BONGBONG MARCOS GETS SOLID WARAY SUPPORT IN HOMECOMING

Vice Presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. has clinched a virtual "homecourt win" when he got the solid support of the Warays in the whole of Eastern Visayas.

In a gathering of all the barangay captains in the three-island region, Marcos was given the red carpet welcome at the Doña Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation College in Tacloban City marked by thunderous applauses and cheers.

He was accompanied by his mother, former First Lady and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Romualdez Marcos, a native of Tacloban, and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, who is running for the Senate.

The occasion was also attended by community leaders and representatives from various people's organizations in Region 8.

The region consists of the provinces of Biliran, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Leyte and Southern Leyte. It has more than 2.6 million registered voters.

Interviewed separately, barangay captains from Leyte said they are behind the candidacy of Marcos because he is "their very own" and they believe in his programs for the people.

Chairman Benjamin Dumaguit of Barangay Catmonan, Dulag town, Leyte said he has always admired and supported Marcos because he understood the problems of the barangays and the ordinary Filipinos.

"Kailangan manalo siya na Bise Presidente kasi alam namin na makakatulong siya para magawan ng solusyon ang aming mga problema katulad ng mataas na presyo ng mga bilihin, dagdag na benepisyo para sa mga senior citizen at ilegal na droga," said Chairman Archie Magos of Barangay Market Site in Leyte.

Chairwoman Imelda Camposano of Barangay Tabo, also in Leyte, believed that Marcos will implement all his programs that will benefit the people.

The former First Lady, acknowledged by her fellow Warays as "the Mother of Region 8," also spoke during the gathering as she called on them to unite and support her son and nephew. She said it is a about time the whole country return to its path for greatness.

"Kailangan tayo magkaisa muli...kailangan magmahalan tayo hindi lang para sa ating kinabukasan kundi (upang) our nation will be great again," Mrs. Marcos said in her native Waray language.

Rep. Martin Romualdez, for his part, said the people of Biliran, Samar, and Leyte attended the meeting because of Senator Marcos.

"Leyte loves you, Samar loves, Region 8 loves you...maugong na ikaw ang susunod na Bise Presidente dahil tama ang iyong mensahe ng unity," he said in introducing the Senator.

Marcos was visibly overwhelmed and humbled by the gesture of huge support given to him by the Warays.

"Tama pala ang kasabihan na 'there is no place like home.' Kaya ngayon lang kami nagpunta dito because we want to save the best for last," he said explaining why he visited the region in the homestretch of the campaign.

Aside from asking for support, Marcos also urged them to join him in his movement for national unity.

"Matagal na tayong pinaghiwa-hiwalay, pinag-aaway-away dahil sa politika. Dapat baguhin na natin yan. Panahon na ng pagkakaisa, dapat magtulungan tayo dahil ang isang nagkakaisang Pilipino lang ang makakatulong sa ating bansa," Marcos concluded.