Marcoses, loyalists keep on celebrating late strongman’s birthday

BAGUIO CITY (September 8, 2021)— The Marcoses and their loyalists keep on celebrating the birthday of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Senator Imee Marcos and her son, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc will lead the week-long celebration of the 104th birth anniversary of the former strongman.

This year’s “Marcos Day” celebration starts on September 11 with a thanksgiving mass at the Immaculate Conception Parish, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the “Daytoy ti Bannawag” monument of the late strongman in Batac City.

Due to restrictions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Marcos family enjoins Ilokano communities in the country and abroad to watch the livestream of the ceremony on Friday which will be posted on the Facebook page, “Marcos Centennial.”

There will be a weeklong medical mission offering free dialysis for indigent residents from September 11 to 17, at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center as part of the celebration.  At the same time, the Provincial Government’s Public Employment Service Office will launch a career week.

The Marcos family has coordinated with the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and the Office of Barangay Affairs to distribute COVID-19 relief packs to vulnerable families in the towns of Paoay, Sarrat, and Pasuquin, as well as food packs to severely affected barangays throughout the province.

With this year’s theme, “Disiplina at Pagkakaisa,” the Marcos family wants to echo the famous slogan of the Marcos administration, “Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan,” urging Ilocos Norte residents to be disciplined and united as Ilocos Norte grapples with its worst COVID-19 outbreak since the onset of the pandemic last year.

Meanwhile, the Ilocos Norte provincial board has passed a resolution declaring September 10, 2021, instead of the actual birth anniversary of FEM on September 11, which falls on a Saturday this year, as a special non-working holiday for provincial, city and municipal offices in the province.

Provincial Resolution No. 351-2021, which was approved on September 6, commemorates FEM’s “legacy of idealism and philosophy.”

Artemio A. Dumlao

Amianan Balita Ngayon