PBBM on his dad’s birthday: He fought for peace, order and development

A true Filipino and an Ilocano icon. 

This was how President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. remembered his father, the late strongman and former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. during a wreath laying ceremony on the monument of the latter in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

The event aims to commemorate the elder Marcos’ 106th birthday on Monday, September 11.  

During the ceremony, the Chief Executive recalled his father’s legacy in fighting for peace and order as well as development, which he hopes will inspire future generations.  

“To the young leaders and government officials: It is my earnest hope that my late father’s values, ideals, and visions for the country will spur you into aspiring for greater roles and more meaningful endeavors—much like how these have inspired me,” Marcos said. 

“Let us act in our own small and unique ways to support [the] government, to support our people in all the initiatives and programs and continue to instill in every Filipino the sense of ownership and accountability in building our great nation,” he added. 

The statement comes amid the recent concerns raised by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) on the alleged attempt by the administration at “historical revisionism” after the Department of Education (DepEd) decided to remove the name of Marcos Sr. from a part of the social studies syllabus for Grade 6 students covering the elder Marcos Sr.’s term as president.

Marcos Sr. placed the entire country under martial law from 1972 to 1981, which was a period marked by rampant accusations of violation of human rights and press freedom as well as alleged “plunder” of government funds. 

He died in 1989, three years after being ousted from the presidency by the EDSA People Power Revolution. 

During his participation at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland last January, Marcos Jr. said among his motivation from running in the previous elections was to ensure his father’s legacy as well as the political “survival” of his family.