11-minute vlog gives glimpse of Marcos daily routine

MANILA, Philippines — “Mr. President, what do you do every day?”

The question, supposedly sent to President Marcos by a child via email, prompted the Chief Executive to come up with an 11-minute YouTube vlog providing a glimpse of his daily routine.

According to Marcos, the hectic schedule did not come as a surprise to him because he saw how his late father and namesake worked. His father, Ferdinand Marcos, was president of the country from Dec. 30, 1965 to Feb. 25, 1986.

“I learned from him that you should choose carefully the things you will do in a day, in a week. Your working habits should be efficient. You should not waste time. You should not do things that do not have sense or significance,” the President said in Filipino.

“It is important for you to have a packed schedule so you won’t waste time. That’s the only commodity that you cannot buy, that you cannot bring back. You really have to maximize your time in a day,” he added.

Marcos said he usually wakes up at 6 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. in the morning and starts his day by checking his phone. He said he wanted to check if he has new messages or if there are matters that require his attention.

The President said he usually skips breakfast and does not eat until lunch time.

“I am already used to that routine and I think it helps strengthen the body,” he said in Filipino.

Marcos said he often presides over meetings with the Cabinet, various sectors, advisory council and protocol staff in Malacañang. During the meetings, the accomplishment reports and performance audits of agencies are examined to determine if the programs and projects of the administration are moving. The meetings will also help agencies identify possible problems so they can be resolved.

He also attends diplomatic functions like the presentation of credentials of ambassadors as part of the efforts to strengthen the Philippines’ ties with other countries.

Paperwork, oath takings, events

The President also revealed that he signs 50 to 100 documents a day.

“But that is not the most difficult part because some (documents) require a decision and they have to be studied. Even if the folder is that thick, you have to read them all so you will know everything and you will be able to think carefully before you decide,” he said.

Marcos said he is fond of reading so doing paperwork is one of the things he can do faster.

Also part of his schedule is the oath taking of officials, an event that Marcos is used to attending.

“I have been a governor, a senator and a congressman. Now, I am still tapped to administer oaths of office. Maybe I can administer the oath of office even with my eyes closed,” he said.

Some of Marcos’ activities are held outside Malacañang like inauguration of projects, the giving of various government assistance and launching of programs like Kadiwa, which helps small businesses and farmers sell their products directly to consumers.

Marcos, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, also visits military camps to check whether soldiers have the equipment they need to perform their mission. He said his camp visits also allow him to try the new equipment of the military, like when he rode an FA-50 jet in Pampanga last month.

“I think I am very lucky because all the small ones who watched Top Gun wish they had the same experience. It’s the same for me,” Marcos said.

“One is still lucky if he is President. You are able to do the things you only dream about before,” he added.

If Marcos cannot attend an event, he records video messages to express appreciation for the programs of those who invited him.

“In a day, our office receives more than 30 event invitations. Even if I want to accept all invitations, it is not possible,” the Chief Executive said.

Marcos noted that his official residence is only a two-minute ride away from Malacañang, a setup that he said allows him to maximize time.

Health routine, free time

In the same vlog, Marcos said he still goes to the gym to work out despite his taxing schedule. For him, the best way to cope with stress is to exercise.

“You need to have a strong body. You cannot get sick. If you get sick for a day, that means a lot. Many events would be postponed, there would be many changes in the schedule,” he said.

Marcos said he is also careful with what he eats, but he claimed that it is not something difficult to do.

“It is easy for us because the diet of an Ilocano usually consists of fish and vegetables,” he said.

Marcos said that he only has free time during Sundays because his Saturdays are often filled with meetings that he sets. He said his Sundays are spent attending mass and eating lunch with his family. Family time, the President said, gives him a break from thinking about problems.

“If there is a complicated problem, my system requires that I study it carefully. I study everything related to that problem and then I set it aside, I will do something different,” Marcos said.

“Based on my experience, if you leave it behind temporarily and you do something else, your problem disappears temporarily from your mind and if you go back to it, you have a new perspective,” he added.

The vlog also showed footage of Marcos playing with his pet dogs.

A photo posted on Facebook by First Lady Liza Marcos yesterday showed the First Couple with former first lady Imelda Marcos and other members of their family.

“A blessed Palm Sunday to everyone,” the First Lady wrote on her post.