Marcos brings ‘Unity Caravan’ to Mindanao, cites its potentials

Vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. courted Mindanao voters this week bringing his “Unity Caravan” in Southern and Central Mindanao after solidifying support from the so called “Solid North” and other parts of Luzon and Metro Manila.
Marcos kicked off his Mindanao sorties last Wednesday and anchored on his advocacy for national unity, with a motorcade around General Santos. Marcos also brought his “Unity Caravan” to cities and municipalities in South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur.
Throughout his sorties, Marcos emphasized that the country and its people should start unifying.
“We will do everything to achieve unity. In the last few years, we were separated by political leaders. We need to change that because I think we have strayed from the true character of the Filipinos. We should unite, we have to work together, we have to be consistent with the objectives to improve our country and improve the lives of our countrymen,” he said.
“We Filipinos are composed of Ilokanos, Tagalogs, Bisayans, there are Muslims and Christians, but the end of it all is that we are Filipinos and we should never forget that Filipinos should restore our values not only of the people but our love for  Philippines. No one will help Filipinos but fellow Filipinos.”
He said the effort to unify should be in all sectors in the Philippines. There is no one person, a party, even a government agency can fix the problems of Filipinos. All sectors should unite and come together and for those problems faced by the Filipinos. 
“So we must restore unity and say that Filipinos are united, that’s my goal, that’s what I’m campaigning for.”
Marcos also cited the potentials of Mindanao, which is very ripe for development. Mindanao, he said, has been neglected by the national government.
However for Mindanao to develop, there is a need for peace and order. “If there is peace, more investors will come in and definitely there will be development.
 
BLBAR
Marcos’ most prominent work as senator is the framing of the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR). This is the Senate alternative to the constitutionally flawed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that was largely drafted without public consultations by the government peace panel.
Senator Marcos put much work into crafting the BLBAR. He conducted extensive consultations with affected groups and communities in Mindanao. He consulted intensively with legal experts. The result is an impressive piece of legislative craftsmanship that far outshines the administration’s version.
Although the BBL (and hence the BLBAR) did not make it through this Congress, the issue will surely resurface later. When that happens, the BLBAR will surely be the more feasible framework to resume discussion on furthering Moro autonomy.
The hard work and dedication Bongbong put into crafting the BLBAR as a more acceptable version of autonomy no doubt impressed the people of Mindanao. He has shown keen statesmanship and a profound grasp of the nation’s future.
Beyond this burning legislative issue, Bongbong also outshines his rivals in grasp of the policy issues at hand. He is comfortable expounding on a wide range of policy concerns, from renewable energy to trade policy to diplomacy. He is gifted with his father’s eloquence and charisma.
This brings in the last piece of the puzzle that is the Bongbong phenomenon.
In electoral politics as much as in retail of goods, de Guzman continues, the value of “branding” is always important. Bongbong carries the Marcos brand of decisive and effective leadership. This is likely his most valued inheritance.
By carrying the Marcos brand forward, and into the future, Bongbong highlights a sterling legacy of commitment to national development. He inherits the promise but not the failings of his father’s larger-than-life role in the evolution of the Philippines.
An intense commitment to helping shape the nation’s future can be the only explanation why Bongbong chose to continue in public service rather than retreat to a private sector role. His father’s patriotism should have been infectious as to cross generations.
Since 1986, the real place of the Marcos years in our political history has been severely distorted by partisan interpretation. That partisan interpretation magnifies the failings and erases the gains. It should be possible for a more evenhanded reading of our past that sees achievement as much as failings.
It is now the duty (and possibly the destiny) of the loyal son to redeem the father’s legacy and restore things to their righteous place.