On his 68th birthday today, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has set aside personal wishes and instead voiced hopes for the continuity of his administration’s initiatives, underscoring his desire to leave behind reforms that will outlast his six-year term.
In his BBM Podcast, President Marcos was asked what he wished for amid the challenges of his presidency. The President’s response was measured, framing his birthday wish not as something for himself but for the nation.
“It’s simple,” President Marcos said. “For this administration, I hope we can complete what we are working on. Of course, there are many things that won’t be finished in six years. So, I just hope we can start them so that the next administration will continue, because it would be a waste otherwise, and the results have been good.”
Among the centerpiece initiatives are the “Build Better More” program, which expands on the previous administration’s infrastructure initiatives by constructing railways, seaports, and digital infrastructure, and ongoing energy projects designed to secure reliable electricity across the country, particularly in provinces that have faced repeated power outages.
In a separate interview during his three-day state visit in Cambodia, President Marcos said his birthday wish has not changed since he assumed the presidency in 2022: A better life for every Filipino, particularly the poor.
“My wish remains the same, that life will be better for every Filipino, that we continue our projects to help especially the poor,” the President said.
“And it has never changed: I hope we reach, and we will reach, my dream of a Philippines without hunger,” he added.
This vision is closely tied to programs like the “Walang Gutom 2027” initiative, which provides digital food stamps to the poorest households to fight involuntary hunger, and the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” stores, which sell rice, vegetables, and other essentials at affordable prices in communities nationwide.
His administration also promotes the “Zero Balance Billing” program in government hospitals to ease the burden of medical costs for the poor.
The President also highlighted the country’s economic progress and what he described as growing international recognition for both the Philippines and its people.
“The economy is doing well. The world looks at us favorably, and even more so, the world looks at Filipinos highly,” he said.
“Everywhere I go, kings, presidents, prime ministers all say: ‘Send more Filipinos, they help us.’ That’s the kind of praise that truly warms the heart.”
For the President, who is facing political and economic headwinds, his birthday wishes underscore a long-term vision he has repeatedly emphasized—that the country’s gains must be safeguarded beyond his tenure and that no Filipino should go hungry.
