PRESIDENT Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.s' inaugural speech was solemn yet powerful. He recognized the challenges of today as an accumulation of problems over the years and warned that the road ahead will be difficult given the volatile and unstable global environment.

More importantly, he embraced the people's fears and aspirations, frankly told the people what the government will do and will not do, and called on everyone not to dwell on the past but rather to gain inspiration and strength from what we have today — to recognize the mistakes of yesterday, 'to rebuild... a house divided,' and to start working now for a better tomorrow.