By Isabella Magno

“You will not be disappointed, so do not be afraid,” President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos  Jr. assured the Filipino people in his inaugural address. 

President Marcos took the Oath of Office administered by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila on Thursday, June 30.

The first family members were with him and acted as official witnesses of his inauguration: Atty. Liza Araneta-Marcos, Joseph Simon Marcos, William Vincent Marcos, and Congressman Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos from Ilocos Norte’s first district.

Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III read the joint resolution from the Senate and the House of Representatives to officially proclaim President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, marking the start of their six-year incumbency.

He began his address by “casually” greeting guests and referring to his wife as the “first lady”, before outlining his “promising” plans for the future. 

For President Marcos, the moment he assumed the position of the nation’s highest authority is “historic”. 

“This is a historic moment for us all. […] When my call for unity started to resonate with you, it did so because it echoed your yearnings, mirrored your sentiments, and expressed your hopes for family, for country, and for a better future,” he said. 

In the address, President Marcos reaffirmed that the core message of his campaign is one of the key factors in establishing a better future for the nation.

“Pinakinggan ko ang tinig ninyo na ang sinisigaw ay pagkakaisa. […] We will go farther together than against each other. Pushing forward, not pulling each other back out of fear, out of a misplaced sense of weakness.”

As he continued instilling unity in Filipinos, he said, “In this fresh chapter of our history, I extend my hand to all Filipinos. Come. […] We are here to repair a house [that’s been] divided.”

Moreover, he tackled in his speech some of the pressing issues revolving around the country and the globe, including the COVID-19 pandemic, food insufficiency, the contentious educational system, and climate change.

For all these conflicts, President Marcos discussed some of the strategies he plans to apply to “better” address them for a better future for the Filipinos around the globe. 

He also reaffirmed to the people that he would not give up on fulfilling his promises, saying that six years might be “just about enough time”.

“These are troubling times. […] Giving up is not an option. […] Your dreams are mine,” he uttered, pertaining to his “drive” to obtain a more peaceful and progressive country for a better future for the youth. 

“And if you ask me why I am so confident of the future, I will answer you, simply that I have 110 million reasons to start with. […] Believe, have hope: the sun also rises like it did today; and as it will tomorrow. And as surely as that, we will achieve the country all Filipinos deserve,” he concluded.   

Activists flood Plaza Miranda on Inauguration Day

Several individuals showed up in the historic Plaza Miranda to voice their opposition to the incumbency of President Bongbong Marcos. 

In a quote said in the program obtained by the Philippine Star, former social welfare undersecretary Malou Turalde of election watchdog Kontra Daya said, “Marcos Jr. ‘s victory was built on communicating with political dynasties from north to south. This is what they call unity.”

The event was originally scheduled to take place at the Liwasang Bonifacio, about a kilometer from the site of the inauguration, by the organization Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.

Thumbnail from RTVM