TARLAC CITY, Tarlac--A Marcos has come to Tarlac.
Is it for this reason that city Mayor Cristy Angeles described the UniTeam mini-rally here Saturday, April 2 as "history in the making".
"History in the making po ito. Isang Marcos tumungtong dito sa lungsod ng Tarlac (This is history in the making. A Marcos has stepped foot in the city of Tarlac)," she said.
"Tapos na po ang away ng mga kulay. Nandidito tayo ngayon para magkaisa ng tunay (The battle of colors is over)...time to move on," Angeles said to loud cheers from the audience that packed the Tarlac City plaza outside the city hall.
The "Marcos" Angeles was referring to was UniTeam presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos, whom she has explicitly backed by referring to him as the country’s "next president".
The lady mayor, who introduced Marcos to the crowd, bowed several times to the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer on stage while flashing the Marcos's signature "V" handsign.
"Hindi masamang mangarap (It’s not bad to hope)," Angeles said before passing on the microphone to the city's guest of honor.
Marcos said that in his numerous visits here, this crowd was the "biggest, warmest, and noisiest."
For at least two times, Marcos's speech was interrupted with chants of "Panalo ka na (You've already won)," from Tarlaqueños.
A very appreciative Marcos said, "Tarlac City, pinapakita niyo ang tunay na pulso ng Tarlac, ng Pilipino (you are showing the true pulse of Tarlac, of Filipinos".
"Basta Pilipino, kakampi ko, kapatid ko (All Filipinos are my allies, my siblings)," added the Ilocano Palace aspirant, whose consistent message throughout the campaign has been that of "uniting" Filipinos in the name of progress and development.
Tarlac is the home province of the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., the political rival of Marcos's father, late strongman President Ferdinand Marcos.
The Marcos-Aquino rivalry launched the entire red vs. yellow movement that's often cited in Philippine politics.
After Marcos's speech, legendary singer Dulce performed "Ako ay Pilipino", a Filipino pop patriotic song written by George Canseco in 1981, under commission from First Lady Imelda Marcos. Imelda is Bongbong's mother.
The song became iconic during the 1986 EDSA Revolution, when, ironically, former President Marcos was overthrown in a peaceful revolt. Replacing Marcos in Malacañang following EDSA was ex-Senator Aquino's wife, the late former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino.
Also getting a surprisingly warm reception from local folk was Bongbong's running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. Like her May 2022 poll partner, Mayor Duterte also spoke about unity.
Asked about Marcos's chances in the province in the upcoming elections, Angeles said: "Nakita naman natin ang mainit na pagtanggap, pagsalubong sa kanya. Ganyan namin kamahal BBM...Buong Tarlac ganyan din, mainit din ang pagtanggap (We all saw our warm reception of him. That's how much we love BBM...the entirety of Tarlac is the same, the reception is also warm)."