Supporters of former president Marcos on Friday kicked off a four-day trek to Manila in anticipation of the decision of the Supreme Court on the hero’s burial of the late president.
Kailian “is an Ilocano word used to address or identify fellow members of a community, signifying something even deeper than fellow Ilocano.”
“Using the word kailian implies being part of the same barangay or sitio, growing with and around each other… a much stronger and close-knit relationship,” Jun Arvin Gudoy, head of the Communications and Media Office of the Ilocos Norte provincial government, said.
Duterte has expressed his support of the unity march.
“I have standing orders to the police and the military to keep everybody safe… If it goes out of control, then I will fly immediately [to the march],” Duterte was quoted as saying.
During the kick-off, two unity masses were held in Ilocos Norte, one at the San Agustin Church in Paoay and at the St. John the Baptist Parish Church in Badoc.
Supporters who joined the unity march left the Paoay church past 6:00 p.m., arriving at the Badoc church before 8:00pm.
An hour later, the group had left Ilocos Norte and arrived at Vigan City in Ilocos Sur, at around 10:00 p.m.
Gov. Marcos thanked the supporters who joined the masses and the unity march.
“Thank you very much for your support. I am certain that with our continued prayers, we will finally bring peace to my father, to my family, to this province, and to the entire country, the Republic of the Philippines. Tuloy tayo sa (We’ll proceed to the) Libingan ng Mga Bayani,” he said.