President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed the intense emotions First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos felt during last year’s 455th founding anniversary of Cebu, fueled by the strong support from local leaders in the Visayas.

“When the First Lady first came back from the trip that we saw in the video, she said that she was so touched by the expressions of support that were made during her trip,” President Marcos said during his lunch with the Visayas governors and One Cebu officials at the Cebu Provincial Capitol in Cebu City on Thursday.

He recalled what his wife said: “It was so touching,’ she said, ‘that I cried, I shed a tear.’ And I was teasing her, I said, ‘Ikaw kasi masyado kang iyakin kaya madali kang paiyakin.’”

Today, the President said he felt his wife’s strong sentiment and understood after receiving separate manifestos of support from Visayan governors and other local officials during the event.

‘Well, after today, after the overwhelming expressions of support that I received today, I understand perfectly well why she shed that tear. Thank you. Thank you so much,”  the Chief Executive said, visibly touched by the expressions of support.

According to the President, such a display of unity not only highlighted the strong backing for his administration; it also gave impetus to the collective commitment to national development and a brighter future for the Philippines.

President Marcos received over 1.5 million votes from the province of Cebu – the highest number of votes cast by any province during the 2022 presidential election.

The President said the unity shown by Cebu leaders had a significant impact on other governors from the Visayas region, who pledged their steadfast commitment and support for the Marcos administration by signing the manifesto.

As the President’s term nears its halfway mark, the same leaders from the Visayas region renewed their steadfast commitment to the chief executive.

The One Visayas bloc also expressed unequivocal support for the President and his vision of a Bagong Pilipinas.

“Recognizing the remarkable progress the Marcos administration has achieved in advancing national development, driving economic recovery, and fostering regional growth, we wholeheartedly affirm our commitment to his leadership and vision for a Bagong Pilipinas,” said the manifesto of governors from the Visayas region.

“The new era of good governance demands unity to build a progressive nation, strengthen our economy, and secure a better future for Filipinos,” it added.  | PND