Bongbong honors dad Marcos Sr on 107th birth anniversary

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. honored his late father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., on his birthday on Wednesday.

In a Facebook post, Marcos said his father’s wisdom still guides and reminds him of the principles in leading the country to progress.

“Not a day goes by where I don’t think about my father. His wisdom remains a guiding force, a steady voice of reason reminding me of the principles that should lead our nation forward,” Marcos said.

“Happy birthday, Dad! We continue to celebrate you and honor your lasting legacy,” he added.

Wednesday marks the 107th birth anniversary of the elder Marcos who, as the country's 10th president, served from 1965 until he was removed from office in 1986 via the People Power Revolution. He died on Sept. 28, 1989 in Hawaii, where the Marcos family was exiled following his ouster from Malacañang.

Being 'Filipino'

In Ilocos Norte, the President emphasized Wednesday that the essence of his father was being dedicated to Filipinos and the entire country.

Marcos, together with First Lady Louise "Liza" Araneta-Marcos, is in his family's home province to commemorate his father's 107th birth anniversary.

"I am always reminded of the... what was engraved in the mausoleum when my father was still buried here and those of you that have been to the mausoleum will remember that it was one single word: Filipino. That is the essence of my father," Marcos said in his speech.

"He was an Ilocano first but his whole life was dedicated to Filipino... his whole life was dedicated to the Philippines," Marcos added.

Grateful

Looking back at his father's term of office, Marcos said the guiding principle in leading the country was all about serving and protecting the interests of the citizens.

"When things are confusing, when things are being so complex, what is the essence of service that my father taught me... that is very simple but not easy to achieve. But it is simple, be a Filipino, serve the Filipino, protect the Filipino and the Philippines," Marcos said.

He said he was grateful for all the values that he had learned from his late father.

The President said he would continue to follow a credo of being a good Filipino in leading the country.

"And I have followed that credo from the very beginning of my term and I will continue to follow that credo. 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," he said.

"That is my continuing guide. That is the credo that we should live by. And for that, I will be eternally grateful to my dad for the lessons that he taught us, for the values that imbued in our very souls. And that has served us all well," he added.

Earlier in the day, Marcos paid tribute to the memory of his father during the wreath-laying ceremony at the Marcos Monument in Batac City.

Prior to the ceremony, the President and the First Family attended a Thanksgiving Mass at the Immaculate Conception Parish-Batac.

Marcos had declared Wednesday, Sept. 11, a non-working day in the province of Ilocos Norte to commemorate the 107th birthday of his father.

In Proclamation 671, the President recognized that the people of the province should be "given full opportunity to participate in the occasion and enjoy the celebration."

"It is but fitting and proper that the people of the Province of Ilocos Norte be given full opportunity to participate in the occasion and enjoy the celebration," the proclamation stated. — Joviland Rita and Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK/ VDV, GMA Integrated News