THE BBM-Sara UniTeam caravan held in Quezon City as a show of force for the Marcos-Duterte tandem’s drawing power in Metro Manila, drew hundreds of thousands of people on Wednesday, according to the UniTeam camp, which noted how this reinforced survey results showing them leading the race in the National Capital region.
The motorcade was meant to be a show of force of supporters of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte.
Traffic was stalled along major thoroughfares in Quezon City, but motorists and passers-by eagerly waited for the vehicle bearing Marcos and Duterte and honked, while crowds chanted “Bongbong-Sara!”
What was described as a sea of humanity came in their trademark red and green T-shirts. Thousands of Angkas and Joy Ride riders clad in blue took a day off to join the motorcade.
Taxi drivers and other public utility vehicle drivers also stopped plying their routes temporarily and patiently waited for the motorcade. Some people filled footbridges, while others stood atop vehicles for a clearer view of Marcos and Duterte.
Sirens of firefighters and marching bands playing along the route dominated the festive mood.
People lined up on the streets waving the Philippine flag and shouting, “Marcos Pa Rin, Marcos Pa Rin!”—a slogan made famous by supporters of Bongbong’s father in the 80s.
The five-hour motorcade began along Commonwealth Avenue in front of the Commission on Audit (COA) and ended at Welcome Rotonda.
“Lakasan natin ang ating sigaw ng ating sinasabi na ipagpatuloy ang pagkakaisa ng Pilipinas. Ang pagpili po ninyo kay Marcos at Duterte ay boto ninyo para sa pagkakaisa, para sa mas mabuti at mas magandang kinabukasan ng ating bansa,” Marcos told his supporters.
Marcos Jr., who won hands down in Quezon City during his vice presidential bid in 2016, is seen by supporters to dominate the presidential race in Metro Manila and other vote-rich regions.
A 72-year-old man watching the caravan along Quezon Avenue, Francisco Moral, was on the verge of tears as he reminisced the days when he was a rabid supporter of the late strongman, who was ousted by a People Power revolt in 1986.
Another senior citizen said, “They can never put a good man down.”
“They said it was People Power that ousted the Marcoses then; now it’s clear it’s also People Power that will install Bongbong Marcos as the next president,” he added.
Meanwhile, Atty. Vic Rodriguez, Marcos’s chief of staff and spokesperson, thanked Mayor Joy Belmonte and other city officials, the caravan organizers, and the residents, regardless of their political belief, for their support.
Rodriguez also apologized to the motorists and the MMDA for the traffic the event created “because we never anticipated that the carefully laid down preparation exerted by the organizers will be overwhelmed by the massive number of supporters who graced the occasion.”