President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Sunday led the celebration of his father's 105th birth anniversary, seeing the event as a "rebirth" of the late president's dreams for the country.
Marcos Jr. joined members of his family in attending a Mass at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City where his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., is buried.
Also in attendance were his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, their relatives and supporters.
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The President thanked those who have been joining their family in celebrating his father's birth anniversary every year.
“Ang isusukli ko lang sa inyo, sa inyong suporta, sa inyong pagmamahal ay ang magagandang performance na aking gagawin sa darating na taon,” he told their supporters.
Marcos Jr. said the celebration of his father's birth anniversary was meant "to keep his memory alive."
“It is a rebirth, of not perhaps the physical body of Ferdinand Marcos, but it is a rebirth of his dreams, of his wisdom, of his love for his country,” he said.
“Let us keep that flame alive. It is reborn. Let us keep it strong and bright and let it guide us through all that we do in the future in the service of our beloved Philippines,” he added.
Marcos Jr. then flew to Ilocos Norte to join the rest of their supporters in the province, where a special non-working holiday was declared on Monday, Sept. 12, to allow its residents to celebrate Marcos Sr.'s birthday anniversary.
Marcos Sr. was born on Sept. 11, 1917 in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte. In 1965, he was elected the 10th President of the Philippines, a position he held for 21 years before he was ousted during the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.
Thirty-six years later, his family reclaimed Malacañang after Marcos Jr. won the May 2022 presidential elections with a majority vote of 31 million.
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