Marcos meets with Pinoys in Indonesia

JAKARTA – President Marcos’ first official function overseas turned out to be a reenactment of his typical campaign sorties during the 2022 presidential race, as he made promises and thanked his supporters before an adoring crowd of migrant workers here.

Marcos’ meeting with the Filipino community, his first official activity during his three-day state visit here, had the elements of a campaign rally, including a cheering audience, a song number, an energetic host and a video presentation highlighting a politician.

Waving Philippine flags, hundreds of Filipino workers chanted “BBM” as the President entered the venue of the meeting at the Fairmont Hotel.

Marcos himself acknowledged that the meeting allowed his supporters overseas to experience how it felt to attend his campaign sorties.

“Dahil ang sabi namin ay kayo’y sumuporta sa akin nang napakabigat na suportang ibinigay ninyo sa akin, kahit hindi ko kayo nakampanya. Kaya’t upang makabawi man lang nang konti, kahit na nakaboto na kayo, ikakampanya ko pa rin kayo (I was told that you provided me huge support even if I did not campaign before you personally. Now, to make up for it, I will campaign before you even if you have already voted),” the President said.

Marcos assured Filipino workers that his administration is fully committed to making sure that every Filipino’s economic, social, and cultural potential are fully realized in the Philippines.

“We dream that that day will come, that Filipinos will only travel abroad to work because it is their choice, not because they have no other options,” Marcos said.

“Together, we’ll make the Philippines more conducive for tourism, for investment. At the same, creating more jobs for the economy. And as you all may know, I’m fully committed to revitalizing our country’s agricultural industry,” he added.

Marcos also praised Filipino workers here, calling them the Philippines’ “ambassadors of goodwill” in Indonesia. Filipinos have earned the respect of Indonesians because of the quality of their work, he added.

Marcos ended the event with photo opportunities with his supporters, another fixture of a modern campaign rally.

“At kagaya ng mga rally nung kampanya, tapos na ‘yung mga speech, selfie naman (Just like campaign rallies, after the speech, it’s time for the selfies),” the President said.