Bongbong Marcos' wish for Christmas? Good budget for PH

"Good budget."

This was the response of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. when asked what he wants to achieve this Christmas.

"I don't know how specific you want to get, but that for Christmas... that the legislature will provide us a good budget," Marcos said in an episode of the BBM Podcast aired Thursday. 

"That will make for a very nice Christmas," he said.

To recall, the 2025 national budget has been controversial due to corruption and alleged insertions, with some lawmakers being linked in the anomalies. 

The President was even accused of being involved in assertions, an allegation dismissed by the Presidential Communications Office as fake news. 

Malacañang has said the enrolled copy of the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) would be submitted to the President for his review and approval before Christmas Day.

The signing of next year's General Appropriations Act is targeted on December 29.

More time with family

Aside from having a good budget for the country, Marcos said he wants to have more time with his family amid his busy schedule. 

"Intangible, more time with my family," Marcos said. 

Marcos said he missed the time that he's living a simple life in Ilocos province with his family, adding that his children were not yet employed at that time.

"So, of course, we used to enjoy that very much, especially when we were living in Ilocos. Wala pang trabaho 'yung mga bata. Simple simple lang 'yung buhay namin noon (The kids have no job yet and our life was simple then)," Marcos said.

"I miss that. But you know, I'm not saying uh I'm, I'm, I'm not happy to be here. I'm happy to be here because you're given again the privilege to help, to do something, to help people's lives. That's the biggest privilege that anyone can give you. If you're in public service, that's the most... that's a golden," he said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News