Alcala, Cagayan goes all out for presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo as she barnstorms in the northern province on Saturday, March 12. (VP Leni Media Bureau)
ECHAGUE, Isabela 鈥擨nside the so-called Marcos country in Cagayan province, one town has never forgotten the Marcoses鈥攏ot because of their benevolence or power, but because they were neglected during their time of need.
Former Cagayan Gov. Alvaro Antonio, whose family is one of the political families of the north, remembers it well: How he personally campaigned for the late dictator鈥檚 son and namesake Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr. in the 2010 senatorial elections and delivered the town of Alcala for him.
Now, in 2022, he and his daughter Alcala Mayor Cristina Antonio are endorsing presidential aspirant and Vice President Leni Robredo, who came through for them when Typhoon 鈥淯lysses鈥� lashed them in 2020.
In endorsing her, Antonio said they wanted to bet on the candidate 鈥渨ho has done something and showed love for our province, over someone who has done nothing for us even though he says he is Ilocano.鈥�
They had hosted Robredo and her running mate Sen. Francis 鈥淜iko鈥� Pangilinan鈥檚 sorties in Alcala, one of the few Cagayanon towns that have stood against the son of the late dictator who put them on the map.
In an impassioned endorsement speech delivered in Ilocano, the older Antonio recalled how, in 2011, a typhoon lashed their province while he was still governor.
He recalled how Marcos 鈥渘ever once faced him, and simply asked that I leave behind the resolution (for aid) that I brought.鈥�
鈥淚 am not trying to besmirch anyone,鈥� he told the people. 鈥淚 am telling you the truth. I approached him twice to ask for help for our province. He gave not a single penny. None.鈥�
In contrast, when Alcala went underwater after Typhoon Ulysses, Robredo鈥攚ho had lost their vote in the 2016 vice presidential elections鈥攚as the first government official to arrive on the scene and help the Cagayanons.
鈥淪o now we are betting on someone who has helped us,鈥� Antonio said, as the crowd cheered.