Urged to Unite: a letter to the 17th president of the Philippines

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr.

Malacanan Palace Compound

J.P. Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila

The Philippines

Dear Mr. President Marcos Jr.,

   I am delighted by your victory in the 2022 national and local elections as President of the Philippines. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes.

      It is such an honor to write this letter to you, Sir. In particular, I encourage you to devote energy to protecting and promoting the human rights of everyone in the country. It is your duty as president to defend the fundamental liberties and rights of every Filipino. You have significant power to ensure that security personnel uphold and respect the freedoms and rights outlined in the Philippine Constitution and other international human rights agreements. Your words in defense of rights and liberties could have a big impact across the nation.

     May you also advance the strong democracy needed for environmental and climate justice. Please propose all-encompassing solutions to the climate crisis, such as good governance, citizen consultation on decisions and policies, giving priority to natural and scientific solutions, starting rehabilitation projects, correctly implementing current environmental laws, and protecting the environment. You can also address the problems that this crisis has made worse, such as those related to physical and mental health, a lack of food and water, poverty, and other things. It also entails exposing and stopping wrongdoing that exacerbates the state of the environment, such as violations of human rights, restrictions on press freedom, misinformation, destructive actions taken by governments and businesses (like the fossil fuel industry), and all forms of discrimination in society.

    As you guided the nation toward a better future, you urged us Filipinos to come together as a people. With a resounding "ang pangarap niyo ay pangarap ko" throughout your speech, you continuously urged us Filipinos to put our full trust in you during your speech as you were formally sworn in as the 17th president of the Philippines on June 30 outside the National Museum building in Manila. We now have full trust in you, Mr. President. May your leadership enable us to fulfill our ambitions for the country. I pray for the success of the Philippines and the happiness of its people.

Sincerely,

Rodessa Ortega

References:

SunStar. IN PHOTOS. Inaguration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as 17th PH president. SunStar Publishing Inc., 2022. Retrieved October 04, 2022. 

    https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1933510/manila/local-news/in-photos-inauguration-of-ferdinand-marcos-jr-as-17th-ph-president

Alviar, Alvy. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.: "Pangarap niyo ay pangarap ko!". PeopleAsia, 2022.  Retrieved September 30, 2022. 

    https://peopleasia.ph/president-ferdinand-bongbong-marcos-jr-pangarap-niyo-ay-pangarap-ko/

Adams, Brad. Letter from HRW to President Rodrigo Duterte Re: Human Rights Concerns in the Philippines. Human Rights Watch Org., 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2022. 

    https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/08/09/letter-hrw-president-rodrigo-duterte