The bustling streets of Manila witnessed a political spectacle that was about far more than just bricks and mortar this week, as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrived to personally inaugurate the Islamic Cemetery and Cultural Hall. This infrastructure masterpiece, a vision that began under the tenure of former Mayor Isko Moreno, stands as a symbol of inclusivity and progress for the city. However, beneath the celebratory surface of the ribbon-cutting ceremony lay a simmering tension that has political observers buzzing with speculation. The President stood tall alongside current Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, projecting an image of unity and strength, but the glaring absence of Vice President Sara Duterte created a void that was impossible to ignore. It was a visual representation of a shifting power dynamic that suggests the capital city is rapidly becoming a stronghold where the “UniTeam” facade is beginning to crumble.

The event was steeped in symbolism, as the President not only acknowledged the importance of the project but seemingly co-opted the legacy of “Yorme” into his own “Bagong Pilipinas” narrative. By championing a project conceptualized by a former rival who also ran for the presidency, Marcos demonstrated a shrewd political maneuver to consolidate influence within the metropolis. Mayor Lacuna, the successor and political ally of Isko Moreno, welcomed the President with open arms, signaling a clear alignment between the Manila City Hall and Malacañang. This blossoming partnership raises uncomfortable questions for the other half of the administration. In a city that once thrived on a diverse mix of political alliances, the stage was set exclusively for the Marcos brand, leaving many to wonder if the Vice President was simply unavailable or if she was deliberately sidelined from this high-profile moment.

The murmurs among the crowd and the chatter on social media quickly pivoted to the status of the “DDS” faction within Manila. For years, the Duterte brand carried immense weight, but this inauguration painted a different picture—one where the Marcos machinery is systematically dismantling the old structures of influence. The absence of any representative from the Vice President’s camp at an event catering to a significant cultural and religious sector of the city feels like a calculated exclusion. It hints at a deeper, perhaps irreparable, rift between the two most powerful families in the country. If the capital city, the very heart of the nation’s political life, is no longer extending a warm welcome to the Vice President for such significant milestones, it could signal a premature start to the rivalries expected in the upcoming midterm elections.

Furthermore, the optics of President Marcos embracing a project tied to Isko Moreno serves as a double-edged sword. It neutralizes the potential resurgence of Moreno as an opposition figure while simultaneously isolating the Dutertes. It is a masterclass in political absorption. The narrative being spun is one of a unified Manila under the banner of the President, with little room for the fierce, independent populism that characterized the previous administration. Supporters of the Vice President are finding themselves asking if their political colors are still welcome in the city’s corridors of power, or if Manila has definitively chosen a side in the silent war that seems to be brewing within the executive branch.

As the ribbon fell and the applause faded, the reality of the situation settled in. This was not just about opening a cemetery or a cultural hall; it was a declaration of territory. The warmth and camaraderie displayed between the President and the Manila local government officials stood in stark contrast to the cold distance radiating from the Vice President’s camp. The message sent from Manila is unmistakable: the political board is being reset, and in this new configuration, the alliances of 2022 are rapidly becoming a thing of the past. The capital has a new patron, and the doors appear to be closing on those who do not fall in line with the new order, leaving the public to watch in anticipation as the next chapter of this political drama unfolds.