LAOAG CITY, ILOCOS NORTE – The campaign trail fired up in Laoag as senatorial candidate Benhur Abalos Jr. brought energy and passion to his speech on February 11, 2025, calling on Ilocanos to support his candidacy and the Alyansa party in the upcoming elections.
“Mabuhay ang Ilocos! Mabuhay ang Alyansa!” Abalos greeted the enthusiastic crowd, immediately connecting with the audience by sharing his experience as Mayor of Mandaluyong and his mission to bring those same transformative policies to the national stage.
A seasoned public servant and lawyer, Abalos recounted how he turned Mandaluyong—once a small and struggling community—into a powerhouse city now known as an “Economic Tiger City of Metro Manila”.
“Ang aming lugar ay maliit. Kilala pa nga kami dahil doon sa mental hospital namin,” he joked, before proudly highlighting how his administration attracted businesses and investments that fueled economic growth.
“Iisa lang ang hiling ko sa mga negosyante—trabaho para sa tao,” he said to rousing applause. “At pagkatapos, siniguro namin na walang maiiwan. Target namin ang pabahay para sa mga informal settlers sa riles ng tren. Ngayon, dalawang libong tao ang may sariling titulo na.”
Abalos promised to bring his winning formula of housing, job creation, and social welfare programs to the Senate if elected.
“Child-friendly city? Check. UN awardee? Check. At lahat ng ito, iaambag ko para sa inyo!”
Abalos shifted gears, highlighting his time as DILG Secretary, where he faced tough challenges head-on, including pursuing and capturing high-profile fugitives.
“Hulihin at tugisin—isa-isa,” he said with authority, recalling the successful operations that led to the capture of Congressman Arnie Teves, the man behind Governor Roel Degamo’s assassination.
“And then there was Alice Guo… and finally, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy,” he said, drawing a mix of shock and applause from the crowd.
“Mga kasama, hindi lang husay ang kailangan. Kailangan mo ng tapang. Tapang para tumayo mag-isa at gumawa ng desisyon.”
In a more personal moment, Abalos spoke of his deep Ilocano roots, winning over the audience with his heartfelt plea.
“Ang aking ama, si Ben Abalos, ay 90 years old na. Ang kanyang lolo ay taga-San Vicente, Ilocos, bago pumunta sa Pangasinan,” he said, eliciting nods of pride from the audience.
To make it even sweeter, Abalos shared a personal milestone: his daughter Charlene is about to marry a man from Vigan, further strengthening his bond with the region.
“May dugo kaming Ilocano. At ngayon, mag-aasawa na ng Ilocano! Sana po, mahalin niyo rin ako bilang Ilocano!” he said passionately.
As he wrapped up his speech, Abalos called for unity and support for Alyansa, tying his message to the national call for solidarity and progress under the current administration.
“Ang Ilocos ay simbolo ng pagkakaisa. Ampunin nyo po ang buong pamilya ng Alyansa! Iboto natin sila lahat,” he exclaimed, his voice rising with intensity.
“Mabuhay kayo! Mabuhay ang Ilocos! Mabuhay ang Alyansa!” PR
