MANILA (UPDATE) — President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s inauguration on Thursday will be "very solemn and simple," his camp said Tuesday.
The event will be "very traditional" as per the instruction of Marcos, said Franz Imperial, head of the preparation committee.
“It would be very traditional dahil sabi nga ni BBM sa vlog niya, ‘Hindi kami lilihis pa sa tradisyon (We will not veer away from tradition),'" Imperial said in a statement.
Actress Toni Gonzaga, who hosted some of Marcos’ campaign rallies, will sing the Philippine national anthem, while Cris Villonco and the Young Voices of the Philippines choir will perform the inauguration song ‘Pilipinas Kong Mahal’, the statement added.
Imperial said details of Marcos’ inaugural speech has yet to be disclosed but noted that “the President-elect will not be needing a teleprompter.”
Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo will administer the oath of office at exactly 12 noon, the prescribed time under the Constitution, the statement read. Court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka confirmed the information.
In an earlier statement, Marcos' camp said the President-elect's barong would be chosen via a design contest spearheaded by his sister Irene Marcos.
"There is no official design yet... His sister, Irene (Marcos-Araneta) is holding a contest among designers to get the best design," Jay Herrera, Marcos’ official image specialist, said.
The barongs of Marcos' sons - Sandro, Simon, and Vinny - will also be chosen through the said competition, Herrera said.
Marcos' inauguration will be held at the National Museum in Manila City.
A 30-minute military-civil parade will precede the oath taking, and their will be a 21-gun salute after Marcos delivers his first official speech as president.
An inaugural reception will be held in the evening for officials and foreign dignitaries who will attend the inauguration, the statement read.
Several government agencies have suspended work in their Manila offices on June 29 and 30 in light of the road closures and traffic rerouting for the said event.
SECURITY MEASURES
Department of the Interior and Local Govenrment (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a Laging Handa briefing that security preparations are in place for Marcos' inauguration, which is expected to be attended by some 1,250 guests.
A "Task Force Manila Shield" has been activated.
"Handang-handa na po tayo,” Malaya said, adding that authorities have not monitored any serious security threats.
(We are very much ready.)
But the government is expecting militant groups to mount simultaneous nationwide protests on June 30.
The rallies, Malaya said, will be reportedly held in Metro Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Iloilo, and Naga.
Marcos supporters who wish to witness the inauguration live will be allowed to do so on designated areas along Padre Burgos and Intramuros Golf Course.
Attendees will be required to wear face masks and present their vaccination cards, Malaya said.
— with report from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News
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