Filipinos expect President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to talk about pandemic recovery, reviving the economy, fighting corruption and national unity as he assumes power on Thursday.
Wearing red --- Marcos Jr.'s campaign color --- supporters of the incoming president trooped to the National Museum in Manila to watch the new president get sworn into office. He will serve as president for six years.
Clemencia Garcia, a fish vendor from Navotas, could not hide her excitement that she would witness first hand the oath-taking of the presidential candidate she supported.
READ: Why Bongbong Marcos' Presidential Inauguration Speech Matters
Garcia came with fellow Marcos supporter Joan Bueno, both of them wearing a shirt that highlighted the numbers "31", signifying that they are two of the over 31 million Filipinos who voted for the incoming president.
"Sobrang saya talaga. Hindi matawaran yung kaligayahan namin ngayon kasi sa wakas mababalik na sila, makakaupo na sila," Garcia told reportr before Marcos delivers his inaugural address.
Garcia believes that anything Marcos will say in his inaugural speech will be for the benefit of the Filipino people, regardless of political color. She hopes that the incoming president will continue what outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte has started.
"Ang nakakatuwa talaga ay yung pagkakaisa para sa buong bayan natin, wala nang pagkakawatak-watak. At sana matulungan natin ang presidente natin na maging UniTeam tayo," Garcia said.
"Sabi nga niya wala nang kulay na pag-uusapan dito. Dapat sama-sama, tulong-tulong tayo. Baka maging maayos na rin," she added.
Oscar Baluyot expects Marcos Jr. to tackle the issues of corruption and smuggling of goods in his inaugural speech. The 58-year-old government worker from Quezon City came with his colleagues at the Public Attorney's Office who also support the incoming president.
"Kasama rin [yung ekonomiya]. Tulad ngayon naghihirap tayo dahil sa pandemya. Sana makabangon tayo," Baluyot told reportr.
As the country's new president, Baluyot hopes that Marcos Jr. would set a good example to public servants like him.
"Dahil ako ay kawani ng pamahalaan, walang iba kundi maglingkod ng tapat para makatulong sa bawat isang naglilingkod," she said. "Dapat po. Siya ang mangunguna para tayo ay umunlad."
Liaison officer Lovely Pearl Balingit, 28, took advantage of the work suspension in Manila to attend the inauguration, describing Marcos Jr. as "one of the most inspirational presidents" of the country.
"Talagang kaisa-isang nagbigay sa atin ng malasakit sa bansa natin, nagbigay talaga ng magandang kinabukasan sa mga Pilipino," Balingit, who came with her cousins.
Balingit said she wanted Marcos Jr. to continue what his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., began during his administration over 30 years ago.
"Gusto kong marinig na ibabalik niya at itutuloy niya yung ginawa ng father niya na pagpapausad ng bansa natin, pagpapataas ng ekonomiya, pagpapaunlad ng agrikultura, lalo na sa mga magsasaka. At saka yung pamumuhay ng bawat Pilipino, mahihirap na tao," she said.
For Balingit, what matters was the work that the Marcos family had put in for the country as she ignored critics of the political clan.
"Hindi mo na lang sila papatulan dahil yung mga salita naman nila, wala namang laman yun. Doon tayo sa may sinasabi na may laman, may ginagawa," she added.
Marcos Jr. will take his oath as president by 12 noon on Thursday, officially marking the start of his term. He will then proceed to Malacañang to formally take over the residence and swear in his appointed Cabinet officials.
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