SPECIAL COVERAGE: Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s First 100 Days 

From rising inflation, natural disasters, to a Formula 1 trip – Filipinos online questioned the agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his first 100 days in office.

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Whatever we say about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. a hundred days into his presidency, the sad truth is, we don’t know much about him. 

We could string together anecdotes from what we’ve seen on social media, what’s been whispered to us, or what Toni Gonzaga is gushing about. But what could we make out of them? That he’s a nice chap, wants only unity, is conflict-averse?

We could count the many times he’s cut a ribbon, karaoked at a party, flown over disaster areas (and to car races), attended official meetings in crisp barong and dapper suits, or stood beside his first lady. But what could we make out of them? That he works hard and plays hard as well?

To be sure, Marcos is head of a government that’s been ransacked in the last six years – where patrons ruled, incompetents thrived, merit was sidelined, and sloppy labor was rewarded. Not to mention blood on its hands.

Read the full analysis here.

Ano ang maituturing ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na accomplishments sa unang 100 araw niya sa puwesto? Tila ’di alam ng Pangulo kung ano ang isasagot. At least daw, nagtatag siya ng “functional” o gumaganang gobyerno na may “very, very good idea” ng mga targets sa ekonomiya. Ipinagmalaki din niya ang magaling na economic team na kanyang binuo.

Teka. Dapat naman talaga ay functional ang gobyerno, may mga target, at magaling ang kukuning mga tao. Kahit sinong pangulo, ganyan dapat ang expectation. (BASAHIN: Marcos’ first 100 days: Critics see ‘sinking ship,’ allies say ‘good job’)

Seryoso ba na sa 100 araw niya puwesto, ang kayang maipagmamalaki lang ni Marcos Jr. ay ang bare minimum ng dapat talaga niyang ginawa? Surely deserve ng 110 milyong Pilipino – kabilang ang 31.6 milyong bumoto sa kanya – ang higit doon. 

Basahin ang buong analysis dito.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. marked his 100th day in office with allies giving him a pat on the back, and dissenters saying they saw a president who failed to respond to the country’s most pressing concerns.

In a press conference organized by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan on Friday, October 7, Bayan secretary-general Nato Reyes criticized Marcos for saying that his achievement was that of “[putting] together a government which is functional.”

“That is not an achievement; that is the bare minimum,” Reyes said. “It’s like we are aboard a ship with no direction and continues to sink. While they continue to party, we ordinary citizens are the ones suffering.”

Read the full story here.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his own words, managed to “put together a government which is functional” and that focused on the economy in his first 100 days.

Marcos, the country’s first majority-elected president in the post-People Power Revolution era, made the statement Wednesday, October 5, during a quick Q&A on the sidelines of a gathering of the Manila Overseas Press Association.

Read the full story here.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said on Thursday, October 6, that the return to face-to-face classes of basic education students in the country was a major achievement in her first 100 days in office.

“Ang pinakamahalaga na masasabi ko na nagawa natin as a country is naibalik natin ‘yung ating in-person classes sa ating mga eskwelahan,” Duterte told reporters.

“Marami ang studies na nagsasabi na mas malaki ang benepisyo para sa isang estudyante kung meron siyang in-person classes. Kaya napakahalaga na nabalik natin ang option na iyon sa ating mga eskwelahan,” the Vice President said.

Read the full story here.

Around 42% of Filipinos disapproved of the Marcos administration’s performance in reining in inflation, according to the results of a Pulse Asia Research, Incorporated survey held in September and released on Thursday, October 6.

Controlling inflation once again emerged as the top urgent national concern of Filipinos in the Pulse Asia survey conducted from September 17 to 21, 2022. It is also the issue that the Marcos government scored the lowest in terms of public approval.

The Pulse Asia survey showed that while the Marcos administration obtained majority public approval for 11 of 13 national concerns, ranging from calamity response to defending the country’s territory, “when it comes to controlling inflation, the only majority urgent national concern, the plurality opinion among Filipino adults (42%) is one of disapproval for the national administration’s performance.”

Read the full story here.

No doubt, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s road to Malacañang would not have been as successful without the presence of his loyal celebrity supporters – some of whom were once the biggest names in Philippine showbiz.

While the President attends both official events and parties, his showbiz allies also seem to have been basking in their candidate’s victory, signing new contracts, bagging lead roles in a Marcos-aligned film, and pursuing new opportunities.

Here are some of the celebrities who have supported Marcos, and this is what they’ve been up to since.