More than 9,000 of his supporters joined him in the celebration.
On Monday, September 14, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. celebrated his 69th birthday by opening the Kalayaan Grounds inside the Malacañang Complex in Manila to members of the public, predominantly his supporters, for this year’s Salo-Salo sa Palasyo.
President Marcos, who just came back from his short working trip to India for the 18th BRICS Summit and a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arrived at the Kalayaan Grounds at 10:30 am, and witnessed a brief program highlighted by a special birthday song.
He then thanked the thousands of Filipinos who joined the celebration at the Palace and through satellite festivities held in various parts of the country.
“You have made this a very, very, very happy birthday for me. Thank you very much. We love you very much,” President Marcos said during the celebration at the Kalayaan Grounds. “Thank you for all that you have done to support me and the work that we are doing.”
The annual “Salo-Salo sa Palasyo” brought together Filipinos from various sectors as part of the President’s effort to make Malacañan Palace more accessible and welcoming to the public.
Among those who attended the festivities were supporters, including vloggers, and staff members from the Office of the President, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and members of FIRM (Friends of Imelda Romualdez Marcos), and public school students who participated in a special educational field trip.
The celebration was also livestreamed in more than 20 provinces and 90 locations nationwide.
“And I hope to see you soon. And we will also celebrate in person. Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. Thank you for your good wishes,” President Marcos said, referring to the audience in the provinces.
The festivities began as early as 9:00 am, featuring food tents, stilt walkers, magic shows and cultural performances for guests.
Curated gifts were also distributed to guests as a gesture of appreciation for their support for the administration’s initiatives and long-term vision for the Philippines.
Meanwhile, before this, the President said on September 13 (Sunday), while still in India, said he hopes to lay the groundwork for government reforms that will continue beyond his administration.
Marcos noted that he wants to put in place the foundations for his government’s programs and reforms so they can be sustained even after his term ends.
“I wish I’ll be able to get the beginnings of what we started in place, so that they continue. It is, in many ways, it is a restructuring and I just want to get the basics of that in place so that it will continue that we will continue to construct the government. We will continue to make it better,” he said.
The President also described the effort as a restructuring of government, with the goal of making institutions better and ensuring that the changes his administration has started will be sustained.
The Chief Executive also said he wants the Philippines to remain engaged with other countries, while encouraging trade and diplomacy. Amid regional and global challenges, he also said the country will continue to stand on the side of peace.
“We’ll continue down the road of engagement with other countries. We will encourage trade. We will encourage diplomacy. We will always be on the side of peace,” President added.
For his family, however, the President’s birthday wish was much simpler and told that he would want to spend more time with his children and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos.
“I suppose for my family, simple lang. I wish I saw more of all of you. And it’s not just my children, including the First Lady. Our schedules don’t match very well. We don’t see each other that much either. I wish I could spend more time with all of you, number one,” President Marcos said.
