LAOAG, Ilocos Norte--The country’s national language "will go back to Ilocano".
This was UniTeam presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos's tongue-in-cheek prediciton to his fellow Ilocanos here Friday night, March 25 during the campaign launch of local election candidates.
Bongbong the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer, was tasked to introduce the local candidates led by his son, aspiring Ilocos Norte congressman Sandro Marcos to thousands of supporters in front of the Provincial Capitol when he decided to "make a report".
"Mag-report muna ako sa inyo ng mga magagandang nangyayari sa kampanya para sa Mayo (Let me report first about the good developments in the campaign for this May)," said the elder Marcos, who continued to lead in pre-election surveys.
"I have to report na sa aking palagay ay may maganda tayong pag-asa dito sa darating na halalan sa Mayo (in my opinion, we have a good chance in the coming elections in May)," Bongbong said, before adding, "Magbabalik sa Ilocano ang national language (The national language will go back to Ilocano)."
The former senator alluded to the recent endorsements that his Palace bid received from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) Cusi wing and the National Unity Party (NUP).
"Nakakatuwa na masabi ko na talaga naman maganda at mainit ang pagtanggap ng mensahe natin, ng adhikain natin ng pagkakaisa. Kaya't dumadami nang dumadami ang ating mga kasama, dumadami nang dumadami ang nagpapakita ng pag-unawa (I'm happy to say that our message, our aim of unity has been received positively and warmly. That's why our allies, those who understand us are growing in number)," Bongbong said.