IN PHOTOS: Highlights from Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s inauguration
The inauguration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was the 17th presidential induction in the Philippines, but one that is marked by distinctiveness.
With a total vote count of 31,629,783, Marcos Jr. is the first Philippine president to win a majority of the nation's votes since 1986. His oath-taking signifies the comeback of Marcoses in Malacañang Presidential Palace, where his father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, occupied the highest seat for 20 years.
Marcos Jr.'s inauguration, which took place at the National Museum of Fine Arts (NMFA) at around 11 a.m. today, is one of the four occasions where the country's chief executive selected the historical site as a venue for oath-taking.
Here are the other highlights from the inauguration of the 17th president of the Republic of the Philippines.
Rodrigo Duterte leaves Malacañang
Ted Aljibe/AFP
Marcos Jr.'s day began with a traditional visit to the outgoing president, Rodrigo Duterte, at Malacañang for the departure honors. Both chief executives descended the palace's staircase to symbolize the transfer of power to the next administration. The ceremony was witnessed by outgoing and incoming cabinet members.
In a short clip shared by former Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, Duterte urged the Filipino people to help his successor run the nation. This is contrary to his statement during his meeting in Calapan City last November, where he described Marcos Jr. as "a weak leader."
"Let us give our support to the new president. Tulungan natin siya, tulungan natin siya," the former president said this time in Andanara's video.
Duterte, however, did not travel with Marcos Jr. to the National Museum for his inauguration, as customary. According to outgoing National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esparon Jr., the former chief of state instead returned to his hometown in Davao City.
Marcos Jr. arrives at NMFA
Marcos Jr. and his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, arrived at NMFA at half past 11 a.m. They were accompanied by their three sons, Ilocos Norte representative Ferdinand Alexander or "Sandro", Joseph Simon, and William Vincent.
Present to witness Marcos Jr.'s oath of office are his running-mate and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, Marcos Jr.'s mother Imelda, as well as former presidents Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The event's distinguished guests include Australian Governor-General David Hurley, China's vice president Wang Qishan, Vietnam's vice president Võ Thị Ánh Xuân, Thailand Deputy Prime Minister Don Pramudwinai, as well as foreign ministers Yoshimasa Hayashi of Japan and Dato Sri Saifuddin Abdullah of Malaysia.
Military-civic parade held for Marcos Jr.
Actress Toni Gonzaga led off the activities by singing the Philippine National Anthem. Gonzaga was among the celebrities who fronted the electoral campaign of Marcos Jr.
A 30-minute military and civic parade followed suit, featuring 2,213 security personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine National Police, as well as troops and cadet corps of the Philippine Military Academy and Philippine National Police Academy.
Marcos Jr. sworn in as 17th president of the Philippines
KJ Rosales/Philippine STAR
Marcos Jr. completed his oath of office at around 12:10 p.m. It was administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo. It was followed by Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III reading the Congress' joint statement declaring Marcos Jr. and Duterte-Carpio as the “duly elected president and vice president, respectively.
KJ Rosales/Philippine STAR
The newly-proclaimed president capped off the ceremony with his inaugural speech, which calls on the Filipino people to unite in the dream of having a successful and peaceful country. He discussed his administration's aspirations for a "future of sufficiency" by providing the nation with adequate food, energy, and education.
Marcos Jr. also promised to "get it done," inspired by his father who, he said, did so "sometimes with the needed support, sometimes without" during his administration. "So will it be with his son. You will get no excuses from me," the president said.
Marcoses returns to Malacañang Palace
Mong Pintolo/Philippine STAR
The First Family officially returns to Malacañang Palace at 2 p.m., following Marcos Jr.'s oath-taking and Vin d’honneur, where the President met foreign envoys, at the National Museum. His first order of business was to officiate the mass oath-taking of Cabinet members and local government officials.