Warm welcome for Miriam, Bongbong in Marcos stronghold

Vice presidential bet Senator Bongbong Marcos holds a motorcade in his home province of Ilocos Norte during the start of the campaign period for national elections. NINO JESUS ORBETA/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

BATAC CITY, Ilocos Norte —Very few things can excite 77-year-old Eduardo Pinpin.

But on Tuesday morning, the start of the campaign period for the national elections, he eagerly awaited the homecoming of his personal and sentimental bet.

“I heard Apo Marcos is coming here. I was here before 7 a.m.,” said Pinpin, who sat by himself outside the Our Lady of Immaculate Concepcion Church.

“Apo” is an Ilocano term of respect for a prominent leader.

His eyes lit up at the prospect of seeing the man who he hopes would be the country’s next vice president—and in the future, its president.

Presidential aspirant Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and her running mate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will make their first appearance as a tandem in this city, the hometown of the latter’s father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

READ: Miriam Santiago: Give Bongbong Marcos a chance to redeem himself

Santiago reportedly wanted to emphasize the north and south coalition so she skipped having her kickoff campaign in her hometown in Iloilo City.

Residents went out the streets and musical numbers from students greeted the tandem’s motorcade from Laoag airport to the provincial capitol.

‘Marcos, the future president?’

Pinpin was aware of the corruption and human rights allegations against the older Marcos, whom he also voted for decades ago. But for him, it was more important that he brought progress.

“Maybe he had mistakes. But he contributed a lot — from economy, roads to hospitals,” he said.

READ: To young Filipinos who never knew martial law and dictatorship

He believes that the younger Marcos will not make the same mistake if ever he would win as vice president.

“If doing the same mistakes will lead him to his downfall, I know he will not repeat the same things,” Pinpin said.

READ: Bongbong distances self from dark Marcos years

In his old age, Pinpin said one of his wishes is to live long enough for Marcos to become President.

“I want him to become president. I miss having a Marcos as president. The children of Presidents Diosdado Macapagal and Corazon Aquino became presidents. Marcos should also have one,” he said.

Asked whom he would vote as President in this year’s elections, Pinpin answered: “Santiago, of course. He is Bongbong’s running mate. She is the brightest of the presidential aspirants.”

The younger Marcos is doing well in surveys, currently at second place among five aspirants.

Santiago, who is undergoing treatment for her stage 4 lung cancer but claims that it is now controlled, is doing poorly in polls.

She is banking on her strong social media following and support from the youth sector. Whether this will lead her to the highest position in the land or not remains to be seen. IDL