Marcos to nation’s leaders: Let faith guide you

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the 49th Philippine National Prayer Breakfast (PNPB) at the Heroes Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday, November 18, 2024. The PNPB was launched in 1975 by former Senate President Gil Puyat and Atty. Francisco Ortigas Jr. In this gathering, the leaders of the government, business sector, and different faiths come together to ask the Lord for guidance for the country.  PHOTO BY YUMMIE DINGDING / PPA POOL

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. encouraged current and future nation leaders to use their faith as a guiding light in serving the country.

He issued the appeal in his speech at the 49th National Prayer Breakfast held in the Malacañan Palace on Monday.

“To all the future leaders amongst us, let us remember this: faith is a beacon for the future. Let it guide you as you navigate the uncharted waters of leadership. You will draw courage from it when faced with doubt; it will temper your ambition with a sense of purpose greater than self,” Marcos said.

“Let us bequeath to the next generation a leadership culture that values integrity over expediency, vision over short-term goals, and harmony over discord,” he added.

READ: Marcos joins Philippine National Prayer Breakfast in Palace

The president also urged leaders to recommit themselves to a service guided by faith, where decisions are made with prayerful discernment.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the 49th Philippine National Prayer Breakfast (PNPB) at the Heroes Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday, November 18, 2024. The PNPB was launched in 1975 by former Senate President Gil Puyat and Atty. Francisco Ortigas Jr. In this gathering, the leaders of the government, business sector, and different faiths come together to ask the Lord for guidance for the country.  PHOTO BY YUMMIE DINGDING / PPA POOL

Marcos likewise called on the public to unite in prayer amid massive devastation caused by six consecutive strong tropical cyclones.

“Our collective faith and prayer to the Almighty is the most powerful tool that we have to weather these storms and the destruction that they bring,” he said.

The Philippine National Prayer Breakfast, established in 1975 by late Senate President Gil Puyat and Atty. Francisco Ortigas, Jr., gathers the country’s leaders from government, business, and religious communities to pray for God’s guidance for the future of the Philippines.

The highlight of this event is the Annual Prayer Breakfast, which symbolizes unity and faith among top national leaders.