Marcos thanks Pinoys in Hawaii for helping family during exile

PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. was back in Hawaii on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), about three decades since his family lived there in exile after the 1986 “People Power revolution” that ousted his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos.

The President kicked off his visit to Honolulu with a meeting with the Filipino community shortly after his arrival at 7:13 p.m. Saturday (1:13 p.m. Sunday in Manila).

“Let me say, what I have waited (for a) very long time to say, Aloha!” Marcos said in greeting the Filipinos who responded “Aloha” in return.

He said he insisted they pass by Hawaii before returning to Manila so he could personally thank the Filipinos and Filipino-Americans who, for close to six years, took care of his family.

The President attended the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco from November 15 to 17. It was followed by an overnight working visit to Los Angeles. He is set to return to Manila today.

“Honolulu, Hawaii holds a very, the Filipinos and the Filipino-Americans hold a very special place in my heart for all the wonderful experiences we had here with the Filipino compatriots,” said Marcos.

He said the people of Hawaii along with the Filipino community had “kept us alive for six years” as they provided all their needs such as food, clothing and even appliances.

The President said when they arrived in Hawaii in 1986, they had nothing.

“Kung hindi sa inyo, palagay ko wala na iyung pamilyang Marcos kaya hindi ko makakalimutan, on behalf my entire family, wala na iyung aking ama, but when my mother learned that I was going to Hawaii, she said, ‘You make sure that you go back to all those people who went out of their way to keep us comfortable, to keep us alive, literally alive (if not for you, the Marcos family would already be gone. That is why I will never forget, on behalf my entire family, my father is already gone, but when my mother learned that I was going to Hawaii, she said ‘you make sure that you go back to all those people who went out of their way to keep us comfortable, to keep us alive,’ literally alive),” he said.

“That is something I will carry in my heart, that the Marcoses will carry in our hearts, and we’d tell