Jamaine Punzalan

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, September 20, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

MARCOS-HEALTH

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176361008082520240920-bbm-health-bus-send-offf-JC-8366.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, September 20, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said in jest that First Lady Liza Marcos would be part of a shakeup in his Cabinet, days after two senior officials resigned over allegations of involvement in budget insertions linked to the flood control scandal.</p><p>As he began his speech at the awarding ceremony for the Bagong Bayani Awards 2025 that recognized outstanding overseas Filipino workers, the President said the First Lady had become an “Ambassador for Migrant Workers”. </p><p>“Our First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos…has recently been traveling to Europe to assist the OWWA (Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration) with some of the activities. So, she has become our ambassador now for migrant workers,” Marcos Jr. said. </p><p>“It’s your new designation. ‘Di ba magka-Cabinet shake-up tayo? So, kasama ka na doon,” he told the First Lady, drawing laughs from the audience.</p><p>Earlier this week, the Palace announced that then-Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman “respectfully offered and tendered their resignations out of delicadeza” after their departments were tagged in the flood control anomaly.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/17/bersamin-pangandaman-resign-recto-is-new-executive-secretary-1722">Bersamin, Pangandaman resign; Recto is new executive secretary</a></div><p>However, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/19/bersamin-says-he-did-not-resign-but-was-told-he-had-to-go-1129">Bersamin denied that he resigned</a>, saying that he was told to leave by an unnamed “close friend.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/13/marcos-flood-corruption-suspects-to-be-jailed-before-christmas-1046">Marcos: Flood control corruption suspects to be jailed &#x27;before Christmas&#x27;</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>OFWs AS MODERN DAY HEROES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In his speech, Marcos Jr. recognized the contributions of OFWs to their families and the country.</p><p>“Naitaguyod ninyo ang ating mga pamilya at komunidad nang walang pag-aalinlangan. Ito ang diwang nais makamit ng aking ama, ang dating Pangulong Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. nang itatag niya ang Bagong Bayani Awards sa pamamagitan ng Letter of Instruction No. 1320 noong 1983,” he said. </p><p>“Tuwing may kausap akong taga-ibang bansa, parating sinasabi sa ‘kin, ang husay ng mga Pilipino na nandoon sa amin. Kaya maraming salamat sa inyong lahat sa pagbibigay karangalan sa ating bansa.”</p><p>Marcos vowed that his administration would “continue to elevate protection, streamline services and ensure that every OFW is treated as the hero that they are.”</p><p>The chief executive noted some of the government’s initiatives to improve migrant workers’ access to services included the digitalization of the OFW travel pass and online employment contract verification system.</p><p>He also underscored the government’s fight against human trafficking.</p><p>Marcos added that reintegration of returning OFWs is a priority through provision of start-up capital, financial literacy training, and livelihood support. </p><p>“Lahat nang ito ay upang masiguro na hindi masasayang ang inyong pinaghirapan at maging matagumpay ang inyong pag-uwi. Kaya naman po sa inyong pag-alis at sa inyong pagbalik, tandaan po ninyo na hindi kayo kailanman kayo nag-iisa,” he told OFWs. </p><p>The Bagong Bayani Awards is a “worldwide search” for the country’s outstanding and exemplary OFWs, according to the Presidential Communications Office. </p><p>“It seeks to recognize and pay tribute to OFWs for their significant efforts in enhancing and promoting the image of the Filipino as a competent, responsible, and dignified worker, and greatly contributing to the socio-economic development of their communities and the country as a whole,” it added.</p><div><iframe width="400" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6ni94FhIpS4" title="Marcos: Flood control corruption suspects to be jailed before Christmas | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said in jest that First Lady Liza Marcos would be part of a shakeup in his Cabinet, days after two senior officials resigned over allegations of involvement in budget insertions linked to the flood control scandal.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said in jest that First Lady Liza Marcos would be part of a shakeup in his Cabinet, days after two senior officials resigned over allegations of involvement in budget insertions linked to the flood control scandal.

Marcos playfully calls First Lady ‘Ambassador of Migrant Workers,’ says she’ll be part of Cabinet shakeup

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Marcos playfully calls First Lady ‘Ambassador of Migrant Workers,’ says she’ll be part of Cabinet shakeup

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 20, 2025 11:45 AM PHT

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Updated Nov 20, 2025 05:31 PM PHT

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Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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