PBMM pays tribute to father

PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday attributed his working principles to the guidance of his father and namesake, President Ferdinand E. Marcos, who he said believed in the credo “be a Filipino, serve the Filipino, protect Filipinos and the Philippines.”

The President, during the Marcos Day celebration and commemoration of the 107th birth anniversary of the late president in Batac City in Ilocos Norte, said when things get confusing or become complex, he always looks to his father and the “essence of service” that he had taught him.

“It is simple: Be a Filipino, serve the Filipino, protect Filipinos and the Philippines. And from that comes all of the important things that we can do, that guides us, that is a guiding principle,” Marcos said.

He said he will continue to follow the principle.

“Be a good Filipino. Be a Filipino that loves your countrymen. Be a Filipino that loves your country and do everything and sacrifice everything to achieve that purpose, to achieve that goal that you become a good Filipino and you leave the Philippines a better place than you found it. That is my continuing guide. That is the credo that we should live by,” he added.

The President said that by sustaining the “legacy of love of country… legacy of love of your kababayans” that his father left behind, the country will always head towards the right direction.

“To many of us whose lives he touched, let us remember and pay tribute to his memory by reflecting on his legacy and meaningful service to our nation. He is a symbol of hope, a great innovator and a fervent patriot. Indeed, he was a Renaissance man whose thoughts and ideas were far ahead of his time. We should not only celebrate his birthday with festivities, but rather with the spirit of generosity and bayanihan, through giving back to our people,” he added.

The elder Marcos was born on Sept. 11, 1917 in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte and died on Sept. 28, 1989 while in exile with his family in Honolulu in Hawaii. He served as the 10th president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986.

Marcos Jr led the wreath-laying ceremony at his father’s monument in Batac City, after attending a thanksgiving mass at the Immaculate Conception Parish also in