UNITEAM. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte (1st and 2nd from left) kick off their nationwide campaign for president and vice president, respectively, at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on Tuesday (Feb. 8, 2022). They were joined by their senatorial candidates, led by former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (3rd from left). (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)
BOCAUE, Bulacan – “Fly, soar, fight, and win”
Calling on Filipinos to be like the mighty eagle, vice-presidential aspirant Sara Duterte said they should never give up.
“Stand tall, united, and be resilient,” Duterte said during the UniTeam proclamation rally at the Philippine Arena here on Tuesday.
The outgoing Davao City mayor said she want three things for Filipinos -- jobs and livelihood, quality education, and a peaceful life.
“Tatlo lang, pero hindi madali. At hindi po tayo susuko. Magpupursigi po tayo dahil mahal natin ang Pilipinas (Just three things but they won’t be easy. But we will not give up. We will persevere because we love the Philippines),” she said.
“Nakita namin firsthand ang hirap na pinagdadaanan ng ating mga kababayan (We saw firsthand the struggles of our countrymen), despite the overwhelming support of our government and the private sector. Pero wala’y mupildi sa Pilipino. Parang pagmomotorsiklo sa buong Pilipinas, lisod, pero (But no one can defeat the Filipino. It's like riding on a motorcycle all over the Philippines, it's hard, but) we can do better. Government can do better. We shall stand tall, united, and resilient,” she said.
Duterte was referring to the Typhoon Odette devastation she saw in communities during her “Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride” in the Visayas and Mindanao.
She said the past two years have been “a very challenging time for everyone of us”.
“Kung ano man ang problema na meron tayo noon, pinalala pa ito ng (Whatever problems we had before, they were made worse by the) pandemic,” she said.
But Duterte said the country “shall move forward”.
“We will live with Covid and we will bounce back like never before,” she said.
Duterte said her tandem with presidential bet, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is “endowed with wisdom and experience”.
She said she believes in Marcos’ abilities to lead, owing from his vast experience as a local chief executive and legislator.
Such experiences, Duterte said, is needed to “not only sustain the growth and development spurred by the current administration, but also bring us to a more prosperous future”.
“We must protect President Bongbong Marcos,” she added.
Proclamation rallies of national candidates signaled the start of the 90-day campaign leading to the May 9 polls.
UniTeam’s senatorial candidates are Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, lawyer Larry Gadon, House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, ex-senator Jinggoy Estrada, former Public Works secretary Mark Villar, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, former Defense secretary and ex-Tarlac congressman Gilbert Teodoro, former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista, and former Information and Communications Technology secretary and ex-senator Gringo Honasan.
Duterte said she also supports the Senate bid of her friends actor Robin Padilla, former presidential spokesperson and legal counsel Sal Panelo, former senator and outgoing Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero, retired national police chief Guillermo Eleazar, former vice president Jojo Binay, former senator JV Ejercito, and incumbent Senator Joel Villanueva. (PR/With a report from Lade Kabagani)
