Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Wednesday said that he would give priority to agriculture, job generation through tourism, infrastructure and health as among his legislative agenda if he would make it to the Senate.

He made the statement before a gathering of entertainment journalists held in a restaurant in Quezon City. Marcos brought along his family, his wife lawyer Liza Araneta-Marcos, sons Sandro, 16; Simon, 14, and Vincent, 12.

In Ilocos Norte where he also served as governor, Marcos said the citizenry was covered with health insurance. He said that no one should die of sickness because he or she had no money to spend for medicines or medical treatment. He added that he would adopt the same measure through legislation so that the country’s citizenry are fully covered with health insurance.

Marcos is running for the Senate under the Nacionalista Party whose standard bearer is Sen. Manny Villar, former Senate president.

Marcos said it is his second attempt to run for the Senate. During the first time, he was a victim of alleged “Dagdag-Bawas.” The lesson I also learned from that political campaign was that you should never run when the leadership was determined to make you lose and not to win.”

Coming from a family of arts and culture lovers, Marcos said that arts and culture must be incorporated in all government programs. He stressed that not much focus has been given to the arts and culture by the present administration.

“We should develop and promote new talents,” he stressed. “And we must begin with the young art lovers,” he added. He recalled that his mother, former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, sponsored the education of several artists who later brought home honor for the Philippines because of their excellence in the arts.

The young Marcos added that a truly talented artist must not be deprived of developing his or her talent simply because such an artist is poor. The government must take care of its well-deserving artists, and this Marcos will initiate through a legislation in the Senate.

His three children when asked to describe their father in one word, Simon said, “hardworking;” Sandro, “persistent,” and Vincent, “unique.”

Throughout his tenure as Ilocos Norte governor, Marcos made significant strides in the areas of energy development, agriculture, healthcare and education.

Marcos is looking into the issues bogging the entertainment industry, particularly the continuing decline of the movie industry. With proper legislation, he said, and appropriate funding, he believes that it's only a matter of time before he can initiate free health care insurance to the local film industry’s marginalized sectors, the same way he did for his local constituents.