BICOLANOS ECHO BONGBONG MARCOS' CALL FOR UNITY

The call for national unity of Vice Presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. was warmly accepted by Bicolanos as they all agreed that it is what the country needs at this point in its history.

This developed as Albay Governor Joey Salceda warmly received Marcos in the provincial capitol when his Unity Caravan rolled into the province Friday afternoon. Salceda who is Liberal Party affiliated together with Vice Governor Harold Imperial, wished the Senator the best in his Vice Presidential bid.

In a separate meeting, Marcos' fellow Nacionalista Party (NP) member Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara said he completely agrees with the unity advocacy of the Senator because of the many problems and challenges facing the nation.

Marcos said unity should reign in order to get the country moving forward.

"I could not agree with you more on your message of unity because we really need to unite this country," Bichara expressed in reply.

Bichara is a longtime friend of Marcos, going back to their days as neophyte members of the House of Representatives in the 9th Congress.

The Bicol Region is the so-called bailiwick of Marcos' rival candidates for the Vice Presidency with two of them also members of the NP.

But Bichara said Marcos could very well be the next President because of his solid track record in public service spanning 27 years.

"Paano ito?" Bichara asked his fellow Bicolanos.

"Doon tayo sa mananalo!" Bichara answered his own query to the crowd's delight, citing Marcos' topping of nearly all major and minor surveys.

Addressing the crowd which was composed of mostly local barangay officials, Marcos thanked them for their warm welcome and gave his report on the Barangay Retirement Benefits Bill that he has been championing.

"The said bill, if approved into law, would mean a lump sum retirement package in the amount of P100,000 for all graduating barangay officials while the rest of the barangay workers would receive a windfall of P50,000 upon retirement."

One of the female barangay officials could not help but remark on Marcos' bill: "Kapag ito'y matupad, sana ikaw ay maging Presidente," and the wishful remark received a roaring applause from the crowd.