Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., won a landslide with 31 million votes during the May 9 national elections.
Last Thursday, on the 30th of June, Bongbong was inaugurated as the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines at the National Museum of Fine Arts.
Before proceeding to the inauguration venue, Marcos Jr. stopped by the Malacañang Palace to meet with his predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte.
At his inauguration, he was accompanied by his wife, who is now the First Lady, Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, and his three sons.
Also present at the event is Marcos Jr.’s mother and former First Lady, Imelda Marcos, who, in 2018, was found guilty of seven counts of graft by the court for her family’s unexplained wealth.
“You picked me to be your servant, to enable changes to benefit all. I fully understand the gravity of [the] responsibility you put on my shoulders. I do not take it lightly but I am ready for the task,” Marcos said in his speech.
Multiple times during his speech, Marcos emphasized his call for “unity”. This was also his motto during the campaign period.
“I am here not to talk about the past; I am here to tell you about our future. A future of sufficiency even plenty; of readily available ways and means to get done what needs doing — by you, by me.” he added.
Meanwhile, activists and progressive groups gathered at the Plaza Miranda to express their dissent against the inauguration of the newly-elected president.
Furthermore, his running-mate and the daughter of former President Duterte, Sarah Dutere-Carpio held her inauguration earlier in June 19 as the 15th Vice President of the Philippines.
Duterte won the elections also with a landslide win and a majority vote of 32 million.