PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. was back in Hawaii on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), about three decades since his family lived there in exile after the 1986 “People Power revolution” that ousted his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos.
The President kicked off his visit to Honolulu with a meeting with the Filipino community shortly after his arrival at 7:13 p.m. Saturday (1:13 p.m. Sunday in Manila).
“Let me say, what I have waited (for a) very long time to say, Aloha!” Marcos said in greeting the Filipinos who responded “Aloha” in return.
He said he insisted they pass by Hawaii before returning to Manila so he could personally thank the Filipinos and Filipino-Americans who, for close to six years, took care of his family.
The President attended the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco from November 15 to 17. It was followed by an overnight working visit to Los Angeles. He is set to return to Manila today.
“Honolulu, Hawaii holds a very, the Filipinos and the Filipino-Americans hold a very special place in my heart for all the wonderful experiences we had here with the Filipino compatriots,” said Marcos.
He said the people of Hawaii along with the Filipino community had “kept us alive for six years” as they provided all their needs such as food, clothing and even appliances.
The President said when they arrived in Hawaii in 1986, they had nothing.
“Kung hindi sa inyo, palagay ko wala na iyung pamilyang Marcos kaya hindi ko makakalimutan, on behalf my entire family, wala na iyung aking ama, but when my mother learned that I was going to Hawaii, she said, ‘You make sure that you go back to all those people who went out of their way to keep us comfortable, to keep us alive, literally alive (if not for you, the Marcos family would already be gone. That is why I will never forget, on behalf my entire family, my father is already gone, but when my mother learned that I was going to Hawaii, she said ‘you make sure that you go back to all those people who went out of their way to keep us comfortable, to keep us alive,’ literally alive),” he said.
“That is something I will carry in my heart, that the Marcoses will carry in our hearts, and we’d tell our children about this, how wonderful you all were to us, we could not have survived the very difficult period if not for you… Even if I say thank you every day for 1,000 days, it is not enough for all of the things that you did for us,” he added.
The President acknowledged some of the Filipinos that they have met and helped them in Hawaii, like members of the Presidential Security Command (PSC), the predecessor of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), who are already retired and are staying in Hawaii.
Marcos said many of the old faces he saw, in the meeting yesterday, were literally old and some even in wheelchairs.
“Iyan ang mga tumulong sa amin (They are the people who helped us). These are people who really were, that we as a family, we as individuals, owe a debt of gratitude that we will never ever get to pay,” he added.
The President is scheduled to visit the US Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters, observe capability orientation on the West Philippine Sea, join a barge tour and a wreath laying ceremony, and a roundtable meeting at the Daniel Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies.
Marcos said National Security Adviser Eduardo Año and Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner joined his visit in Hawaii because he has some undertakings with the US military.
‘BE AMBASSADORS’
The President asked Filipinos communities in Hawaii and in Los Angeles to continue to be the ambassadors and champions of the Philippines, especially in the promotion of the county as a top tourism, and trade and investment destination in Asia.
In Hawaii and in LA, he also asked the Filipinos and Filipino-Americans to continue supporting the reform agenda of his administration.
“Continue to proudly claim and celebrate your Filipino identity and heritage — teach them to your children, to your grandchildren. Pass on your love of the Philippines to the next generation and the generations after that. They say home is where the heart is, and when they love their Filipino identity as you do, they will always belong to the Philippines, no matter where they might be,” he said
Marcos again acknowledged the contributions of the Filipino community in both the Philippines and the US.
He said remittances that the Filipinos send back to the Philippines not only benefit their families but also the country in general.
He asked them to continue their support to the country by encouraging their families and friends to visit the Philippines either to tour the country or invest.
He said the government has introduced a lot of improvements and innovations, making a visit to the country’s various tourism sites probably one of the best experiences one could have coupled with incomparable Filipino hospitality.
The President also assured them that the Philippine Embassy and consulates in the United States will continuously monitor these reports, and will provide assistance to those affected, in cooperation with US authorities.
Marcos also reported on both events, the outcomes of his participation in APEC where he said he briefed world and business leaders of the current state of the Philippine economy and the exciting trade and investment opportunities awaiting prospective investors.
There are about 4.4 million Filipinos in the United States, with the majority residing in Southern California.
