IN what could be a refreshing change in the campaign of presidential candidate Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos and his running-mate Inday Sara Duterte, a number of church leaders recently embraced the call for unity of UniTeam, as they were convinced that the same is the key to the country’s progress.

Just recently, Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian of the Diocese of Bangued in Abra, led the prayer over for Marcos and Inday Sara during the blessing of the UniTeam headquarters in the province, during which he also lauded their initiatives of trying to bring healing and unifying leadership in the country.

Bishop Jaucian said Marcos’ call for unity will be a strong start for the country to recover from poverty.

In front of other priests and parishioners, Bishop Jaucian prayed for the UniTeam’s success and safety while campaigning and going around the country.

Meanwhile, during the UniTeam’s courtesy call at the Jesus Christ The Deliverer Church in Guiguinto, Bulacan, Bishop Ted Malangen called Marcos as the next president of the Philippines.

“Kita n’yo naman ang aking face mask oh, BBM-Sara. Next, ladies and gentlemen, we shall welcome the president of the republic of the Philippines, Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., “BBM”,” Bishop Malangen said.

Marcos said church leaders embracing their call for unity is a good start for the Filipino people to love one another.

“Pareho din ang ating adhikain ng Jesus Christ The Deliverer, is that tayo ay magkaisa, that we should love each other. Iyon lang naman ang aming isinisigaw, kaya’t marunong na marunong naman ang mga Pilipino, na tumingin kung ano ba talaga ang tama na dapat gagawin ng ating mga lider ng ating mga sarili,” he said.

For Inday Sara, the support they received from church officials was a big help, especially now that the country is divided.

“Kami po ay sobrang nagpapasalamat sa oportunidad at oras na ibinigay n’yo sa amin ngayong umaga na ito na makasama kayo, makilala kayo, at makapagdasal kasama kayo,” Duterte said.

She confessed that she is only praying for two things: “Unang-una, kailangan po tayo lumapit sa Diyos, para po maprotektahan ang ating boto sa darating na eleksyon. Magdasal tayo na honest, orderly and peaceful elections ang para sa ating bansa.”

“Pangalawa po ay (ang) dahil napaka-elusive po ng pulitika at ng kampanya ng eleksyon, ipagdasal po natin na pag-isahin tayo ng Diyos. Kapayapaan at lagi naming panawagan na magkaisa tayo na bumangon mula sa pandemyang COVID – 19 dito sa ating bansa. ‘Yan po ang ating idasal, araw–araw hanggang (May 9) and even and beyond (May 9), yung kapayapaan at pagkakaisa, ng ating bansa,” she added.

Marcos revealed that in 2014, Bishop Ted first told him to run for the presidency.

“Ang ipinapaalala sa ‘kin ni Bishop ay matagal na niyang prediction ‘yung sinasabi niya na noong 2014, ang sinasabi niya tatakbo ka nang presidente at mananalo ka. Alam niya, nung panahon na ‘yun sabi ko, mahirap yata mangyari ‘yun, well naging totoo ‘yung first part of his prediction, tumakbo akong presidente, ngayon hihintayin nalang natin kung mananalo,” he said.

“Tuluy-tuloy lang ang pag iikot namin at sa akin namang palagay, kagaya naman ninyo ay tumatanggap ng aking mensahe ng pagkakaisa, dahil ‘yun, sa palagay ko ay tulad ng pagbisita namin sa inyo ay napakalaking pasasalamat sa inyong suporta, sa inyong pinapahayag na tiwala sa amin, ni Inday Sara, sa buong Uniteam at sa tulong at hindi pagkakalimot sa amin,” he added.