House Speaker Martin Romualdez is pulling all the stops for Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas by organizing a grand rally Thursday, May 8 in Tacloban City, Leyte with the aim of capturing three million Waray votes for the administration-backed senatorial slate.

The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), the dominant political party in the country; and Tingog Party-list is behind the massive Eastern Visayas rally in Romualdez's backyard.

It will serve as the penultimate grand rally of the administration bets, with the scheduled rally in Mandaluyong City Friday being the last one before the conduct of the mid-term elections on Monday, May 12.

“Ang paninindigan ng Eastern Visayas ay malinaw: susuportahan namin ang mga kandidatong may malasakit, may bisyon, at may konkretong plano para sa bayan. Kapag nagkakaisa ang mga rehiyon, umuusad ang buong bansa. Ito ang ambag ng Eastern Visayas sa Bagong Pilipinas—isang pamahalaang nakaugat sa malasakit, pagkakaisa, at tunay na paglilingkod,” said Romualdez, Lakas-CMD president and Leyte 1st district congressman.

(The stance of Eastern Visayas is clear: we will support candidates who demonstrate compassion, vision, and concrete plans for the nation. When regions unite, the entire country progresses. This is Eastern Visayas’ contribution to the New Philippines—a government rooted in care, unity, and genuine service.) 

“Leadership must be rooted in love of country and service to others. On May 8, Region 8 declares: we stand for unity, not division; for service, not self-interest; for country—always,” added the House leader.

Comprising the Alyansa slate are former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III; former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benhur Abalos; former Senators Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao; Senators Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Francis Tolentino; Makati City Mayor Abby Binay; House Deputy Speaker Las Piñas City lone district Rep. Camille Villar; and House Deputy Majority Leader ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo. 

The rally is expected to draw the regions’ six provincial governors, 13 district lawmakers, at least 10,000 community leaders and volunteers, seven city mayors, and 136 municipal mayors from across political lines, signaling the strongest show of political force and regional unity in support of the administration’s 2025 midterm slate.

In short, it will be a true show of force for President Marcos' handpicked candidates.

“This is the unified voice of a region that has found strength and clarity in President Bongbong R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of a Bagong Pilipinas. When leadership takes root in the grassroots, governance flourishes at the national level,” said Tingog Party-list, represented by Reps. Yedda Romualdez and Jude Acidre.

The grand assembly will feature a motorcade through Tacloban City, followed by a unity program inside the Tacloban Astrodome, where all Alyansa senatorial candidates have been invited to present their platforms.

With three-million registered voters, Eastern Visayas is poised to become a game-changing political bloc in the 2025 elections.

“This gathering is not just participation—it’s declaration. Eastern Visayas will not only vote; we will lead,” Tingog said.

“We believe in leadership that listens, in governance that includes. That’s what each of these 11 candidates represent, and that is why we will work day and night to send them to the Senate,” the party added.

“When regions rise in unity, the nation moves forward. This is Eastern Visayas’ contribution to democratic renewal—a Philippines anchored on hope, action, and collective resolve,” Tingog said.

The invited 12 other Eastern Visayas lawmakers are Reps. Gerardo Espina Jr. (Biliran, Lakas-CMD), Maria Fe Abunda (Eastern Samar, Lakas-CMD), Lolita Javier (Leyte, Nacionalista Party), Anna Veloso-Tuazon (Leyte, National Unity Party), Richard Gomez (Leyte, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas), Carl Cari (Leyte, Lakas-CMD), Paul Daza (Northern Samar), Harris Ongchuan (Northern Samar, NUP), Stephen James Tan (Samar, Nacionalista Party), Reynolds Michael Tan (Samar, Lakas-CMD), Luz Mercado (Southern Leyte, Lakas-CMD), and Christopherson Yap (Southern Leyte, Lakas-CMD).

The six governors of Eastern Visayas—Gerard Roger M. Espina (Biliran, Lakas-CMD), Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar, PFP), Jericho Petilla (Leyte, NPC), Edwin Ongchuan (Northern Samar, PFP), Sharee Ann Tan (Samar, Nacionalista Party), and Damian Mercado (Southern Leyte, Lakas-CMD)—were also invited to the event.