167 lawmakers, including former Pres. Arroyo grace Tagum BPSF

House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Official facebook page of the House of Representatives of the Philippines)

TAGUM, Davao del Norte — It seems that the spirit of unity within administration’s allies is still alive as over 167 House of Representatives members participated in the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) here, including no less than former president and incumbent Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

During the BPSF program at the Davao del Norte provincial capitol, Romualdez said he did not expect to have a ‘quorum’ when Congress’ session has been adjourned.

Aside from Romualdez and Arroyo, the BPSF in Tagum was graced by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speakers Duke Frasco, Antonio Albano, Yasser Alonto Balindong, and Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe.

“Hanggang ngayon hindi ko akalaing magkakaroon tayo ng quorum dito sa Tagum.  Ngayon lang ‘to nangyari na 167 an kongresista ay nandito.  Tayo naman kayo, pasalamat ako sa kanilang lahat dahil (sa kanilang) suporta sa Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair at para sa Davao del Norte.  Historic po talaga ito,” Romualdez said.

(Up to now I cannot believe that we will have a quorum here in Tagum.  This is the first time that it happened, please stand, for I will thank you for supporting the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair at Davao del Norte.  This is historic.)

“Hindi ko nga alam kung ba’t nandito kayong lahat, nakalimutan niyo bang nag-adjourn tayo sine die?  Naka-break tayo lahat […] pero nakikita ninyo dito sa Tagum City, ang buong 19th Congress, pinapakita ang pagmamahal ng lahat ng kongresista, sa mga tiga Davao.  So mahal na mahal talaga ng buong 19th Congress ang lalawigan ng Davao del Norte at ‘yong buong rehiyon dito,” he added.

(I don’t know why you are here, have you forgotten that we are on a break, that we adjourned sine die?  But you can see here in Tagum City, the whole 19th Congress, they are showing how much they love the people of Davao.  So the 19th Congress really loves the province of Davao del Norte and the whole Davao Region.)

Romualdez also paid tribute to his mentor, Arroyo, who attended the BPSF for the first time.

Romualdez also looked back at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s campaign in Davao del Norte, particularly in Tagum — saying that the BPSF’s goal of bringing national government programs closer to the people has been the Chief Executive’s goal even before he was elected in 2022.

 “Masaya ako at ito po talaga ang pinag-uusapan noon pa, parang kahapon lang ang kampanya ni President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. dito sa Tagum, sa Davao del Norte.  Tama po, masaya po talaga tayo, ‘yon po ang mensahe ninya ‘di ba?” Romualdez, who was a central figure in the campaign team of Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, said.

(I am happy because this is what we have been discussing before, even if it seems that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s campaign here was only yesterday.  We are happy, because it has been his message, right?)

“Basta sama-sama tayo babangon muli, at nakikita natin, nagkakaisa tayo, hindi ba mas maganda ‘pag nagkakaisa tayo, hindi tayo nag-aaway?  Basta lahat ng problema, basta sama-sama tayo, maso-solve natin lahat,” he added.

(As long as we stand together, we can recover together, and we can see that we are united here, isn’t it better if we would be together, and refrain from fighting?  Any problem, as long as we are united, we can solve.)