’s Leni Robredo won in the 2022 presidential election. She received 579,525 votes, while Marcos secured 374,144. In the 2016 vice presidential race, Marcos garnered 127,434 votes in Iloilo, significantly lower than Robredo’s 706,052.
Former Senator Manny Pacquiao, meanwhile, vowed to secure funding for sustainable livelihood programs to boost small and medium enterprises (SMEs), emphasizing their role in job creation.
Speaking at the rally, Pacquiao highlighted the importance of financial support for local businesses to generate employment opportunities.
