Marcos honors father, ‘Your legacy lives on’

MANILA - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured his father and namesake, the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., that he will continue his rich legacy to the Philippines and the Filipinos as he vowed to continue what he started for the nation.

“Your legacy lives on, and for as long as I’m here, I will use everything I learned from you to continue your work,” Marcos said on his official Facebook page as he led the commemoration of his father’s 106th birth anniversary in Batac town in Ilocos Norte province.

In his speech, Marcos extended his gratitude to all those who took time to celebrate with them as he paid tribute to his father’s legacy, especially for the peace and order that he fought and stood for, and the development he left to the people.

The chief executive said his father is truly a Filipino and an Ilocano icon.

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

“So as we remember and pay tribute to his memory, let this gathering serve as a testament to the unwavering pursuit of unity that he so passionately espoused for our people. In his memory, may our actions from this point on be directed by the desire to preserve and share the rich heritage of our province, of our nation,” he added.

Marcos also called on young leaders and government officials to emulate the values, ideals, and vision of his father for the Philippines and the Filipino people just like these inspired him to lead the country. “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,” he 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.

Before concluding his speech, Marcos emphasized that the Philippines is for the Filipino people to love, and the path to a new Philippines – a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient one – is for the Filipino people to make. (Mindanao Examiner)