by Probe

Roughly two months into his reign, it is still unclear how President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. aims to achieve the national unity he strongly advocated for during his campaign. If anything, one may say that many of his actions and decisions thus far—or lack thereof—have caused more neglect and division than oneness.

The events revolving around August 21 were enough to expose the president’s true attitude towards the position he holds: that he seems to value it merely for himself and his family, not for the Filipino people. As we recall the events that transpired on this notable Sunday and the days surrounding it, let us take notice of the president’s self-centeredness and disregard for his people’s welfare.

Parties over People

President Marcos Jr. held a surprise party for First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos’s 63rd birthday in Malacañang Palace on August 21, 2022. Arranging the event with his sons and close comrades, the chief executive prepared both a self-written speech and a special song number to Andrew Gold’s “Never Let Her Slip Away” to show his affection and appreciation for his wife. All this was seen in a vlog uploaded on the president’s YouTube channel.

Yet, while the First Family was busy basking in their high society extravagance, young Filipinos were left struggling as he did not do anything about the difficulties brought about by the faulty system of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) educational aid grants. 

Beginning August 20, families all over the country flocked to DSWD offices once it was announced that cash aid would be available and distributed to indigent elementary, high school, and college students. However, it was discovered that lines were unorganized and no medical teams were present in these places, with several people getting injured in the process of waiting. Due to inadequate planning, many were told to go home despite waiting patiently for the aid they had hoped for; the limited slots were not enough to cater to everyone in the overcrowded areas.

By the end of this first day, Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo reported that 48,000 applicants were granted educational aid. This number rose to 148,000 by August 29, 2022, though walk-in applicants were no longer accepted beginning August 25. Although DSWD vowed to make ample adjustments to improve the granting system, many Filipinos still sought assistance from the president himself, or at the very least, a show of care or willingness to act. However, all President Marcos seems to have done is advise Tulfo to coordinate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), without contributing any other concrete measures to put in place.

Less than a month later, President Marcos celebrated his 65th birthday on September 13, 2022, in Malacañang, similarly to the previous parties held for his wife and mother. Subtly calling out this frequent practice, former Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Celso C. Santiago Jr. said in a Twitter post, “It seems the current resident in Malacañang is more interested in throwing parties than filling up his Cabinet.”

To this day, the Philippine Cabinet still lacks a Health Secretary amidst the country’s ongoing recovery from COVID-19. The president defended himself, saying that the Department of Health (DOH) “is not about COVID alone,” but “about public health in general”, and was thus met with criticism from netizens. Furthermore, although President Marcos has set himself as Agriculture Secretary for the time being, there is still no news on a permanent appointment.

Despite all the evident needs of the Filipino people, President Marcos chooses to instead focus his attention on his own comfort and joy. Spotlight shines merely on him and his family, while those he must serve are left in the shadows.

Age-old Rivalry

August 21 also marked the commemoration of Ninoy Aquino Day. The national holiday aims to honor the death and legacy of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. for his fierce fight against the Marcos family’s dictatorship, and more so, his ultimate goal of upholding the democracy of the Philippines. However, unlike past administrations, Malacañang did not issue an official statement to acknowledge this important event. 

This raises concern about what President Marcos truly stands for: does he prioritize keeping his family name and power untouched, or does he indeed value the rights and welfare of the Filipino people under a proper democracy?

Decades later, it, unfortunately, looks as though the strife between the Reds and the Yellows—or the Marcoses and the Aquinos—still dominates the minds of the current reigning family. As the Liberal Party, which was once led by Ninoy Aquino, was one of the main groups that catalyzed the revolution against the oppressive Marcos family; the latter still seems to consider them as enemies. Yet, the sad truth is that the Marcoses have managed to climb back to power, while Kris Aquino is the only prominent Aquino figure to remain alive to this day.

President Marcos refusing to acknowledge Ninoy Aquino Day reflects an us-versus-them mindset, wherein anyone that poses a threat to his family’s power—even someone that actively advocated for freedom from tyranny—is silenced.

President, Not Leader

The irony is that the president who boldly promised to establish unity among all countrymen is the same president who continues to widen the gap between himself and his people through constant neglect and misprioritization. While he does sit at the country’s highest post, his decisions indicate that his authority is not used in the ways it should be. Both throwing pompous parties and refusing to commemorate Ninoy Aquino Day are things not even former President Duterte did—at this rate, even he seems commendable.

It took simply a series of events in under a month to show President Marcos’s lack of leadership abilities. Whereas we Ateneans value servant-leaders who work for and with others and keep in mind both competence and compassion, the chief executive’s actions display a ruler who is out of touch with the realities of his country—one who lacks a sense of urgency, cares more about himself than the people he is meant to serve, and uses his power only to claim its title.