Marcos’ birthday wishes: Lasting gov’t reforms, more time with family

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hopes that his administration would put in place the foundations of government reforms that would continue beyond his administration.

Marcos turned 69 on Sunday, as he capped his two-day visit to India by participating at the 18th BRICS Summit.

“I wish I’ll be able to get the beginnings of what we started in place, so that they continue,” Marcos told reporters in New Delhi following his attendance at the summit.

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“It is, in many ways, a restructuring and I just want to get the basics of that in place so that we will continue to construct the government. We will continue to make it better,” he said.

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President Marcos said he also wants the Philippines to remain engaged with other countries, while encouraging trade and diplomacy.

And amid regional and global challenges, he hoped the country “will always be on the side of peace.”

In his first State of the Nation Address in 2022, Marcos charted the blueprint of his foreign policy of the Philippines being a “friend to all, and enemy to none.”

READ: Marcos spends 69th birthday meeting world leaders at BRICS Summit

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For his family, however, the President’s birthday wish was much simpler.

The President said he wished he could spend more time with his three sons and first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.

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“Our schedules don’t match very well. We don’t see each other that much either. I wish I could spend more time with all of [them],” he added.

The first lady accompanied Marcos during his two-day visit to India. However, the couple had a different set of activities during their stay.

In her birthday greeting for her husband, Araneta-Marcos described him as her “favorite person” and expressed her admiration for his dedication to his work and the country.

“I see how hard you work every single day—the long hours, the endless meetings, and the weight of responsibility you carry, often without complaint,” the first lady posted on her social media accounts.

“Happy birthday, Bong. I love you to the moon and back,” she wrote.

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Upon their return to Manila, the first couple is expected to celebrate Marcos’ 69th birthday on Monday at the annual “Salo-salo sa Palasyo” at the Kalayaan Grounds of Malacañang, continuing the tradition of marking his special day with the Filipino people. /cb