Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is the new president of the Philippines

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos, Jr. officially took his oath of office as the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines around noon on June 30, 2022. He was the fourth president inaugurated at the National Museum of Fine Arts Building (formerly known as Legislative Building), as it was also previously used for former Presidents Manuel L. Quezon (1935), Jose P. Laurel (1943), and Manuel Roxas (1946). Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo administered his oath of office.

Marcos topped the official count of the Congress of the Philippines with an overwhelming 31,628,783 votes or 58.77 % of all votes – a landslide victory. The Bicameral Congress proclaimed him and Sara “Inday Sara” Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio on May 25, 2022 as the nation’s duly elected President and Vice President, respectively.

Historically, he became the second President from the Province of Ilocos Norte, after his father Ferdinand E. Marcos, and the third child of a former President to hold the post after Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Benigno Simeon “Noynoy/PNoy” Cojuangco Aquino III.

In his inaugural address, President Marcos enumerated the priorities of his administration, namely, infrastructure, economy, environment, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He reiterated his promise of a “unifying leadership” and asked for the public’s help in achieving his vision for the country because, for him, the people’s dreams are also his. He humbly thanked and expressed his appreciation for former President Rodrigo R. Duterte for “his courage in making hard decisions.”

The new President vowed to address food security, as he will also take steps to address climate change, and push for reforms in education – clarifying that such will be in the realms of science and vocational skills, not history. He committed to give due course to the unfinished infrastructure projects of the past administration and to lay down a comprehensive infrastructure plan that will be implemented during his term.

After the induction ceremony, and ensuing vin d’honneur held inside the same building, President Marcos returned to the Malacañang Palace for the arrival honors and to lead the mass oath-taking of the members of his Cabinet. The hectic day culminated with the Inaugural Dinner. #mvs