CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — “So touching what you did. Daghang Salamat. I wish my husband were here to feel the love and the support that you gave him. I know I did,” a teary-eyed First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos responded after being presented with the Manifesto of Support for Bagong Pilipinas during the 455th Founding Anniversary of the Province of Cebu on August 5, 2024 at the Cebu Provincial Capitol in Cebu City.
Deeply moved by the gesture, the First Lady could not contain her emotions after saying twice that she might cry again after the 53 mayors from the province’s 44 municipalities, six component cities and three highly urbanized cities, as well as all the Representatives from seven congressional districts and the lone congressional district of Lapulapu City showed its full force by affixing their signatures on the manifesto as proof of solidarity in their expression of unwavering support for the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.
“Today, what you did, in the showing of unity, it’s really so touching. You know, it’s not perfect. My husband is really trying and sometimes I feel bad when people see all the negative and not the positive. It’s not easy what he’s doing, but unity has a lot to do with it,” Mrs. Marcos said.
The First Lady had a prepared speech, but decided to forego it and instead, spoke from her heart on what she sincerely felt inside.
“I’m never going to forget this day for as long as I live. It started with a tree planting and there’s a tree named after me,” she told the crowd of over 200 guests, comprised of mayors, governors from Region 6, 7 and 8, honorary consuls, regional directors, private sector partners, other local officials and the media.
In her parting statement, Mrs. Marcos said, “Mabuhi Cebu. Mabuhi Cebuanos. Sama sama tayo babangon muli” to which a loud applause resounded in the social hall.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, for her part, lauded the First Lady’s sincerity as she cast aside her speech and spoke from her heart.
“The First Lady is known “to be a totong tao. A real person with real talk,” Garcia said.
In the 2022 elections, Garcia said that a united Cebu supported a candidate who called for unity, “because unity was the key for this country to finally heal and to finally move forward and become great again.”
Because of the overwhelming support of all political leaders in Cebu, the candidate they supported garnered the highest number of votes in the entire Cebu Island at 1.5 million votes, and went on to become the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines, said Garcia.
The governor said this United Cebu Island is stronger than ever as unity pervades and prevails throughout all towns, cities and even down to the barangays.
“And as what we have shown and manifested, we know without any question, without any ifs and buts, we a United Cebu stand firmly behind our President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” Garcia stressed.
The governor continued that this statement of support is also Cebu’s commitment as she challenged all governors present to do the same, and rally their political leaders in their respective provinces for and in support behind the man we chose to lead us.
In the afternoon, the First Lady led the turnover ceremony of 16 mobile clinics to Regions 6,7, and 8 to deliver free health services, particularly to the rural communities.
Recipients of the 16 mobile clinics were Bohol, Northern Samar, Leyte, Siquijor, Iloilo, Negros Oriental, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Aklan, Cebu, Capiz, Antique, Guimaras, Negros Occidental and Samar. (FCR/PIA7)
