ABRA, Philippines – “Hindi ako naging pulitiko para gayahin ang aking ama.” (I did not enter politics to be my father’s copycat.)
This was how vice presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr stressed on Wednesday, February 10, that he is his own man, when asked what legacies of his father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, he intended to continue.
He acknowledged, however, that his father greatly influenced his principles in governance. Should he be elected, the younger Marcos said he would be guided by his father’s belief of how nation building should be done.
“Pagandahin ang lipunan ng Pilipinas. Pagtibayin natin ang ating ekonomiya (Improve Philippine society by strengthening the economy). We are putting together different elements to build a progressive, vibrant, and compassionate society,” he told local officials in Abra on Wednesday.
“These are elements of nation building na nakakalimutan na ng ating gobyerno. Ito ang akin ipapaalala (forgotten by our government that I will revive),” he added.
But Marcos Jr stressed that 2016 will be his time to deliver his own brand of leadership.
“Ang Pilipinas ay iba na. Ang mundo ay iba na. Ang batas ay iba na.” (The Philippines is different. The world is different. The law is different.)
“We need to think of new solutions, new projects,” he said in Filipino.
Northern Luzon is known for its solid vote for the Marcos family because of how the departed Marcos uplifted the lives of the Ilocanos and brought the province’s name to national significance.
Marcos Jr was received warmly throughout the Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur legs of the first week of his campaign since Tuesday.
In a bid to seal the Ilocano vote, Marcos made the rounds of Ilocos Sur, with Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson endorsing him. Singson accompanied Marcos in his home city of Vigan and in nearby Abra province.
Romualdez in Ilocos
Marcos’ maternal cousin, Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez, joined him in his sorties since the start of the campaign on Tuesday in Batac, Ilocos Norte. A senatorial candidate, Romualdez wooed Ilocanos by reinforcing his association with the Marcos family.
“Baka nagtataka kayo, sino ba itong Romualdez na ito? Ito ang ipagmamalaki ko, kung walang Romualdez, walang Bongbong. Dahil Ferdinand Marcos, sino ang asawa ni Ferdinand Marcos? Imelda Romualdez Marcos,” said Romualdez, the son of former Leyte Governor Kokoy Romualdez, Imelda's brother.
(Maybe you are wondering who this Romualdez is. I will emphasize that, without a Romualdez, there is no Bongbong. Because Ferdinand Marcos’ wife is Imelda Romualdez Marcos.)
Romualdez said voters should elect another Romualdez to the Senate because the current Romualdez there – Bongbong Marcos – is about to become vice president.
“Kaya dapat ipasok natin ang Romualdez sa equation dito. Aakyat na siya bilang bise presidente. Kailangan ipasok mo na rin ang isang Romualdez. Ang Romualdez at Marcos, partners 'yan,” he added.
(That’s why we need to include the Romualdez in the equation. Bongbong will now ascend to the vice presidency. We need to install a Romualdez because the Romualdezes and Marcoses are partners.)
The senatorial candidate is hoping the so-called solid north vote would boost his rating, which is currently at only 13%, based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. – Rappler.com