President Marcos greets the public waiting for him during the launch of the first Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlet in Pili, Camarines Sur in March 2023. (BBM Vlog)
Food security and sustainability are two of the advocacies defining the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which he has pursued even before he stepped into the presidency in 2022.
His support for renewable energy led to the development of the Bangui Windmills, Southeast Asia’s first windfarm in 1998. And as the leader of the country, the President has given food security more of his attention, taking on the position of Agriculture Secretary.
Today, as he celebrates his 66th birthday, he also marks 25 years in public service, where he served as Ilocos Norte governor, congressman, and senator before he was elected President in 2022.
A line in his profile may explain President Bongbong’s (a name he is more popularly known) why he is taking on more responsibilities as a leader:
“My greatest fear is to come into this world, live and die, and nothing changes. Nabuhay ako, ang tagal ko sa mundong ito na walang natulungan, wala akong naipaganda (I lived in this world for so long and I was not able to help anyone, or improve anything).”
At this time in his life – as people are prone to do on a birthday – PBBM has much to reflect on, most of it on what he is doing to help people and improve the lives of his constituents.
Through his political career, which started in the 1980s as vice governor of Ilocos Norte, the President's long-time advocacy is to "elevate the quality of life of every Filipino."
Aside from helping those in need and the vulnerable sector, his track record shows he has been advocating for agriculture and the shift to renewable energy.
Celebrating past birthdays
On his birthday last year, Marcos said he learned from his parents that public service is not only about attaining progress for the country but also prioritizing the welfare of the disenfranchised sector or the children, elderly, and sick.
"Wala nang mas magandang pagdiriwang ng isang kaarawan maalala natin ang ating mga kababayan na nangangailangan ng tulong at lahat ng ating magagawa para sila ay tulungan (There is no better way to celebrate a birthday than to remember our fellowmen who are in need of help and do everything we can to help them)," Marcos said during his visit to White Cross Orphanage in San Juan City to give gifts to the abandoned children.
The 65-year-old leader then also said that putting a smile on their faces was enough to make his special day happy.
"Wala nang kasing saya na makita, lalong lalo na kapag birthday mo, na makita na meron kang nagawa at meron kang napangiti mo man lang yung bata, napangiti mo man lang ang lola, napasigla mo nang konti yung may sakit (Nothing compares to the happiness, especially on your birthday, of seeing that you did something to bring a smile to the children, the elderly, and those who are sick)," Marcos said.
He conducted the gift-giving activity on his birthday last year with the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Environment
Last year, he marked his birthday through a tree planting event.
"Pinakamaganda ay para yung kaarawan ko ay maging mas makabuluhan at talagang may dahilan na tayo ay mag-celebrate ay sabi ko gawa tayo ng greening tree planting (It would be great to make my birthday celebration meaningful and to give us reason to celebrate if we conduct a greening tree planting)," Marcos said during his birthday last year.
"At ‘yan naman talaga ay ang pinakaimportanteng isyu hindi lamang sa Pilipinas kung hindi sa buong mundo ngayon (And that's really the most important issue now not only in the Philippines but also around the world)," he added.
That day, he also paid tribute to those who continue to fight for the environment and the earth.
Marcos, who has established himself as a strong advocate for responsible and sustainable use of natural resources and alternative or renewable sources of energy, filed House Bill No. 8617 on the establishment of a National Institute for Clean Energy Research during his stint as a lawmaker.
The bill aimed to provide Filipino scientists and engineers an environment that would support further training, research, and development of indigenous technologies that use renewable sources of power.
According to Malacañang record, he further committed his time in the Senate to pursue his aspiration of providing Filipinos with sustainable, affordable, and reliable energy through the bills and resolutions he filed such as:
• Senate Bill No. 2593: Hydrogen Research, Promotion, And Development Act of 2010
• Senate Bill No. 2885: Climate Change Education Act of 2011
• Senate Bill No. 410: The Philippine Green Building Act
• Senate Bill No. 2097: PAGASA Modernization Act (RA 10692)
• Senate Resolution No. 622: Energy Infrastructure System
An advocate for unity
Unity was the center of Marcos' presidential bid and he won on that platform. Now, his administration uses it to unify all government agencies to address national concerns.
"Lagi kong pinapaalala sa tao yung pagkakaisa na ating sinigaw noong kampanya, hindi po ‘yan slogan, katotohanan yun. Yun talaga ang magiging solusyon sa ating mga problema (I always remind the people the call for unity during the campaign, that is not a slogan, that is the truth. That will be the solution to our problems)," Marcos said during the oathtaking of new members of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas in Malacañan in August this year.
His call for unity is an invitation to "co-create with him a country that prioritizes growth, collaboration, and a participatory society."
"His campaign message of unity and people moving in unison, strived to give a voice to Filipinos all around the nation, who believe in a brighter future for themselves and their children; a vision embodied in his campaign slogan: sama-sama tayong babangon muli," Malacañang said.