President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attends the Oath-Taking Ceremony of the Newly Promoted Generals and Flag Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at the Ceremonial Hall inside Malacañan Palace on December 4, 2024. Santi San Juan, PPA pool 

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday said that he would want to be remembered as the Philippine leader whose administration “made a change for the better.”

The President gave the statement in his podcast, where he talked about how he hopes to be remembered as the Philippines’ 17th President.

“We made a change for the better. This has been my guide in all the positions that I have taken,” he said.

“The worst thing that can happen is umupo ka doon sa posisyon mo, nagsilbi ka, umalis ka, walang pinagbago,” he said.

“So I absolutely insist that in 2028, when I leave this office, there are significant and tangible changes for the better in the life of each Filipino,” he said.

Marcos Jr. lauds PCG for protecting West PH Sea, vows boost in capabilities

The Philippines “did not yield” in the West Philippine Sea, Marcos Jr. said when asked about how he wanted history to describe his administration’s policy in the body of water, which China has been illegally and forcefully claiming despite a 2016 international arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing’s 9-dash line map.

“We did not yield. We continue to protect the sovereignty of the Republic, we continue to defend the territory of the Republic, and we continue to protect and defend the people of the Republic,” the Philippine President said.

“Hindi naman tayo nakikipag-away pero wag ninyong binabangga 'yang mga mangingisda,” he said.

“Huwag niyo kaming hinaharang doon sa teritoryo namin dahil ipaglalaban talaga namin yan because kung ibigay mo yan, like they say, you give them an inch, they will take a mile. You cannot allow even the one inch,” he said.

In his first State of the Nation Address in 2022, Marcos Jr. said that his administration will “not give up even a square inch” of the West Philippine Sea, a pivot from his predecessor and former President Rodrigo Duterte’s policy of forging friendlier ties with China.

Marcos Jr. did not give other details on what other lasting changes his administration made or hopes to accomplish in his remaining three years in office.

But after his administration coalition failed to win majority of the Senate’s 12 vacant seats in the 2025 midterm elections, Marcos Jr. admitted that the public is “disappointed” with his government’s performance in his first three years in office.

The 17th President vowed to do more in the second half of his term to deliver more basic services that can be felt by ordinary Filipinos.

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