The presidency of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. began at noon on 30 June 2022 following his inauguration as the 17th president of the Philippines, succeeding President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
During the last few weeks, Bongbong Marcos has demonstrated his brand of leadership, character, integrity, and competence.
He is the most authentic homegrown talent who had spent his life working with the farmers in the field, fisherfolk along the seashore, and in the windmill farms of the Ilocos.
For indeed, Ferdinand Sr. would be pleased, if he were alive, that he would give his son, Bongbong, a big hug for his extraordinary pronouncements and diplomacy at international summits of world leaders. He would have hugs, too for his elder daughter Imee, whom her teachers at Assumption praised for being a topnotcher in her classes, and for Irene, about whom US President Ronald Reagan had nice things to say on her birthday.
Is this not nice and refreshing?
On 27 May 2023, before delivering the keynote speech at the grand launch of Pier 88, Cebu's first smart port in Liloan, President Bongbong expressed his admiration for Sara Duterte, looking back at the 2022 campaign and sharing how he and Sara usually laughed together.
"And the reason I made her laugh (is) because I told her 'dito sa mga gulong nangyayari' (in the chaos that's happening), I've just officially designated myself as your self-appointed official BFF (best friend forever)," he said,
"Sorry na lang, sa ayaw at gusto mo (whether you like it or not), I'm still your number one fan," he added.
On 1 October 2023, President Marcos Jr. watched the Konsyerto Sa Palasyo: Para sa Mahal Nating mga Guro (Concert at the Palace for our Dear Teachers) at the Kalayaan grounds of Malacañang with Vice President Duterte, Senator Imee Marcos, Irene Marcos Araneta, Cabinet secretaries, senators, and other government officials.
This edition of the KSP featured rising homegrown Filipino artists and special guests. The gates of Malacañang were opened to hundreds of Filipino teachers in recognition of their hard work in guiding the youth to be the foundation of our future. The third Konsyerto sa Palasyo is now staged at Mabini Hall because of its rich history dating back to the 1930s.
Meanwhile, Senator Imee has dismissed rumors of a falling out between the President and the Vice President, who formed a formidable alliance as the UniTeam during last year's elections.
In a chance interview, the presidential sister said her brother's alliance with Duterte and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, remained "solid."
"I believe that the principals — my brother and me, the Vice President and President Rodrigo Roa Duterte — will never fall apart," she told reporters. "I think there are just some who are causing trouble."
President Marcos recently said Vice President Duterte does not deserve impeachment, ending the reported efforts to oust the younger Duterte.
"We are monitoring it closely because we don't want her to be impeached," he had said. "She does not deserve to be impeached, so we will make sure that this is something we will pay very close attention to."
Sara Duterte said she believes she still has the trust of the President.
"We're okay," she said in an interview. "I believe that I still have the trust of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr."
President Bongbong will really be the great president that his late father raised him to be. He always expresses great elation whenever he meets his kababayan in the foreign cities he has visited.
"I thanked them for their valuable contributions to their communities in the Philippines. The good words said of Filipinos worldwide make me once again proud to be a Filipino. I encouraged them to unite and to work with us towards building a stronger and more resilient Philippines."
