So ‘lucky’: Atom notes Marcos trip again timed with F1 race
MANILA, Philippines — The August Twenty-One Movement (Atom) lashed out at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s five-day visit to Singapore after it emerged that he might again watch a Formula 1 (F1) race in the island city-state.
Malacañang earlier confirmed that, aside from attending a big gathering of potential investors, Marcos had been “invited” to the race by Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
The president began his working visit in Singapore on Wednesday. The F1 Grand Prix will run from Oct. 9 to Oct. 11.
In a statement issued early Wednesday, Atom said: ‘’Indeed, what an unlucky nation we are right now: Having two of the most problematic leaders we ever had in our history and in one six-year term.’’
READ: Marcos departs for Singapore: Investment talks, F1 Grand Prix on agenda
“We have Marcos Jr., the apathetic, indifferent, carefree head of state, who is set to leave for another Singapore trip, again to watch an event centered on immense fuel usage, while the people of this nation he ‘governs’ are suffering because of the skyrocketing fuel and electricity prices.”
And then “[W]e have a vice president who is allegedly in connivance with an oppressive neighbor of our country while fattening her bank accounts,’’ the group said.
Atom noted that the president’s “lucky work schedule” again coincides with the F1 race in Singapore.
The group is a civil society movement formed after the Aug. 21, 1983, assassination of opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., an arch-critic of the president’s father, Ferdinand Sr., during the latter’s dictatorial rule.
“How hard is it to decline invites like this, especially given the current crisis our people are facing?” Atom said.
The group recalled that Ninoy’s son, the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, a known sports car enthusiast, “usually declined these invites in the past.”
Castro’s preferred focus
Marcos is now on his fifth official trip to Singapore since the start of his term. He attended the Singapore Grand Prix during his visits in 2022 (his first year as President) and 2023, and missed the past two races that were held in September 2024 and October 2025, respectively.
Speaking to reporters at the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, Palace press officer Claire Castro said critics should focus on the purpose of Marcos’ visit rather than “whether he would attend the Formula 1 Grand Prix.”
“Their focus should be what the president will do here for our country and our people,’’ Castro said.
And even if the president decides to watch the race again, she said, “It does not mean that … he would be abandoning his work of encouraging investors to invest in the country.’’
As of press time on Wednesday, Malacañang has not disclosed whether Marcos will go to the race.
CEO conference
According to Medardo Macaraig, the Philippine ambassador to Singapore, there would be “almost no [Philippine government] expense” tied to the invitation should Marcos accept it.
“It is an invitation from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. So, of course, we will have almost no expense there,’’ Macaraig added.
As it played down the F1 issue, Malacañang said the President would again meet with global business leaders and explore nuclear cooperation during his five-day working visit, which runs till Oct. 11.
A key engagement is the 24th Forbes Global CEO Conference, where he is expected to pitch investment opportunities in digital technology and artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, energy and health care.
Macaraig said the Forbes conference was expected to gather more than 450 business leaders from around the world.
The President is also scheduled to visit the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute.
With the Philippines holding the chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year, Marcos is also expected to take up bilateral and regional issues with Wong before Singapore takes the helm in 2027. /cb /atm
