Reelectionist Manila 1st district Rep. Manny Lopez has assured the victories of presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos and vice presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in Tondo--the birthplace of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, who is another Palace hopeful.
"Ngayon pa lang sinasabi na po namin sa inyo (Duterte) na dito sa dakilang bayan namin sa Tondo ay masisiguro po namin na kayo ay magwawagi (I can tell you now that in our great town of Tondo, your victory is assured)," Lopez told the Tondo crowd during the launch of his local campaign Friday night, March 25.
Mayor Duterte was on hand during the event, while Marcos was in a similar political activity 483 kilometers up north in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
"Mapalad tayo dahil sa inyong mainit na pagtanggap, dalawang beses na tayong binisita ni Mayor Inday Sara dahil ipinakita ninyo at ipinamalas ninyo kung papaano n'yo siya minahal at hindi tayo magtatapos dito, sa Mayo a nuwebe, huwag n'yo pong kakalimutan si Inday Sara Duterte (We're fortunate because of your warm welcome, we've now been visited twice by Mayor Inday Sara because you've shown her how much you love her. But it does not end here, on May 9th, don't forget Inday Sara Duterte)," Lopez said.
Tondo is often depicted in both television and movies as a depressed area with tough, resilient residents who represent the heart of Manila, if not the entire Philippine masses.
Tondo-born Moreno and his running mate, Doc Willie Ong, also born in Manila, lag behind the UniTeam tandem of Marcos and Mayor Duterte in pre-election surveys.