"Pray for me, wish me well. I want to do well."
President-elect Bongbong Marcos made this rather humble request Wednesday night, May 25, mere minutes after he was proclaimed winner of the May 9 Palace race during a joint session by Congress.
"So I ask you all, pray for me, wish me well. I want to do well because when a president does well, the country does well. And I want to do well for this country," an emotional-looking Marcos, 64, told reporters in an ambush interview as he left the plenary hall of the House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives in Batasan Complex. Quezon City served as the site of the two-day canvassing for the votes cast in the presidential and vice presidential race.
Marcos's running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, was also proclaimed duly-elected vice president Wednesday by House members and senators.
The two UniTeam bets both received over 31 million votes en route to a rate majority mandate.
Marcos spoke about the significance of receiving this many votes during the recent electoral exercise. "I am humbled because for anyone in public service or in a public life, the most valuable thing you may receive from a fellow citizen is their vote. Because embedded in that vote are their hopes and their aspirations for the future."
"But also embedded in that vote are the trust and the confidence that they give to you to take them to that aspirational future," noted the Ilocano.
"And that is why, to have received over 31 million votes from our countrymen is as valuable expression of trust as can be had by anyone in public life. And so for that I thank our people. Beyond that, I promise you that we may not be perfect but we will always strive to perfection. Thank you very much," he said.