Marcos marks Rizal Day, urges patriotism, signs 2025 budget with vetoes

On Monday, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. marked Rizal Day by urging Filipinos to embrace Dr. Jose P. Rizal's patriotism and dedication to truth despite bad weather.

Marcos emphasized the importance of Rizal’s ideals in awakening national consciousness and inspiring a movement for freedom during his wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Luneta Park, encouraging citizens to embody these values daily.

The president highlighted Rizal's vision of a just and forward-thinking society, which remains relevant today, urging Filipinos to be catalysts of change by making decisions that reflect Rizal’s resolve.

Marcos also called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) to honor Rizal's legacy through their continued service and dedication to defending the nation’s freedom and democracy.

Earlier, Marcos gave P5,000 cash and raffle prizes to around 2,000 members of FIRM, a loyalist group supporting the Marcoses, at an event called 'Pamaskong Handog Mula sa Pangulo' in Rizal Park.

On Rizal Day, President Marcos signed the proposed 786-billion-peso national spending plan for 2025 but vetoed P194 billion worth of line items amid criticism from former government officials and various groups over misallocations in the budget bill submitted by Congress.