Neil Jerome Morales and Lisa Marie David

MANILA, (Reuters) – The Philippines’ presidential hopefuls gathered support to win the final rally on Saturday. They are just days away from an election that has been marred by misinformation campaigns and a rekindling a long-standing rivalry.

After six years at the helm, up to 65,000,000 Filipinos can cast their ballots Monday in order to elect Rodrigo Duterte as President.

There is now a two-horse race for the presidency between Vice President Leni Robertredo and Ferdinand Marcos Jr., frontrunner and son of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Tens of thousands of Filipino supporters rallied in Manila for Marcos and Robredo. They braved the hot afternoon heat to attend the rally hours before the candidates arrived.

Robredo’s rally took place along Ayala Avenue. In 1983, a large march was held there following the assassination senator Benigno Aquino. A symbol of the fight against the Marcos dictatorship.

A festival atmosphere was created by Robredo campaign supporters who handed out T-shirts and flags as well as ice cream.

Mary Ann Ileto Fernandez celebrated her 27th birthday by praising Roberto.

We know that even though many don’t openly support her, they’ll vote for her.

Robredo, at 57 years old, is likely to need an early surge or low turnout in order to win. Marcos (a former senator and congressman) leads Robredo by 30 points, having won every poll this year.

Marcos (64), could become the Philippines’ first president with majority votes since his father’s death.

Marcos Jr. was to address the expected large crowd at a Manila Bay casino resort. He said it was an occasion to thank for public support.

Marcos’s success can be attributed to his team’s skillful use of social networking to reach younger voters. They have discredited Robredo, and presented what experts call a counter narrative to historic accounts of Robredo’s rule. Marcos recently called his father a “genius”.

Monday’s match will take place in the rematch of 2016’s vice-presidential election, which Marcos also seemed set to win before being defeated by Robredo by only 200,000 votes. He tried hard to change the outcome, but the Supreme Court refused.

It is expected that Saturday’s rally will bring together hundreds of thousands of supporters. Candidates use social media celebrities to inspire supporters.