President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called on current and future leaders to recommit themselves to service guided by faith, thoughtful decision-making, and prayerful reflection.
The President made the appeal as he joined the 49th National Prayer Breakfast at the Malacañan Palace on Monday.
In his speech, President Marcos encouraged future leaders to let faith be their guiding light in leadership, to draw courage from it in times of doubt, and to temper their ambitions with a sense of purpose greater than themselves.
President Marcos also urged present leaders to leave a legacy that values integrity over expediency, vision over short-term gains, and harmony over discord.
“Today, I extend an invitation to recommit: Recommit to the responsibility of service imbued with faith, where decisions are made not in haste but with prayerful discernment,” President Marcos said in his speech at the Malacañan Palace.
“Let us renew our pledge to seek divine wisdom, to build bridges where there are divides, and to lead with conviction that our nation’s best days are ahead of us,” he added.
President Marcos led the Philippine National Prayer Breakfast (PNPB), which, he noted, came at a crucial time as Filipinos faced severe challenges starting with Severe Tropical Storm Kristine hitting the country on October 21.
“Our collective faith and prayer to the Almighty is the most powerful tool that we have to weather these storms and the destruction that they bring. And so, it is with gratitude and a sense of purpose that I join this Philippine National Prayer Breakfast or PNPB,” he said.
The President said the PNPB serves as a reminder that “leadership without faith is like a ship without a compass: it may sail, but it will drift.”
He underscored that true leadership, the kind that transforms people’s lives for the better, is guided by wisdom and rooted in faith in God.
“For almost half a century, this gathering has stood as a testament to the power of faith—one that transcends boundaries, binds us in hope, and serves as both compass and anchor in leadership,” President Marcos said.
“It is in this shared space of reflection that we rediscover the courage to act decisively, the humility to listen intently, and the resolve to build a nation that reflects the best of what we are,” he added.
The Chief Executive said the vision of the PNPB is a clarion call to leaders to look beyond the immediate and aspire for what is righteous and uplifting.
He further noted that the PNPB has become a cornerstone of national reflection – a moment when leaders set aside titles and agenda to come together as equals in prayer.
“In a world where the pace of change can outstrip our capacity to care for others, such moments of collective introspection are more crucial than ever,” the President said.
“The world and our country are facing so much divisiveness—beliefs, politics, and even generational cultural differences. These often make us forget our humanity, that we are one in our shared goal: to serve our fellow Filipinos, to help the Philippines flourish,” he added. | PND
