PBBM’s second wind

From day one, when Bongbong Marcos was about to begin his term as president of the Philippines, there was one thing he was clearly focused on: do well as the leader of our country to honor his father, whom he loved and completely respected.
Fully aware of the accusations being thrown against the family and being accused as a “revisionist” bent on rewriting history, with skepticism about the kind of leader he would be or that he would use the enormous powers of the presidency to exact revenge on perceived enemies – PBBM surprised his critics and proved many of them totally wrong.
“Prejudged as a mere version 2.0 of his father and his predecessor, both of whom are imaged as strongmen who many accuse to have violated human rights, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is coming out as both a liberal and a nationalist in so many aspects,” wrote political analyst Antonio Contreras in an October 2024 opinion piece titled, “The audacity of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.”
Early on, PBBM once said he had really wanted to become a businessman and was not at all keen about going into politics. Yet, following his father’s plans for him to serve as a public servant, he dutifully but reluctantly followed his father’s wish.
I spent many years with Bongbong, and having witnessed his initial foray into politics as a young vice governor of Ilocos Norte at the age of 23 – then as congressman and eventually as senator – I know that the President ultimately saw public service as his way of thanking and giving back to, in his own words, “the people who put us there.”
He knew the challenges that came with carrying the Marcos name – bearing a burden that was heavier than what other offsprings of former presidents – Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Jun Magsaysay and even Noynoy Aquino – had to carry.
Certainly, the President is “by no means perfect, since he has his flaws,” as Professor Contreras noted, yet he acknowledged that PBBM is “emerging as a president weaving his own narrative independent of the prejudiced images which his critics painted.”
Despite the rancor and the vitriol, especially from hardliners who seem to have made it their mission in life to demonize him, PBBM is not averse to the idea of reconciliation, not only with the Vice President and the followers of former president Rodrigo Duterte, but to everyone who may have a different political persuasion – but not at the expense of the Filipino people.
Those of us who have worked with the President for a long time know his character – he is not a person who looks for trouble. Having been educated in the United Kingdom, the President is extremely polite and well-mannered – to the point that people see him as being “too nice” and mistake it for weakness.
Far from it because BBM, if anything, has true grit, having gone through a lot of difficult times. I saw him during his lowest moments when he was in exile in Hawaii – with no passport and without a country. He felt so helpless by the inability to help his father, but at the same time, he knew that as the man of the family, so to speak, he had to stay strong and carry on. I have seen Bongbong grow from a carefree young man to the leader he has become today, and I know that underneath that polite and well-mannered character is a person of inner strength.
Now that he is on the second half of his presidency, PBBM is showing a very clear resolve when he called for the courtesy resignation of Cabinet-rank officials. It was certainly a “bold reset” that demonstrates the President’s earnest aspiration to do what is best for the people and give back to those who gave him an overwhelming mandate and responsibility to lead this country.
Saying it is “time to realign government with the people’s expectations,” President Marcos acknowledges that “the people have spoken, and they expect results – not politics, not excuses. We hear them, and we will act,” he stated.
Political leaders lauded the President’s move, among them Senate President Chiz Escudero, who expressed support for “the President’s call to set aside politics and focus on the needs of our people” and for “displaying sensitivity” to the sentiments of Filipinos. The President’s decision, Chiz said, is “a good start” that “highlights the need for the entire bureaucracy to recalibrate and align government initiatives with the expectations of our people.”
The President’s decision also resonated well with many ordinary Filipinos who saw his candor and honesty in admitting the flaws and limitations of the government as grit and fortitude, not weakness. What also struck a chord was PBBM’s forthrightness in taking accountability during a podcast, saying that the election results indicate that people are tired of politicking and just want the government to focus on the work at hand. As a close businessman friend of mine told me – you don’t see a lot of presidents having the balls to say something like that.
As the President approaches the second half of his term, I believe that the stars are still aligned in his favor because he has that ability to listen to the people and recalibrate to move towards the right direction. Like in golf, the President has faced a lot of strong headwinds in the past, but I am convinced that the “second nine” or last half of his presidency will be in his favor, as PBBM puts on renewed strength and determination to face the country’s challenges and make a significant contribution towards a better Philippines.
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