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| Sen. Bongbong Marcos is mobbed by supporters in front of the Provincial Capitol in Laoag City. |
BATAC CITY—A show of force “on the road to Malacañang” have awakened in this northern gateway of Luzon on February 9 as the official launching of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago(MDS) and her running mate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. (BBM) was held in Ilocos Norte.
John Marvin Galat, 19, president of the Debate Society of the top performing Mariano Marcos State University in Batac said a ‘great wall’ of support is being prepared by the Miriam-Bongbong Youth Movement (MBYM) in Ilocos to solidify their victory.
“As we continue to integrate into the knowledge economy, we need leaders who can harness young people’s potentials to help make the Philippines competitive vis-à-vis other countries. We believe that Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Bongbong Marcos are best fit to lead our country to progress and to redeem us from the evils of corruption, crime, and inefficient leadership. Brilliant and brave, both of them perfectly capture our young people’s imagination and cooperation to build a Philippines better than what we live in today,” said MBYM statement, which Mr. Galat himself serves as president.
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| Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago at the Mariano Marcos State University campus in Batac City. |
Created in December 2015, the MBYM, which started from a group of friends with over 200 members, is actively engaged in information drive using various multi-media platforms.
“Both of them have a solid reputation in public service, having enacted laws that empower students and the youth. And both of them have a clear agenda for the education sector. As they have our full support, we trust that they will not fail us,” said the group as they eagerly await the two in their first public appearance as a team on February 9 here in this city.
“I support MDS because of her brilliance and courage. As a debater, she is one of my idols. I support BBM because of his proven track record both in executive and legislative. On the personal side, his son Vince was my grade school classmate and friend when they still lived in Paoay. So, I know sir BBM not only as a great leader but as a good father as well,” explained Mr. Galat.
To emphasize the “North-South” coalition, Ms. Santiago who is a strong political force in the South, coming from Iloilo, decided to kick off the campaign with Mr. Marcos at the latter’s bailiwick in Ilocos Norte. After the proclamation rally and media interview at the Batac mansion, the team graced an open forum with students at the MMSU Teatro Ilocandia.
“We are inviting as many students to participate and listen to what they can offer to us, the students and the youth. Specifically, we want more budget for education, programs that will make the youth competitive with our counterparts and a smooth transition of the K-12 program,” said Jomil Jade Agullana, 20, senior student of BS Electronics Engineering of MMSU and presently the president of the University Student Council (USC).
He clarified that the student-organized activity facilitated by the USC is purely meant to give students informed choices and not to endorse any candidate.
“Our solidarity as Ilocanos is highly ingrained in our culture. I hope the solid north will deliver sir Bongbong’s fate to lead Malacañang as it did well for the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos and former first lady Imelda,” Mr. Agullana added.