Ilocos Norte was at a standstill on Thursday as locals watched the live coverage of the inaugural ceremony of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at the National Museum in Manila.

Employees of City Hall and the Capitol here took time out from their regular routine as they watched Marcos take his oath of office as the 17th President of the Philippines before Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

Early Thursday, various local government units in Ilocos Norte hosted public viewings of the event in their respective gymnasiums or auditoriums.

As soon as the Information and Technology Department of the Ilocos Norte government installed the big screen at the Capitol auditorium, Fe Siazon, provincial government human resource, and management officer, said Thursday she rushed to the venue to get a frontrow seat at the viewing party.

Having worked with the now-President when he was still the governor of Ilocos Norte, Siazon was elated over Marcos’ assumption as the newly inaugurated chief executive promised to promote unity and bring progress to the country.

“The President is determined to make a change but he will be needing our cooperation to make it happen,” she said.

Despite the choppy internet signal, Helen Abad, 75, from Barangay San Lorenzo, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte still managed to listen to the President’s speech via her cellular phone.

“This is history in the making. I pray for the President’s good health and wisdom to make a difference in the lives of Filipinos,” she said in Ilocano.

Market vendors and salon workers in Laoag City also rejoiced as they witnessed another Ilocano lead the country for the next six years.

In Batac City, thousands of employees and students of state-run Mariano Marcos State University virtually watched at the University Review Center the turnover and oath-taking ceremonies of Marcos.

“Being the sole state university in the province from where our newest president hails, we are very much proud of our [President Bongbong Marcos], and optimistic of the greatness that will unfold for our country starting today,” MMSU president Shirley Agrupis said.

On Wednesday, around 60 invited guests mostly composed of provincial, city, and municipal officials as well as some department heads from Ilocos Norte left for Manila to personally witness the inauguration.

The Ilocos Norte officials are expected to take their oath-taking in Malacañang with Marcos. (PNA)