Rivals seek heaven’s blessing

ENLISTING GOD’S HELP Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his mother, former first lady and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos (left photo), hear Mass in Baclaran, Parañaque, while his vice presidential rival, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, and her daughters attend Mass at Ateneo de Manila University’s Church of the Gesu in Quezon City. JILSON SECKLER TIU AND GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

BOTH Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo heard Sunday Mass on Sunday, hoping that divine intervention may tilt the tight vice presidential race in their favor.

Marcos went to the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran, Parañaque, and Robredo to the Church of the Gesu on the campus of Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.

The 12:30 p.m. Mass at Baclaran Church was offered for “katotohanan at integridad ng halalan (truth and the integrity of the elections),” said the invitation of Marcos’ campaign organizers.

But Marcos, along with eldest son Sandro and wife Louise, gave no indication that it was more than an ordinary Sunday Mass.

Also present were former first lady and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos and her nephew, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, who ran in the senatorial race.

It was learned that the Marcoses, particularly the matriarch Imelda, frequently heard Mass at Baclaran.

Pictures

As soon as Bongbong and his family got off their car, churchgoers started crowding and clicking away on their mobile phones, taking pictures of the Marcoses.

Even inside the church, people started chanting “Marcos,” and “BBM,” and had to be asked to stay quiet for the service celebrated by Fr. Ben Sy.

At the part of the Mass where churchgoers had to wish each other peace, Marcos rose from his seat and flashed  peace signs in greeting other churchgoers before approaching his mother who was seated on a pew across from his.

Sandro and Louise embraced the former first lady before returning to their seats next to the senator.

Churchgoers, who apparently support Marcos’ vice presidential bid, waited for the communion and took the opportunity to take pictures of the family.

The service wasn’t even over when people started crowding near the Marcoses’ pews. The crowd had to be held back by security personnel so the Marcoses could leave the church and board their vehicles.

With three daughters

A few hours after Marcos heard Mass in Baclaran, Robredo did the same at Ateneo’s Church of the Gesu at past 3 p.m.

The 51-year-old Robredo was accompanied by her daughters Aika, Tricia and Jillian, who each had a role in the Mass officiated by her spiritual adviser Fr. Manoling Francisco.

Nonpolitical homily

The Jesuit priest gave a nonpolitical homily and did not mention Robredo, focusing his talk on the “language of love” that empowers Christians to spread God’s message.

But he made passing references to politics and elected leaders and their role in speaking and communicating through the language of love. He also thanked God for the peaceful conduct of the elections.

Robredo is leading Marcos in partial and unofficial tallies by more than 200,000 votes but Marcos’ camp has raised doubts about the integrity of the results, including the introduction of unauthorized script on the transparency server.