MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. attended his first flag-raising ceremony as the country’s president on Monday, expressing confidence that he will have a good “working relationship” with government workers.
The flag-raising ceremony was conducted at the Kalayaan Grounds of the Malacañan Palace.
Marcos commended during his speech the government workers for upholding public interest over personal interest, particularly in the performance of their duties.
“I know how hard that you work at ginagawa ninyo bilang serbisyo at hindi kayo namimili, kung hindi kayo ay sumusunod kung sinuman ang napili ng ating mga mamamayan na umupo dito sa Palasyong ito (and you are doing public service and do not choose who to serve; you follow the leader chosen by our countrymen and whoever sits in this Palace),” he said.
He advised government workers to anticipate changes in his administration’s leadership style, but assured them that he would engage with them as “partners” in governance.
“Alam niyo naman kani-kanilang style ‘yan. So may magbabago pero huwag ninyong aalalahanin…Hindi kayo ang empleyado namin (Every leader has their own style. So there will be changes, but do not worry. You’re not our employees). You are our partners. Hindi namin magagawa iyong gagawin namin kung hindi sa inyo (We will not be able to do what we need to do without you),” he added.
Marcos reaffirmed his call for national unity in addressing the country’s challenges, stating that he could not accomplish everything alone.
“Marami kasi tayo — hindi naman kasi simpleng bagay ang trabahong ibinigay sa atin. Kaya naman kailangan natin at siguro naging tama talaga ang mensahe noong kampanya na magkaisa. Kaya’t pagkaisahan natin ito at kakayanin natin ito (There are many of us–the work designated to us is not easy. My call for unity during the campaign holds. Let us unite and we can handle anything),” he said.
He urged government workers to “continue the good work” of the preceding years..
“Gawin lang natin ang ating mga trabaho. And siguro one or two steps beyond kung ano lang ‘yung trabaho natin dahil ‘yan ang inaasahan sa atin ng ating mga kababayan (Let’s just do our jobs. And perhaps one or two steps beyond our jobs because that is what our countrymen area expecting),” he added.
Marcos reminded them how millions of people’s lives were impacted by every move or decision the government took.
“When you sit at your desk and you do something and you make a decision or you push something or you expedite something that affects not only you, not only me, that affects millions of people. Kaya’t napakaimportante na itama natin ‘yang ating gagawing trabaho (That is why we must do our jobs properly),” he said.
According to Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Marcos has been settling in well for four days after being sworn in as the country’s 17th President on June 30 at the National Museum in Manila.
“So far, he is upbeat. That’s the observation we have made. He’s very encouraging, he attended today’s flag ceremony of course, as required. What I can say he’s always well-received so when he attended the flag (ceremony) medyo nakaka excite din (it was also exciting) to be with people who are working with him,” she said.
