President Marcos said the government must lead by example and promote the people's welfare to make Filipinos trust their institutions again, noting that their confidence will help the country succeed.

Marcos said this before at least 400,000 Bagong Pilipinas kick-off rally attendees at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Sunday, Jan. 28.

In his speech, the President acknowledged that the people had lost confidence in the government, and this was evident in how people disrespected the law by trying to get away with traffic violations and using connections.

However, he said no one could really blame Filipinos as they have been repeatedly duped by leaders who did not fulfill promises.

"Hindi pwedeng ibunton ang sisi sa taumbayang paulit-ulit na pinangakuan, pero hindi natutupad na pangako. Hindi natin pwedeng sumbatan ang masang binigo na ng maraming beses (We cannot blame the people who has been getting unfulfilled promises. We cannot fault them if they have been failed repeatedly)," he said.

"Paano natin ibabalik ang tiwala nila sa gobyerno, sa kanilang sarili, sa ating kinabukasan? Paano ba natin bubuhayin ang pananalig nila na kaya natin ang mga hamong paparating (How can we bring back the people's trust in the government, in themselves, and our future? How can we revive their confidence that we can face the challenges ahead)?" he asked.

With this, Marcos said he would not waste the trust given to him by Filipinos — 31 million at that — and that he would lead by example.

"I will not squander the sovereign people's trust by marching and grunting loudly but staying only in place when what they want is to surge forward bereft of drama," he said.

To win that trust, Marcos said the government must show, in deeds, not words, that it deserves the people's trust.

"Government must lead by example, not by empty exhortation but in ways that inspire confidence in our people, so they, too, will believe that the greatness they deserve is at hand," he said.

"It is the time for bold thinking, accompanied by the strong will to execute it," he added.

President Marcos said the country could start reaching greater heights once Filipinos trust one another.

"We have to begin by restoring faith in ourselves, belief in our strengths, and trust in our institutions. Only then can we have [the] confidence to bravely confront whatever tomorrow brings," he said.

"Ang balakid na nakakahambalang sa ating pag-unlad ay ang kawalang tiwala natin sa ating mga sarili, sa ating mga institusyon (What's stopping us from progress is our lack of trust in ourselves and our institutions)," he added.

The Bagong Pilipinas Campaign is the Marcos administration's brand of governance and leadership, "characterized by a principled, accountable, and dependable government reinforced by unified institutions of society."

It encourages Filipinos to set aside differences and unite to build a nation that shapes a more promising future for its citizens.