THE 30th day of June 2022 marked another milestone in Philippine history that was highlighted by a spectacle usually observed only during Independence Day celebrations. Except for its state-of-the-art gray ships, the Armed Forces of the Philippines marched its elite fighting units, rolled its tanks, cannons and armored personnel carriers, and flew its jets and attack helicopters. It was a rare display of modest but modern warfighting capabilities that serves to remind Filipinos about the country's glory days in Southeast Asia as a regional military force to reckon with. With national ensigns waving, civilian uniformed services, medical frontliners and world-class athletes paraded in front of the National Museum for the Arts of the old legislative building. The place was resplendent with flowing red, white and blue curtains. And at high noon, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. was sworn into office as the 17th President of the Republic in the manner provided for under the 1987 Constitution.
