PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his adopted running mate Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio faced their supporters together for the first time since November 11 when they attended a wedding together. This, as the Partido Federal and the BBM-Sara Uniteam supporters mounted a series of caravans, which was attended by Bongbong and Sara in Davao Del Norte, the first since they separately announced their candidacy.
The BBM-Sara Uniteam supporters on Sunday displayed their initial strength by staging what they described as the caravans for peace, unity and progress.
The simultaneous BBM-Sara Uniteam cavalcade started at 8 a.m. in more than 30 cities and 15 provinces in Mindanao, Bicol Region, Calabarzon, Abra, certain provinces in Northern Luzon and Metro Manila.
Both aspirants faced supporters in Carmen and Tagum City, with the numbers swelling to more than 10,000 participants, practically turning the streets into a sea of red and green.
For the first time, the tandem addressed their supporters together and thanked them “for their support in our effort to rise again.” “We will rise again,” Marcos told the crowd.
“Let us protect our candidates, let us protect our President, and let us protect BBM,” Duterte-Carpio told supporters while calling for unity.
The two also led in the oath-taking of new officials and candidates of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), followed by the blessing and opening of the PFP headquarters in Tagum City.
“I’m really overwhelmed, just seeing the posts and live videos on social media by our supporters. I don’t know how to thank them for the effort they are showing,” Marcos said.
According to a report from the tandem’s political camp, tens of thousands also joined the caravan in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, the so-called “Solid North” traditionally behind the Marcos family.
Residents of Isabela also poured into the streets, while at least 15,000 BBM supporters trooped to the streets in Abra behind Abra Rep. JB Bernos and other local officials.
Residents of Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, and Bataan joined their respective “unity ride” to show support for the BBM-Sara Uniteam.
Thousands also joined the caravans in Bicol Region, Cavite, Batangas, Quezon and Laguna.
In Metro Manila, throngs of BBM-Sara Uniteam supporters from Parañaque, Quezon City, Caloocan, Pasay, and Manila held their own caravans, while a group of bikers organized a clean-up drive in Manila Bay along the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
“Unity Riders” from Visayas and Mindanao also took to the streets in Bacolod, Aklan, and Cagayan de Oro, where at least 10,000 individuals registered.
Some of the invitations posted on social media since Saturday also stressed that the supporters were not paid and were advised to follow minimum health protocols.