TACLOBAN, Philippines -- Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the front-runner in next month's Philippine presidential election, greeted thousands of rain-soaked supporters with a very personal shoutout: to his 92-year-old mother, Imelda. The former first lady would have joined this rally in her home city of Tacloban had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic, said the 64-year-old candidate, widely known as "Bongbong."
"I'm sure my mom is watching on livestream. Let's greet Imelda. Hello Imelda!" Marcos said, waving from the stage on April 9 during an event streamed live on Facebook. The drenched loyalist crowd erupted into applause and shouts.
