SEVERAL officials in Pampanga were seen onstage during the Uniteam Grand Rally held at the Robinsons Starmills open grounds in the City of San Fernando on Friday, April 29, 2022.
Among the elected officials who shared the stage with presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and runningmate Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio include former president and returning second district Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Governor Dennis Pinenda and Vice Governor Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda and the Pineda patriarch, Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda.
Also present were incumbent Second District Representative Mikey Arroyo, Third District Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Jr. and returning Fourth District Representative Anna York Bondoc, while several mayors were also reportedly in the area.
During the event, Macapagal-Arroyo, who was the lone local official to speak onstage, introduced Marcos to the huge crowd as “the next president of the Republic of the Philippines.”
“Mahal kong cabalen (kababayan), Kapampangan, mga kaibigan, sa ngalan ni Governor Delta Pineda, sa ngalan ni Vice Governor Nanay Baby Pineda, sa ngalan ng apat na congressmen ng Pampanga, sa ngalan ng dalawampung mayor ng Pampanga, ito na po ang susunod na Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.,” she said.
Despite this, the event ended without the traditional raising of hands among the candidates as a way of formally endorsing their respective candidacies.
In his speech, Marcos expressed gratitude to the local officials led by Macapagal-Arroyo and the Pinedas, and the Pampanga crowd for their warm welcome and support to him, Duterte and the whole Uniteam senatorial slate.
“Maraming-maraming salamat Pampanga sa napaka-init na salubong na inyong ibinigay sa UniTeam at sa tambalang Marcos at Duterte. Basta’t magiging totoo ‘yan, basta’t walang iwanan!” Marcos said.
Duterte-Carpio likewise thanked Pampanga officials for their support to the Marcos-Duterte tandem and their senatorial slate.
She also addressed the crowd who were chanting “Panalo ka na!” as she spoke onstage.
“Maraming salamat, mahal ko kayo. Mahalin natin ang Pilipinas! Kapag sinabi ng mga Kapampangan na panalo na ang Bisaya, malakas ang loob ko mananalo ako!” she said.
Unlike the Pampanga grand rally of Marcos' closest rival in the presidential race, Vice President Leni Robredo, organizers of the Uniteam Grand Rally did not release a crowd estimate during the event, saying they are not after the number of attendees.