Be inspired by Apo Lakay, BBM tells youth

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday paid tribute to his late father and namesake on the occasion of the latter's 106th birthday which he and family members, as well as the people of Ilocos Norte, celebrated in Batac.

The Chief Executive said that former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who ruled the Philippines from 1965 to 1986, tried his very best to bring peace and to uphold the rule of law while trying to unify the Filipinos.

"For the peace and order that he fought and stood for, the development that he inspired our citizens to build, and the dreams that he left in the hearts of many, he remains a true Filipino and an Ilocano icon whose exceptional mind matched the nation-loving spirit that he possessed and that he demonstrated," Marcos Jr. said.

He called on young leaders and government officials to be inspired by his father's values and ideals and to work toward building a more equitable, sustainable and resilient Philippines.

"It is not necessary for us to hold ceremonies, parades, or the like to give credit to the efforts and sacrifices of Apo Lakay and those who have gone before him who share a deep and committed love for the Philippines," the President said.

"Instead, let us act in our own small and unique ways to support the government, to support our people in all the initiatives and programs, and continue to instill in every Filipino the sense of ownership and accountability in building our great nation," he added.

Marcos Jr. said the Philippines is for Filipinos to love, and the path to a "more equitable, sustainable, and resilient" future is for them to make. He declared 11 September 2023 a special non-working day in Ilocos Norte.

Marcos Sr. was born on 11 September 1917 in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte. He declared martial law in the Philippines on 23 September 1972 and lifted it on 17 January 1981. Marcos Sr. died in Honolulu, Hawaii on 29 September 1989.