NEW JERSEY, USA — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. met members of the Filipino community here, where he lauded overseas Filipinos for their sacrifices and contribution to the recovery of the Philippine economy.
Marcos met around 1,200 members of the Filipino community at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Sunday afternoon (New Jersey time), his first engagement from his six-day working visit to the USA.
In his speech, the President couldn't help but take pride whenever Filipinos abroad make a name for themselves.
“Kahit nasa malayo kami ay pinapanood namin kayo, pumuputok po ang puso namin ‘pag nakita namin ang inyong ginagawa na itinataas at pinapatingkad ang pangalan ng Pilipinas sa buong mundo (We're watching you from afar. Our hearts burst when we see you putting the Philippines on the map),” he said.
While Covid-19 has created unprecedented economic difficulties globally, Marcos cited the role of OFWs in pandemic recovery, especially the remittances that help support the economy's recovery from the health crisis.
According to the President, dollar remittances hit an all-time high of $34.88 billion in 2021. Forty percent of the said amount came from the USA.
“‘Yung remittances na pinadala ninyo, alam ko ang iniisip ninyo ay tulungan ang mga pamilya ninyo. Pero kahit hindi niyo nararamdaman, malaking naitulong ninyo sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas (Little did you know, your remittances, which you initially send to your families, helped the Philippine economy a lot)," he said.
"At siguro hindi lang malaki ang naitulong, binuhay ninyo ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas,” (You did not just help a lot, you revived our economy)," he added
Marcos will deliver the Philippine national statement at the 77th United Nations General Assembly on September 20 (New Jersey time).
His speech will cover the country's vision of people-centered development, highlighting his administration's thrust for recovery after years of pandemic-induced lockdowns.
The President affirmed the Philippines' commitment to the ideals of the UN, citing the latter's role in fostering international dialogue and cooperation.
Marcos said he would also share the country's views on various global concerns and "the role the Philippines will play as a responsible member of the family of nations in addressing these concerns."
The theme of this year's General Debate is: "A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges." The UN said among these challenges are the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, humanitarian challenges of unprecedented nature, a tipping point in climate change, and threats to the global economy.
Marcos is the first Philippine president to address the UNGA in person since then President Benigno Aquino III in 2010. In his speech in 12 years ago, Aquino noted that the problem of one country posed a problem to another, so solutions could not be developed in a vacuum.
"For humanity to progress, all nations must progress as one," he said.