President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s allies may not have swept all 12 Senate seats but he’s not making a big deal of it. Instead, he’s calling for unity and cooperation from all the newly elected senators, regardless of political affiliation.

“To the newly elected, whether or not you’re part of my party or coalition, I offer my hand,” Marcos said in a statement Tuesday. “Let’s move forward together — with open minds and a shared purpose.”

He reminded everyone that running the country isn’t a one-man job.

“Governance is a shared responsibility,” he said. “It’s a mission that calls for unity and cooperation for the common good.”

Marcos also took a moment to thank the voters who endured the long lines, the intense summer heat, and even waited out glitches in the vote-counting machines to make sure their voices were heard.

“Thank you to every Filipino who voted,” he said in the vernacular. “Once again, our democracy has renewed itself — peacefully, orderly, and with dignity. This is both a celebration of continuity and a wake-up call to deal with the real problems our people face.”

He acknowledged that the results reflected the people’s desire for action.

“The Filipino people have chosen the leaders whom they believe will listen and act — on inflation, on jobs, on corruption, and on the daily struggles they face,” he said. “These are the issues we must confront head-on.”

While Marcos didn’t get a clean sweep, his coalition — the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas — still managed to place six candidates in the Senate: former senator Ping Lacson, former Senate president Tito Sotto, Senators Pia Cayetano and Lito Lapid, and Representatives Erwin Tulfo and Camille Villar.

Interestingly, Villar was absent from Alyansa’s campaign rallies. She was adopted by the opposition PDP-Laban at the last minute and managed to land in 10th place, thanks in large part to strong support in Mindanao.

As for the five Alyansa bets who didn’t make it, Marcos didn’t hold back in showing his appreciation.

“To those who weren’t elected — your willingness to serve the public is something I deeply respect,” he said. “Public service doesn’t end with elections. Nation-building needs everyone who’s willing to step up.”

He also thanked everyone who supported the coalition, saying that while the results didn’t turn out as hoped, the work must go on.

“We may not have won every seat, but our work and our mission continue,” he said.

To close his message, Marcos quoted his late father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.:

“If we are to succeed, we must succeed as Filipinos — for it’s the only way we can endure. If we want to achieve our goals, we must move forward — not back to the past but into the future. And we must do this as one family, as a united nation.”

He ended with a familiar rallying cry, “In a government that’s honest, everyone is included.”

Tiangco: Vote of confidence

Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas (APBP) campaign manager, Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, called the election of six candidates from the administration-backed coalition a vote of confidence in President Marcos' Bagong Pilipinas vision.

“The victory of our candidates affirms the public’s support for progress and economic opportunities for all Filipinos,” Tiangco said. “It also signals a commitment to continue the country’s economic growth.”

Tiangco stressed that APBP aims to elect competent senators who can help the Marcos administration improve the welfare of Filipinos. The coalition includes former and current senators and lawmakers with backgrounds in local and cabinet-level positions.

Tiangco echoed President Marcos' call for the country to move forward, focusing on the people’s needs. "This is a clear signal to act with urgency, guided by the aspirations of our people," he said.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) hinted that it may proclaim winning senators by Saturday, with the possibility of a partial proclamation if the "Magic 12" remains unchanged.