President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (File photo)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has been included in TIME magazine's "100 Most Influential People of 2024."
TIME recognized Marcos’ leadership, citing how his administration steadied the post-coronavirus pandemic economy and how his presidency “elevated the Philippines on the world stage.”
The President’s stance against China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea was also cited.
“Bongbong has stood steadfast against Chinese aggression in the disputed South China Sea and bolstered his nation’s alliance with the U.S. in the face of ‘rising tensions in our region and the world,’ as he said last May,” read Marcos' short profile as written by TIME correspondent Charlie Campbell.
In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the President's inclusion in the TIME 100 list reflected his brand of leadership that puts the national interest and the welfare of every Filipino above all else.
"Under his Administration, the Philippines has experienced robust economic growth and recovery, exceeding expectations and instilling confidence in the country's economic outlook," the PCO said.
"Despite geopolitical tensions and the hurdles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, President Marcos has elevated the Philippines on the world stage and contributed to regional stability, notably in the Indo-Pacific region," it added.
The PCO noted how Marcos continues to "steer the country towards peace and prosperity towards his vision of a Bagong Pilipinas."
Marcos is listed in the Leaders category, along with Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny; Poland Prime Minister Donald Tusk; Taiwan President-elect Willian Lai; Argentina President Javier Milei; Qatar Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Adbulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani; World Bank Group President Ajay Banga; Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Chinese Premier Li Qiang; among others.
Other Philippine leaders who were featured in the list in previous years were Marcos’ predecessors Rodrigo Duterte in 2017 and Benigno Aquino III in 2013. (PNA)
