President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed his desire to leave behind a legacy of meaningful change, emphasizing that he wants to be remembered as the Philippine leader who “made a change for the better.”
Speaking on his podcast, Marcos said, “We made a change for the better. This has been my guide in all the positions that I have taken.” He stressed that holding office without leaving any impact would be a wasted opportunity: “The worst thing that can happen is umupo ka doon sa posisyon mo, nagsilbi ka, umalis ka, walang pinagbago.”
Looking ahead to the end of his term in 2028, the President insisted that Filipinos must be able to feel “significant and tangible changes for the better” in their lives.
On foreign policy, Marcos stood firm on defending the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea, reiterating that the Philippines “did not yield” in the face of China’s persistent incursions. “We continue to protect the sovereignty of the Republic, we continue to defend the territory of the Republic, and we continue to protect and defend the people of the Republic,” he declared.
He also warned against intimidation of Filipino fishermen. “Hindi naman tayo nakikipag-away pero ‘wag ninyong binabangga ‘yang mga mangingisda,” he said. “Huwag niyo kaming hinaharang doon sa teritoryo namin dahil ipaglalaban talaga namin yan.”
Despite setbacks in the recent midterm elections, where his administration’s coalition failed to clinch a majority in the Senate, Marcos acknowledged the public’s disappointment and pledged to intensify efforts to deliver basic services in the remaining half of his presidency.
