PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. Marcos Jr. delivered his second State of the Nation Address on July 24, 2023. (Noel B. Pabalate)

For a writer or journalist, a casual lunch with a Head of State, just the two of you, will always be a rare occurrence. It’s one of those scenarios that we conjure up in our dreams. On the occasion of our President’s 66th birthday, allow me to revisit the one I recently had.

Last month, I had that singular opportunity of having a one-on-one lunch/interview with our President Bong Bong Marcos, at the Bahay Pangulo. My interview was conducted between a meeting with a US Senator, and the presentation of the credentials of a new Ambassador to the Philippines.

The President was relaxed and expansive, it felt like friends with a shared history - we first met in the early 1970’s - shoot the breeze on a wide range of topics.

The President had recently delivered his SONA (State of the Nation Address), and I was remarking on what were my two highlights.

One, he spoke extensively about sustainability and the circular economy. And two, at the close of the SONA, he explicitly laid the challenge to Congress on what bills had to be passed over the next few months to facilitate his game plan for national recovery and development.

This encapsulated how our current President had laid the framework for how his administration will operate, and plans to succeed. He will provide the vision, the broad strokes and guiding principles; and he’s depending on consensus and broad implementation to be the “engine” driving the vision to reality. In effect, he’s saying he can’t make this happen on his own, but he’s more than ready to light the spark, to ignite the fire; and he’s saying that if we share the “dream,” together, we can make it happen.

He became quite passionate while speaking about the youth who work in government, and the frustration he experiences when faced with the creaky machinery of our political structures; and his words deserve repeating:

“It’s this attitude of how the knee jerk reaction is always ‘No’; (then) a million reasons for why it can’t be done is the litany of excuses, instead of finding the creative solution. And this is why in the SONA, I particularly mentioned that there are so many brilliant young people in government service today. These are not the ones you’ll see in photographs or heading the agencies. These are the regular staffers, the ones tirelessly committed to public service, with fiery idealism. I don’t want to snuff out their fervor; but want to inspire them to keep the course, and do even more.”

“I want them to trust the system, that there is a rewarding career path based on merit and excellence. It begs the question we often hear about why do Filipinos excel abroad, but can’t replicate that here at home. This has to be corrected.”

“I’ve always been a believer of the system over personality. Like when it comes to typhoons and natural disasters. I’m fine showing up; but I don’t want them to think that relief efforts and funds only arrive along with me. The system should work so it’s not just about me; and the assistance will arrive even if I don’t physically show up. This is about how a working system is in place, one that supersedes individuals.”

When the conversation shifted to fitness and wellness given his hectic schedule and frequent traveling, President Bong smiled. He tries to do gym work, and put time on the elliptical machine every other day.

I remarked on the extensive work and landscaping being done on the abbreviated golf course at Malacañang Park and he laughed, saying his golfing nephews are the ones raring for the renovating to be finished, so they can push him to take up the game. They’ve already been recommending what his golf set should consist of - which woods, irons, and putters to acquire.

I took note of what he ate during the lunch – very simple steamed fish in soup; while I had pasta and grilled chicken. And during the lunch, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos arrives with her sister; and they munch on the sweets and dessert I brought. Meanwhile, the President sticks to the healthier steamed fish.

He admitted that the formal evening dinners are when he inevitably must partake of richer meals, so he likes to keep his lunches as the more health-conscious meal of the day.

I was also made to understand that on the weekends, it’s our President who loves to head to the kitchen and prepare big breakfasts for the whole family. He loves these moments of giving in to his culinary streak; and jokes that he’s the partner who you can entrust with the cooking chores.

Both the President and the First Lady are avid travelers, a passion they share with all three boys. And he jokes about “be careful what you wish for,” as even he has to admit that all the traveling since assuming office last year has taken its toll. The hectic schedules of these State Visits make him nostalgic for those days when he and Liza would take leisurely holidays, and really explore the cultural and culinary traditions of places they would visit, or revisit. I mention that would still be in 2028, and he raises his eyebrows, laughingly saying to not remind him of that fact.

During the Aug. 22 birthday party for First Lady Liza, the President tendered a short speech/toast and referred to our interview, remarking how when I asked him what it was about Liza that truly turned his head and made him pursue her, he gave it a good thought. Over the years, it’s just a given they’re together and it works; but putting the “Why” into words made him stop and reflect.

“Liza was not like any other girl I had ever met…she’s always been this intriguing, fascinating person for me…” and by repeating what he said during the interview, but now in front of all those assembled for the party, he had Liza blushing, as everyone was applauding them, and there was a chorus of “oohs and awww.”

For me, that’s only one aspect of our President’s personality that not many may know about, how he’s such a romantic at heart, and a “pusong mamon.”