“On this voyage, no one stands idly on the pier; every Filipino is part of the manifest”
IN THE voyage of nations, a steady hand on the helm often matters more than the winds themselves.
Three years into his presidency, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has proven himself to be that steady helmsman — guiding the MV Pilipinas, our ship of state, through choppy seas with an unwavering eye on a safe and prosperous destination.
His approach has been calm yet deliberate: unity as the compass, dialogue as the sails, and development as the charted course. While political tides shift and storms gather, he has kept our national vessel on an even keel, mindful that all Filipinos — regardless of color, creed, or persuasion — are passengers on this shared journey.
FVR: From EDSA to Malacañang’s Captain’s Chair
No reflection on leadership is complete without honoring the late President Fidel V. Ramos, a statesman whose public service spanned pivotal moments in our history.
In 1986, during EDSA People Power, FVR made the fateful choice to stand with the Filipino people, breaking away from his second cousin, President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos, and helping restore democracy without the shedding of blood.
Under President Cory Aquino, he served as Armed Forces Chief of Staff and later as Defense Secretary, safeguarding the fragile gains of the revolution. Those were turbulent years — coup attempts, insurgencies, economic uncertainty — yet FVR’s discipline and crisis management kept the MV Pilipinas afloat, even in the darkness of 12-hour daily brownouts.
In 1992, the Filipino people entrusted him with the helm. Over six years, he steered the nation through one of its most stable and progressive periods. His administration opened the economy, pursued peace agreements, built infrastructure, and projected a confident foreign policy. He navigated the Asian Financial Crisis with steady resolve, leaving behind a stronger, more resilient vessel.
Three years ago, BBM showed his measure as a statesman when he paid his final respects to FVR at the Libingan ng mga Bayani during the latter’s state funeral. It was not a perfunctory gesture, but a sincere acknowledgment of FVR’s contributions to the nation. Standing beside the Ramos family, former comrades-in-arms, and dignitaries from across the political spectrum, BBM’s presence alone spoke of unity and continuity — recognizing that leadership is a relay, and the nation’s helm is passed from one captain to the next. In that solemn moment, he bridged political histories and personal legacies, honoring a man who once steered the ship through its own tempests.
Three Years of Measured Strides Under BBM
Today, BBM sails with a similar appreciation for balance and pragmatism:
• Ports and Gateways — The modernization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the target of over 350 airport and seaport projects are not just infrastructure milestones; they are symbolic harbors where opportunity can dock for millions of Filipinos.
• Economic Diplomacy — By cultivating ties with both old allies and emerging partners, BBM ensures the MV Pilipinas catches trade winds from many directions, avoiding the perils of a one-way course.
• Accountability in Governance — In his most recent SONA, he faced public dissatisfaction over issues like flooding head-on, promising not just solutions but accountability from his crew.
Ramon Ang: A Trusted First Mate in Nation-Building
In this voyage, trusted partners matter notably eminent Filipino nation builders who care, share and dare for their country. One of them is San Miguel Corporation Chairman and CEO Ramon Ang who has pledged to rehabilitate NAIA after BBM personally called him to Malacañang post-bid, showing the President’s hands-on commitment to national projects.
More recently, Ang offered to solve Metro Manila’s perennial flooding “at no cost to the government.” The President welcomed this with gratitude, knowing the ship sails faster when the government and private sector row in unison. “The President listens, and he acts,” Ang said — a testament to shared purpose.
A Shared Journey, A Common Horizon
On this voyage, no one stands idly on the pier; every Filipino is part of the manifest. We may differ in our cabins and cargo, but we sail under one flag, bound for the same horizon.
FVR showed us that a skilled navigator could change course in stormy waters, defend the vessel in turbulent seas, and chart a path toward calmer harbors. BBM now steers with that same belief — that unity, solidarity, and teamwork are not abstractions, but a living covenant among a people determined to arrive together.
And so, with BBM steering the ship and 113 million Filipinos on board, the MV Pilipinas sails on — her bow cutting through the waves, her sails full with the winds of cooperation, her captain steady at the helm.
For in this grand voyage, our destination is clear: one nation, one crew, one shared future.
(The author is president/chief executive officer of Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc. and president/executive director of the Million Trees Foundation Inc., a non-government outfit advocating tree-planting and environmental protection.)
