“Taos-puso kong tinatanggap ang hamon ng panahon, ang hamon ng bagong henerasyon.”
With this declaration, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. formally announced his vice presidential bid in Intramuros, Manila, on Saturday.
“Tatakbo ako sa susunod na eleksyon sa Mayo 2016 bilang bise presidente ng Republika ng Pilipinas (I will run in the May 2016 elections for vice president of the Republic of the Philippines),” Marcos said, drawing loud cheers from the audience.
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In his speech, Marcos urged the public to rally behind him in his dream for a “genuine change” toward a progressive nation.
“Sa tulong ninyo at ng bayan, pamumunuan ko ang isang rebolusyon sa puso, isip at gawa tungo sa isang tunay at makabuluhang pagbabago,” he said.
The senator said the Philippines remained tied to poverty and was still hounded by corruption more than a century after it achieved independence.
“Nakatali pa rin tayo sa pusod ng kahirapan,” he said, adding that many Filipinos had left the country to work abroad.
He said 5,000 Filipinos left the Philippines every day to seek employment overseas.
“Patuloy ang paglipad ng ating mga kababayan patungo sa ibang bansa upang doon magtrabaho. Nagtitiis ang ating mga OFW (overseas Filipino workers) na malayo sa kanilang mga pamilya para lamang may maipakain at mapag-aral ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay,” he said.
Drug problem
Aside from poverty and employment, the senator said problems on illegal drugs, smuggling, and inefficient mass transportation must also be addressed.
He said 93 percent of the barangays in Metro Manila had a drug problem.
“Ayon sa istatistika, 93 percent ng barangays sa buong Metro Manila ang binalot na ng illegal drugs,” he said.
The senator pointed out that the government had failed not only to resolve the drug problem but also to give importance to the country’s educational system.
“Kulang ang silid-aralan. Mababa ang kalidad ng mga libro na binibigay natin sa mga mag-aaral. Kulang ang suporta na binibigay ng ating pamahalaan sa ating mga guro. Kulang ang benepisyo at training para maging mas mahusay ang kanilang pagtuturo,” he said.
If elected vice president, Marcos said he would prioritize infrastructure and making reforms on mass transportation.
He cited the sorry state of mass railways, particularly the Metro Rail Transit (MRT 3), which served hundreds of thousands of commuters daily.
“Malaki ang pangangailangan natin ng bagong infrastraktura. Mula sa bagong kalsada at tulay hanggang sa airport at puerto at sa mga power plant,” he said.
Corruption in gov’t
He questioned where the government spent people’s taxes.
“Saan napupunta ang napakalaking pondo na hawak ng ating mga opisyal? Nasaan na ang buwis na kinokolekta sa tao? Saan ito napupunta?” he said.
He said massive corruption in the government, such as smuggling, continued to prevail.
“Patuloy ang smuggling at palaki ng palaki ang importasyon ng bigas habang ang ating mga magsasaka ay walang natatanggap na tulong o suporta mula sa gobyerno,” he said.
The senator also promised to bring justice to the victims of the bloody Mamasapano encounter.
“Ang malungkot nito, magpahanggang ngayon ay tila mailap pa rin ang hinahanap na hustisya ng kanilang mga naulila. Hindi pa rin nakakasuhan ang mga nagmasaker sa kanila,” he said.
Marcos also scored the government for its rehabilitation efforts after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” devastated the Visayas region.
He said many remained homeless and hungry in the typhoon-stricken areas due to the government’s inefficiency.
Territorial dispute
Amid the country’s territorial dispute with China, Marcos made a strong stand, saying he would fight for our sovereign rights.
“Hindi ako makapapayag na mawala sa atin ang ilang bahagi ng ating bansa. Ipaglalaban ko ang integridad ng ating bayan,” he said.
With this vision, Marcos said he wanted to bring back the respect of the world to the Filipinos.
“Ibabalik natin ang respeto at paggalang ng buong mundo sa pilipino. Ibabalik natin, sa tulong ninyo, ang pagkilala sa Pilipino bilang isang matalino at magaling na lahi. Ibabalik natin ang ating dignidad,” he said.
Prominent personalities
Apart from his supporters, prominent politicians and personalities attended Marcos’ event.
Present were Marcos’ family led by Ilocos Norte Rep. Imeda Marcos, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, and his sister Irene Araneta.
Also present were former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos and veteran television host and talent manager German Moreno.
During the event, Estrada endorsed Marcos and vowed to support the senator in the 2016 elections. Nestor Corrales/RC
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Updated at 7:09 p.m.