Ferdinand Marcos Jr. —PHOTO FROM BONGBONG MARCOS FACEBOOK
MANILA, Philippines — As the country celebrated its 124th Independence Day on Sunday, President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged Filipinos to free the country from the COVID-19 pandemic, discrimination, and even “cancel culture.”
The President-elect stressed on the need to free workers and the poor from the effects of the pandemic.
“Ang kapakanan ng ating mga manggagawa, ang ating mga maliliit na negosyo ang iba’t iba pang mga sektor na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nakabalik sa normal, ‘yan ang mga patuloy pa natin tinatalakay kasama ng lahat ng pinakamagagaling na eksperto,” Marcos said in a video greeting uploaded on his official social media channel.
(The welfare of our workers, our small businesses and the various other sectors that until now have not returned to normal, those are the ones we continue to discuss with all the best experts.)
He then urged Filipinos to fight for the freedom from “old -fashioned, judgmental, and destructive thinking” that continues to bring anger and hatred among each other.
“Cancel culture man ito, discrimination, mga violence and hate crime, lahat ‘yan ay hindi na katanggap tanggap sa ating makabagong panahon, lahat diyan ay nakakasakit sa ating lipunan at nakakabagal ng ating pagbangon,” said Marcos.
(Whether it is cancel culture, discrimination, violence and hate crime, all of these are no longer acceptable in our modern age, all of which is hurting our society and slowing down our recovery.)
“Sana wag tayo magpasakop sa ganitong pagiisip palawigin ang ating pagrespeto at pagtanggap at pagunawa sa isa’t isa,” he added.
(I hope we do not fall to this mindset to extend our respect and acceptance and understanding of each other.)
Marcos then expressed confidence that Filipinos can achieve this with traits that have been passed down from generation to generation since the first proclamation of the country’s independence — intelligence, bravery and the love for each other.
“Kalayaan mula sa mananakop, mula sa epekto ng pandemya, o kaya’y mula sa pagkawatakwatak, ang mga katangiang kailangan upang makabangon at maging matagumpay ay likas na sa atin,” said Marcos.
(Freedom from invaders, from the effects of the pandemic, or from being divided, the qualities needed to rise up and be successful are already inherent in us.)
“Talino, galing, kagitingan at higit sa lahat ang pagmamahal sa ating sariling Pilipino, ang siyang pundasyon ng ating kalayaan mula noon hanggang ngayon,” he added.
(Intelligence, courage and above all love for our own as Filipinos, is the foundation of our freedom from the past until now.)
Meanwhile, Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio also joined the celebration of Independence Day. She lead the flag-raising ceremony in Davao City.
Marcos is set to be sworn as president on June 30, succeeding President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte-Carpio, on the other hand, is scheduled to take her oath of office on June 19, succeeding Vice President Leni Robredo.
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