LAKAS-Christian Muslim Democrats President and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Tingog Party-list yesterday vowed to deliver the full political weight of Eastern Visayas behind the administration’s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate during a mammoth rally in Tacloban City attended by the region’s powerhouse leaders and grassroots movers.
“Ngayong hapon, sa gitna ng ating rehiyon, nagsasama-sama tayo hindi lang bilang mga botante, hindi lang bilang mga partidong pulitikal, kundi bilang iisang sambayanan na may iisang layunin: ang isulong ang Bagong Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaisa, pagkilos, at paninindigan,” said Romualdez.
“Pinangungunahan ng Tingog Party-list, kasama ang Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, at sa ilalim ng matatag at malinaw na pamumuno ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., ang pagtitipong ito ay hindi lang kampanya, ito ay deklarasyon. Deklarasyon ng Eastern Visayas na tayo ay buo, tayo ay matatag, at tayo ang mangunguna sa panalo ng Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas,” Romualdez added.
The rally was hosted by both Lakas-CMD led by Speaker Romualdez as party president and Tingog Party-list of Reps. Yedda K. Romualdez and Jude Acidre.
Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, a stalwart of President Marcos’ Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), and Southern Leyte Gov. Damian Mercado of Lakas-CMD led local officials in attending the event.
Among those who attended the rally were House Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo, Sen. Francis Tolentino, and former Interior Sec. Benhur Abalos, while Makati City Mayor Abby Binay and Sen. Bong Revilla were represented by Makati Councilor Jong Hilario and Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado Revilla, respectively. Other senatorials candidates also sent their representatives.
The Alyansa ng Bagong Pilipinas slate also includes Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao, Tito Sotto, and Camille Villar.
Rep. Yedda Romualdez hailed the presence of leaders from Eastern Visayas, saying, “This is a coalition of conviction.”
“Kapag ang layunin ay para sa bayan, hindi hadlang ang partido. Ang mahalaga ay pagkakaisa sa ilalim ng iisang bisyon, isang Bagong Pilipinas,” Rep. Yedda Romualdez noted.
Acidre emphasized that Region 8’s endorsement carries not only electoral weight but moral force.
“These local and community leaders are the conscience of their barangays. They know the needs on the ground. Their trust means these candidates have passed the test of local leadership,” said Acidre.
Acidre said the huge turnout means a united front for Eastern Visayas.
He said that the rally is a “governance meeting ground-level wisdom.”
“You don’t get a crowd of this scale without deep trust and shared purpose,” said Acidre.
“This is not simply about winning an election: it’s about building the kind of Senate that understands local realities and national aspirations,” Acidre added.
“Mga kababayan, itong rally ay higit pa sa pagpapakilala ng mga kandidato. Ito ay pagtitibay ng ating panata bilang mga lingkod-bayan at mamamayang Pilipino,” Romualdez said.
“Hindi po ito mga bagong pangalan sa pulitika. Pero ang dala nila ay bagong sigasig, bagong malasakit, at bagong pangako ng pagkilos para sa mas maayos na kinabukasan ng bawat Pilipino,” Romualdez stressed.
“Ang Eastern Visayas ay may tatlong milyong rehistradong botante. Kapag tayo ay nagkaisa, tayo ang makapagpapasaya ng kapalaran ng halalan. Kaya’t ngayong kampanya, hindi lang po tayo kalahok –tayo ang magiging direksyon,” he continued.
