By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
As the clock struck midnight early Thursday, Filipinos reveled in the spirit of New Year as another calendar year made its presence known around the world.
Various fireworks and pyrotechnic devices, loud music, karaoke machines, and party horns (torotot) filled the air with sound as the masses cheered on for yet another chapter that had unfolded before them.
In his message posted on social media, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joined the Filipinos in welcoming 2026 with open arms and encouraged his constituents to take this opportunity to build a future anchored on a renewed purpose.
“As we step into 2026, I therefore call on every Filipino to embrace the year with discipline, confidence, and a shared commitment to our nation’s progress.”
President Marcos Jr. moreover, emphasized the importance of applying lessons learned from various challenges and struggles from the previous year, which extends beyond personal resolutions to include the rest of the populace.
He reminded the nation, “A society thrives when its people choose empathy over indifference, service over self-interest, and hope over despair.”
The Chief Executive concluded his letter by reaffirming the government’s commitment to look after the welfare of Filipinos—irrespective of various headwinds, wherever they may be in the world.
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