President Marcos Calls for Unity Amid Challenges
MANILA, Philippines — In his fourth State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged officials and citizens alike to embrace unity, emphasizing the need to put aside political disputes to drive the country’s progress. This call for unity and focus on shared values resonated strongly during his speech before the joint session of Congress.
He appealed to everyone to remember the three fundamental ties that bind Filipinos: being Filipino, love of country, and commitment to their constitutional duties. “To all of us here, let us set aside our differences and agree on the three things that bind us together: our being Filipino, our love for the country, and our sworn duty to the people,” Marcos said in Filipino.
Addressing Public Frustration and Election Results
The President acknowledged the public’s frustration, as seen in the 2025 midterm elections. He openly recognized the disappointment with government services, saying, “The message from the election results is clear to me: the people are frustrated and disappointed with the government, especially in delivering basic services. The lesson for us is simple — we need to do better, and we need to move faster.”
Despite favorable economic indicators such as rising business confidence, falling inflation, and increased job opportunities, Marcos stressed that these achievements mean little if many Filipinos still struggle daily. “If we’re only talking about data, the economy is doing well — business confidence is up, inflation is down, and jobs have increased. But all of this is just window dressing, meaningless if our people are still struggling and burdened in their daily lives,” he added.
Election Performance and Moving Forward
The administration-backed coalition, Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, won only six seats out of 11 candidates in the recent midterm elections. This result was below expectations, as surveys had projected eight or nine wins. On May 17, Marcos expressed hope for better outcomes but remained optimistic, saying the administration “will live to fight another day.” He urged the nation to move beyond politics and focus on progress.
Looking ahead, the President promised to dedicate the remaining three years of his term to improving the lives of Filipinos. “So in the last three years of this administration, we will give everything we have — not just to match, but to exceed the comfort and relief we’ve promised to deliver to our fellow Filipinos,” he assured.
Sources said President Marcos’s message during the State of the Nation Address centers on unity and concrete action to overcome challenges. Local leaders noted the importance of focusing on shared goals rather than political divides to achieve meaningful progress.
For more news and updates on the State of the Nation, visit Filipinokami.com.
