Welcome 2026 with shared commitment to national progress – Marcos

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday urged Filipinos to welcome 2026 with discipline, confidence, and a shared commitment to national progress.

In his New Year’s Day message, the president encouraged Filipinos to reflect on the past year’s experiences, emphasizing the importance of learning from challenges while staying hopeful for the future.

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“As we step into 2026, I therefore call on every Filipino to embrace the year with discipline, confidence, and a shared commitment to our nation’s progress. For beyond personal resolutions, the new year calls on us to examine how we live with one another, how we lift one another, and how our choices shape our nation,” he said.

“As we step into the unfolding days ahead, may we move forward with a clearer understanding of our role in each other’s lives and a renewed commitment to building a future shaped not by circumstance done, but by the strength of our will and the clarity of our collective purpose,” he added.

Marcos also emphasized the role of personal discipline and collective effort in shaping the nation’s future.

“The coming of another year is always a moment for reflection and renewal. It gives us the opportunity to look back on the year that has passed — its lessons, challenges, and achievements — and to look ahead with hope and purpose to the possibilities that await us,” he said.

“A society thrives when its people choose empathy over indifference, service over self-interest, and hope over despair,” Marcos said. 

“It is thus our commitment in the government to be relentless in pursuing a Bagong Pilipinas that nurtures unity, fosters compassion, and showcases the greatness of our kababayans,” he also said. /mcm