A tireless and hardworking president

I am not in the habit of praising this president but I need to say he isn’t lazy. In one week's time BBM accomplished the SONA, the three-day official visit to Malaysia, the quick Cebu trip for APEC business groups, and the obligatory visit to Ilocos after supertyphoon Egay. He truly earned his salary for these five major accomplishments. Contrary to the election propaganda of the opponents, this Marcos is also hardworking like his father. Ilocanos are really diligent, conscientious, focused, and industrious.

The hard-working presidents I knew were presidents Fidel Ramos from Pangasinan, Elpidio Quirino from Ilocos Sur, and BBM’s late father Ferdinand Marcos Sr. With due respect, I cannot say the same thing about President Duterte, the late PNoy, or even his late mother, Cory. Quezon was hardworking, Osmeña was also diligent as well as Magsaysay and Garcia. We know Boholanos are the Ilocanos of the south, both industrious and thrifty. BBM has visited both America and China while Duterte was the only president, aside from Aguinaldo, who has never visited the US during his presidency. But this president is a jet setter. And he always brings along the first lady, his favorite son, Sandro, and his favorite cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez.

In his first year in office, he made no less than 12 official foreign travels and a number of unofficial ones. His first official foreign trip was in Jakarta and Bogor, Indonesia, in September 4 to 6 last year, followed by a side trip to Singapore on September 6 and 7. He went to the US from September 17 to 24 and to Singapore again on October 1 to 3 to see the Grand Prix. He attended the 41st ASEAN Summit in Cambodia on November 9 to 13. Then he visited Bangkok on November 16 to 19 to attend the APEC CEO Summit and also went to Brussels on December 12 to 14 to attend the SEAN-EU Summit. He started 2023 by visiting Beijing, China, from January 3 to 6, followed by a Japan state visit on February 6 to 12 to meet Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. On April 30 to May 4 this year, BBM was back in Washington, where he met President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

On May 5 to 6, BBM was, of course, present during the coronation of King Charles in the UK. He also met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the first Indian to become a prime minister of the United Kingdom. Then he flew to Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, to attend the 42nd ASEAN Summit from May 9 to 11. On July 25 to 27, he president visited Malaysia and met the king, the 16th and current Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah of Pahang, the head of state, as well as Datuk Anwar Bin Ibrahim. Every time the president visits a country, he always meets the Filipino community composed of expats and OFWs. And he always introduces the first lady, the speaker, his anointed son, Sandro, and the members of the Cabinet. He also meets the business community of the host country and later claims promised investments in billions.

The president also visits major cities and provinces in the Philippines especially when there is a major political and economic event or a major disaster. Compared to all past presidents, this one may land in the Guinness Book of World Records as having the most number of travels abroad and locally. He is not an ivory tower president. He is hands-on chief executive. He leaves Malacañang to his fellow Ilocano, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. He goes around and checks on major projects, he presides over the Cabinet meetings and is always seen by the people. These are good signs and we hope he can sustain this for the next five years.

The last thing this country needs is a lazy president who stays in his office and calls his close friends every night to have a drinking spree to talk about women and gambling. Today, we have a president who has no women because the first lady is always at his side; no drinking or gambling. The only problem is he has to work very hard to pay the ?14 trillion debt left by President Duterte and to guard the West Philippine Sea, to prepare for food crisis, oil crisis, water crisis, and for the next supertyphoon, earthquake, volcanic eruption, or an invasion by China. God have mercy on the Philippines, and God save the president.