ALLIES of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, extended their congratulatory messages to the Chief Executive for being featured in the prestigious TIME news magazine.

“Being lumped together with the world’s best and brightest, and to be touted as among the ‘Most Influential,’ is something that makes us proud of our President,” House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun said of the article that included President Marcos, carrying the title “100 Most Influential People of 2024.”

“It’s an affirmation that the 31 million Filipinos who voted for him simply made the right choice,” Khonghun said proudly, glad that the Philippines has now been “elevated in the world stage.”

“This is a very good start for the administration. This also bodes well not just for our improving and stellar economy, but for the things to come in the next four years. The best is yet to come as they say,” House Deputy Majority Leader Migs Nograles of PBA Partylist remarked.

“TIME magazine gave credit where it is highly due. For one, people from inside and outside of government have observed how discerning our President is in choosing members of his team, who are technocrats to begin with,” Nograles added.

Other administration lawmakers from the so-called “Young Guns” group in the chamber, were elated that TIME magazine credited Marcos for his nearly two-year leadership, where he worked hard on stabilizing the Philippine economy in the post-pandemic phase, among other equally-important tasks.

“This is not an easy feat I should say, as we all know how judicious and high-brow the magazine is. This is a highly-coveted article coming from a very prestigious magazine that is known globally for its integrity and credibility,” Taguig Rep. Pammy Zamora said.

Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur and Paolo Ortega of La Union have all concurred with their House colleagues too.

Adiong gave his objective assessment of how the Marcos administration fared in its first two years, which earned the Chief Executive a favorable article from TIME authored by correspondent Charlie Campbell.

“I can imagine how the President feels that after all his hard work, it has now come to this – a credit from no less than one of the most respected news magazines in the world for several decades. What he started to plant is now bearing fruit, so to speak,” Adiong said.

“We’re glad that TIME magazine acknowledged that despite being a silent and low-key head of state, they gave credit to President Marcos for standing up against China’s continued advances over our very own maritime territory,” Adiong said.

Ortega, for his part, is very glad about the accomplishment. “At least now we’re back on the world map. It makes us very proud of our President. From Congress’ perspective, all our efforts in passing priority bills of the administration have paid off.”

“Seeing our President on the world stage inspires us to work even more,” Ortega stressed

Senior Deputy Speaker Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. joined other solons in congratulating Marcos for his inclusion to TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list for 2024.

“It’s a recognition of our country and the kind of leadership and governance our good President is showing,” Gonzales said.

“Let us not waste this groundswell of goodwill to help our leaders improve our country and the lives of our people. Let us pray that they make the right decisions for our nation and the majority of us Filipinos,” he added.

Gonzales called on the people to continue supporting and praying for President Marcos Jr.

“In particular, let us support his advocacy to remove restrictions in the Constitution on the entry of foreign investments, which he believes will accelerate our economic development, a belief we, his allies in Congress, share,” he said.