MEDIUM RARE
Jullie Y. Daza
And he’s off and running!
“Your dreams are mine.” In English, once, and Filipino, four times.
What is the dream?
“The changes we seek will offend no one,” just as “I did not offend any one of my rivals during the campaign. I saw little incompatibility with my own ideas.”
“Imagine what you and your country can do together.”
“I did not talk much during the campaign, instead I listened, searched for solutions. I extend my hand to all – to be all that we can.”
(The theme of unity, standing together “with our shoulders to the wheel,” was picked up later by the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown, when he toasted PBBM at the vin d’honneur thus: “Your call for unity has resonated with the Filipino people.”)
“You picked me to be your servant. . . I fully understand the gravity of the responsibilities you have placed upon my shoulders. . . I am ready for the task. I do not take it lightly. I will get it done. I will need your help.”
“I will walk that (rough) road with you.”
What are the biggest problems facing his administration? The pandemic, agriculture (want in a land of plenty), energy supply, education, trafficking, OFW’s forced to take menial jobs abroad, nurses who are “the best in the world – there will be changes starting tomorrow, because I have an Ople in the Cabinet.” He praised VP Sara Duterte as “the perfect fit for her mission” as DepEd secretary.
“I want to build success on what’s already happening” and thanked President Duterte “for his courage and hard decisions.”
“No part of this country will be neglected.”
“You will not be disappointed, so do not be afraid.”
“I will spare you of other responsibilities but I will not spare myself.”
“We will go farther together (toward) a future of sufficiency, even of plenty.”
“I will get it done. You will get no excuses from me.”
President Marcos delivered his 29-minute speech with flair and restrained drama. Sounding very much like his father, he was a telegenic orator who stood with perfect poise and posture. Did he make use of a pair of teleprompters? If he did, he hardly glanced at them, that much was clear on TV.