National Museum of Fine Arts, City of Manila
June 30, 2022
“You, the people, have spoken, and it is resounding. 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,” remarked President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. when he took his oath of office as the 17th Chief Executive of the Republic of the Philippines before Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo in a solemn and traditional ceremony held at the National Museum of Fine Arts in the City of Manila.
“Come, let us put our shoulders to the wheel; and give that wheel a faster turn — to repair and to rebuild; and to address challenges in new ways; to provide what all Filipinos need; to be all that we can. We are here to repair a house divided; to make it whole and to stand strong again in the Bayanihan way, expressive of our nature as Filipinos,” said the new President, echoing his message of unity during the electoral campaigns that won him the mandate of the Filipino people.
In his 25-minute long inaugural address, President Marcos, Jr. highlighted several pressing issues of national concern in key areas of development, namely education, public health, agriculture, economy and energy, among others, and vowed to champion the progress on those areas.
“You will get no excuses from me,” said the Chief Executive with strong conviction, and likewise assured the Filipino people of the changes he will implement to benefit all – “a future of sufficiency” and “readily available means and ways to get done what needs doing.”
Filled with hope, President Marcos, Jr. invited the Filipino people to steer the nation forward and make positive changes together with the new Administration. The President, however, promised that the success of his government will not be predicated on the cooperation of the masses alone.
“Government will get as much done alone without requiring more from you. That is what government and public officials are for. No excuses; just deliver. It was like that, once upon a time,” President Marcos, Jr. stated.
During the civic-military parade, the President, together with the First Family, stood up and applauded the marching medical frontliners, farmers, athletes and other personnel belonging in different sectors who tirelessly toiled and made sacrifices for the betterment of the country.
“If you ask me why I am so confident of the future, I will answer that I have 110 million reasons to start with. Such is my faith in the Filipino,” the Chief Executive ended in his speech.
After the inaugural ceremony, the President hosted a traditional Vin d’honneur inside the National Museum for the foreign dignitaries and diplomatic corps who witnessed the inauguration.
During his toast remarks, he emphasized that the transformation of world economy and its recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic will be highly dependent on the partnership and cooperation of the international community.
President Marcos, Jr. is the fourth Chief Executive to be inaugurated at the National Museum. Presidents Manuel L. Quezon in 1935, Jose P. Laurel in 1943 and Manuel Roxas in 1946 also took their oath of office at the historic building.
* * *