All set for BBM’s ‘simple, solemn’ inaugural

Tomorrow’s inauguration of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as the 17th president of the Philippines will be solemn and simple, his camp said in a statement yesterday.

Franz Imperial, one of the heads of the preparation committee for the event, said Marcos’ inauguration is “all set,” except for some minor details that are still being finalized.

“The program we have prepared is very solemn and simple. It would be very traditional, as Bongbong Marcos himself said in his vlog, we will not deviate from the tradition,’” Imperial added.

Actress Toni Gonzaga, a staunch supporter of Marcos, will sing the Philippine National Anthem at the inaugural that will be held at the National Museum in Manila, according to Imperial.

Details for the ecumenical invocation that will follow are still being finalized as of press time.

Imperial also revealed that there would be a 30-minute military-civil parade, after which the inauguration song would follow.

“The inauguration song will be ‘Pilipinas Kong Mahal’ and it will be performed by Cris Villonco and the Young Voices of the Philippines choir,” he said.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo will administer Marcos’ oath of office.

While the Constitution does not require it, the oath is customarily administered by the Chief Justice.

Imperial noted that Marcos would not be using a teleprompter during his inaugural speech.

The 1987 Constitution mandates the presidential inauguration to take place on June 30, with the president-elect taking his oath of office at exactly noon.

Previously, the presidential inauguration date was Dec. 30, which is also Rizal Day, as per the 1935 Constitution.

The last president who took his oath on a Dec. 30 inauguration was Marcos’ father, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr., when he assumed his second term in 1969.

CJ to administer oath

The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday confirmed that Gesmundo would administer the oath of Marcos as the 17th president of the republic tomorrow.

SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka yesterday confirmed reports that Gesmundo accepted the task of administering the oath of Marcos during his inauguration.

“I do confirm that Chief Justice Gesmundo has been requested to administer the oath of president-elect Marcos on June 30, 2022,” Hosaka said.

Asked if the Chief Justice accepted the role of administering the oath, the SC man replied: “Yes, he did.”

Hosaka further clarified that apart from the task of administering, there are no other preparations being made by the SC or the Chief Justice in connection with the scheduled inauguration.

“The presidential inauguration is the event of the executive branch of the government. Hence, the Supreme Court is not part of the preparations,” Hosaka said.

Marcos earlier said he would abide by traditions followed in an inauguration.

One of the traditions is that the Chief Justice of the high court, the head of the judicial branch of the government, is given the responsibility of administering the oath of the next chief executive.

During the inaugurations of the late former presidents Ramon Magsaysay and Carlos Garcia, these were administered by then chief justice Ricardo Paras while then chief justice Cesar Bengzon administered the oath of the late former presidents Diosdado Macapagal and Marcos Sr.

The late former president Corazon Aquino was sworn into office by then associate justice Claudio Teehankee Sr., who became the chief justice in 1988.

Both former presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada were sworn in by then chief justice Andres Narvasa while former president Gloria MacapagalArroyo took her oath before then chief justice Hilario Davide Jr.

The late former president Benigno Simeon Aquino III took his oath before then associate justice Conchita CarpioMorales.

On June 30, 2016, outgoing President Duterte took his oath before then associate justice Bienvenido Reyes, who was his fraternity brother at Lex Talionis.

Sotto to proclaim Marcos

Senate President Vicente Sotto III will first proclaim Marcos before the latter is sworn into office.

“I thought my job is done, but it turns out I still have work to do,” Sotto told reporters, referring to the canvassing of votes for president and proclamation by Congress of Marcos as the winner in the May 9 presidential elections.

Sotto said he is expected to read the proclamation at 11:50 a.m. or 10 minutes before Marcos Jr. is sworn into office.

A statement from Marcos’ office said various traditions have arisen that have expanded the inauguration from a simple oath-taking ceremony to a daylong event, including parades, speeches and balls.

Since 1992, the ceremony traditionally began with the president-elect fetching the incumbent at Malacañang in the morning of June 30.

At the state entrance of Malacañang, the president-elect will wait for the incumbent to descend the grand staircase.

Upon meeting at the foot of the staircase, the president-elect will greet the incumbent.

Then both will travel to the Quirino Grandstand aboard any of the presidential cars.

Following protocol, the outgoing president takes the back right-hand seat of the vehicle, while the president-elect is seated behind the chauffeur.

At the grandstand’s parade grounds, the outgoing president will be welcomed with arrival honors, and then shake hands with the president-elect.

The outgoing president conducts a final troop review and is presented to the public before departing the grandstand aboard his private vehicle.

The custom of leaving the grandstand immediately, however, was broken when the elder Aquino and Ramos instead chose to stay until the end of the inaugural ceremonies of their respective successors.