On May 25, hashtags #CongratsPresidentBBM and #NeverAgain became trending topics on Twitter as Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was proclaimed the Philippines’ 17th President.
Marcos Jr. was officially proclaimed as the new President-elect during a joint session in Congress.
During the proclamation rites, the dictator’s son became a trending topic online as netizens shared their varied reactions regarding the results.
His supporters, including actress Dawn Zulueta, sent their felicitations to Marcos Jr. and wished him the best as he would serve the country.
Congratulations to our duly elected President @bongbongmarcos !
BANGON BAYAN MULI 🇵🇭🙌🇵🇭 #CongratsPresidentBBM #CongratsVPIndaySara pic.twitter.com/Tol2L6fFtG— Dawn Zulueta (@DawnZpost) May 25, 2022
Congratulations to us. All the support, sacrifice, time and effort hindi nasayang. Tagumpay tayo sa ipinaglaban natin…
God Bless Us All…
BANGON BAYAN MULI#CongratsPresidentBBM#CongratsVPIndaySara pic.twitter.com/lP7PNEkqND— 💃anigza❤️💚 (@ginza_12) May 25, 2022
They also celebrated the return of the Marcoses to power almost four decades after the ouster of Marcos Sr.
They finally returned 36 years after! Been praying for this day for the last 12yrs, finally it has arrived!
BANGON BAYAN MULI#CongratsPresidentBBM #CongratsVPIndaySara pic.twitter.com/oqIJ6VPQJ7— Don Camilo Polavieja (@conde_polavieja) May 25, 2022
President Marcos with Mama Meldy. Divine Justice. Redemption. Congratulations to our first family! #CongratsPresidentBBM pic.twitter.com/N8e5N7Aaet
— Paxton Dy (@PaxtonDy) May 25, 2022
It took 36 freaking yrs, but now here we are. There really is Divine Justice. 🙏 #CongratsPresidentBBM ❤️✌️#CongratsVPIndaySara 💚👊
BANGON BAYAN MULI 🇵🇭 https://t.co/OPQucioWu3
— Miss Red🌹 (@redheart0303) May 25, 2022
Other netizens also joined in making the ‘#CongratsPresidentBBM’ trend but with irony as they expressed their disappointment with the results.
#CongratsPresidentBBM this hashtag is bullshit lmao
— KenzoAU (@KenzoAU) May 25, 2022
@simonfraud stated that BBM supporters could not genuinely celebrate because they won due to disinformation and maligning Vice President Leni Robredo, Marcos Jr.’s biggest rival.
https://twitter.com/simonfraud/status/1529286493310943233?s=20&t=0GhqkkMRz_cY81NThQ_jxw
#CongratsPresidentBBM for winning because of misinformation and trolls! pic.twitter.com/6nJjo3FjMu
— Miks👓 (@Khaililu) May 25, 2022
Congrats now suffer later #CongratsPresidentBBM
— 수연⁷ (@aeylohe) May 25, 2022
@hellofranseth said that he would never celebrate the decision of the majority because it installed a President who is full of lies.
i will never celebrate with "majority" of the filipinos. i will never celebrate with someone who imparted disinformation and fake news to filipino people, only to win the presidency. #CongratsPresidentBBM
— cj | franseth official loveteam era (@hellofranseth) May 25, 2022
Congrats. I don't accept you as my president and I will be working hard to escape this country's impending doom. I am not being "nega", but rather realistic. I know the first priority of this administration will be how to fill their pockets with money. #CongratsPresidentBBM
— Yiyi (@girllovesbirds) May 25, 2022
More netizens expressed their disappointment as Marcos Jr. was proclaimed, thus, making the #NeverAgain trend on Twitter.
@DeomarPandan feels ashamed as the Philippines is the only country where people trusted the son of a dictator.
Only in the Philippines do people elect the son of a dictator, who murdered thousands of Filipinos during Martial Law.
Until now, I'm still shriveling inside in shame.#NeverForget#NeverAgain
— Deomar Pandan (@DeomarPandan) May 25, 2022
not everyone is like you, privileged enough to just disregard the atrocities marcos-duterte did.
ang namulat, hindi na muling pipikit. #NeverAgain#NeverForget#RejectMarcosDuterte
— lana (@sanfriwo) May 25, 2022
Tama nga kami🙂
I'm so sorry to all Martial Law victims and survivors. I'm so sorry to all who fought for us during People Power. We have failed you in the worst way.#NeverAgain pic.twitter.com/HFGG8U11jI
— Luffy, the man who will become the king pirates🌸 (@vrncrstbl) May 25, 2022
@QuezonFm said that the youth tried hard to prevent another Marcos win, yet, the majority still chose him. Therefore, the country should be ready to face the consequences.
Tama nga kami. The youth tried to warn you many times, but due to disinformation and historical revisionism you still voted for the son of the late dictator, face the consequences. #NeverAgain #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/9WRrtnedqE
— FM Quezon #RejectMarcosDuterte (@QuezonFm) May 25, 2022
Marcos Jr. also mentioned that their priority is to clear their family’s name—proof that they are only after their own benefit rather than the whole Filipinos.
https://twitter.com/dailylenrisa/status/1529426665553952768?s=20&t=ngWyVFgV4G-TFMV32nc7vA
https://twitter.com/keishaaauhh/status/1529417715269931009?s=20&t=ngWyVFgV4G-TFMV32nc7vA
Sara Duterte, the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte and running-mate of Marcos Jr., was also proclaimed on the same occasion.
Marcos Jr. earned 31.6 million votes or 58.77% of that ballot’s cast, leaving a huge margin against his rival Robredo who earned about 15 million votes. The recent election also had the highest voter turnout of 82%.