Marcos: ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ a call for transformation

PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday officially launched his administration’s advocacy for a “Bagong Pilipinas” which he said involves genuine programs for development that benefit and the people and provides them better service, and brings progress to the country.

Some 400,000 individuals attended event at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, the National Capital Region Police Office quoting crowd estimates as of 7 p.m. Sunday

The President, at the Bagong Pilipinas rally held at the Quirino Grandstand, said it is not a political game plan that caters to a privileged few and serves political interests.

“Bagong Pilipinas is not a new partisan coalition in disguise. It is a set of ideals that all us Filipinos, regardless of political creed or religion or wealth, can coalesce around … It is a call for transformation, the transformation of our idea of being a Filipino, and the transformation of our economy, of governance, of society,” Marcos said.

Reports have said the rally will be used to promote moves to amend the 1987 Constitution, which the Presidential Communications Office denied.

“This is not a plan drafted in isolation by those who govern. It is a plan drawn from the inputs of the sovereign. As such, it can only succeed with the people’s participation.

It can only succeed if a government will demonstrate the fortitude to do the hard work,” the President said.

Marcos also said that the Bagong Pilipinas is not just a slogan, or a sticker or a logo that everyone will see in the streets, but the brand of governance of the administration.

“It is the time for bold thinking, accompanied by the strong will to execute it. As I have said many times, the mandate of the people should be devoted to achieving the grand, not wasted on the petty,” he said.

CHANGES

Among other officials who attended the event were former President and now Rep. Gloria Arroyo, First Lady Louse “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, Ilocos Norte Rep. and presidential son Sandro Marcos, Cabinet men, several senators, and local government officials.

Marcos said Bagong Pilipinas will start with changes in the government and its people.

These changes include barring the lazy and slow workers in government, banning