It’s official. The Congress in a joint session officially proclaimed former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor “Inday” Sara Duterte-Carpio, as the next President and Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines.,The historic event occurred at the Plenary Hall inside the Batasang Pambansa Complex on the second day of canvassing of votes for president and vice president — the fastest conclusion of votes for the top two highest elected posts in the nation’s history.,Marcos Jr. emerged victorious after obtaining a historic massive lead in a field of 10. He obtained more than 31.6 million votes from 58.77 percent of the electorate.,He was accompanied by his immediate family members in the rostrum, his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, who was clad in pink terno with butterfly sleeves — a dress she popularized during the 1970’s,,He was also joined by his wife, lawyer Liza Araneta-Marcos, son Simon, and sisters Sen. Imee, and Irene.,With his win, the return of the Marcos family to the Malacanang Palace after the ouster of his father, former strongman, and namesake in 1986, has been secured.,Their return to power finally came to reality after his failed vice-presidential bid in 2016.,Meanwhile, his running mate, Duterte-Carpio gained over 32.2 million votes, or 61.53 percent of the total votes cast for the vice presidential race.,Unlike Marcos Jr., Duterte-Carpio was not accompanied by any members of the Duterte family, not even his father, outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte.,She, however, was accompanied by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Davao Occidental Governor Claude Bautista.,The proclamation was done shortly after the Congress, which sat as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) concluded the canvassing of votes for president and vice president.,The NBOC declared the joint session terminated in the afternoon after canvassing a total of 171 out of 173 total certificates of canvass (COCs).,Cavite Rep. Boying Remulla recommended concluding the canvassing without the votes from overseas absentee voters of Argentina and Syria.,Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, the co-chairman of the joint canvassing committee said he does not want to “disenfranchise” the votes of Filipinos in foreign countries.,However, Zubiri said that the votes from the two countries would not change the results of the election.,House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, co-chairman of the joint canvassing committee, agreed to terminate the joint session.,‘Congratulations BBM-Sara’,Outgoing Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto, who co-led the joint session, congratulated Marcos Jr., and Duterte-Carpio for their successful electoral bids, whom he said were “placed by God” in their respective positions.,Likewise, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco congratulated the two duly elected officials, whose campaign centered on unity.,In his congratulatory speech, Velasco said that the Congress was a “witness to the unity of our country: a true partnership between the north and the south, that has become the unity of all corners of the country.”,“In previous elections, Filipinos voted for president and vice president from different parties. Finally, this year, we will learn the importance of voting for a tandem – a Uniteam that can work together, a Uniteam that can collaborate with each other, and a Uniteam that can push for a shared national agenda,” he said.,“The people have spoken decisively. This is not just your sweeping electoral victory. This is an overwhelming victory for all Filipinos. This is a victory of our democracy,” he added.,Meanwhile, Zubiri cited the non-objections of other presidential and vice-presidential candidates, as one of the factors in the speedy canvassing of votes.,On Tuesday, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, who represents Vice President Leni Robredo — Marcos Jr.’s fiercest rival — made a manifestation that they will not object to the inclusion of all certificates of canvass for president, to “further expedite proceedings.”,The legal counsel of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, lawyer Rizalina Lumbera, also manifested that their camp will not object to the inclusion of COCs in the canvassing.