For Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr, the favorite for Monday’s Philippine presidential election, rethinking the country’s past has been crucial to securing its future. Last week, he reminded a television audience of the “political genius” that was his late father, dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Bongbong’s revisionist story has angered many Filipinos but apparently resonated with many more. Polls show he has a 30-point lead over his closest rival, incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo, though she has drawn massive crowds and is hoping for a late surge of support.
Thirty-six years ago, after the ‘people power’ revolution ended, the dictatorship of Marcos Sr and the family fled to Hawaii, it seemed inconceivable that the Marcos would ever return to the Philippines, even more so as details of the amazing fortune. the former president and his wife Imelda had amassed. But two years after his death in 1989, the family was allowed to return, apparently to face corruption charges. And so began the remarkable political resurgence of the only son of Fernando and Imelda.
When Marcos Sr was elected in 1965, the country had a dynamic economy. But corruption became endemic and martial law was imposed. Under Marcos’ 21-year rule, more than 3,000 political enemies, activists and journalists are believed to have been killed and thousands more tortured or imprisoned.
The Presidential Commission for Good Government, established in 1986 by the subsequent administration, also estimates that the Marcoses amassed $5-10 billion in personal wealth as the country racked up massive debts in an infrastructure splurge and the financing of many vanity projects of Imelda, including the Coconut Palace she built for Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1981 (he refused to stay in it) and a tourist hotel built for her daughter Irene’s wedding. Most of the family’s fortune remains unknown and no Marcos has been jailed. In 2018, Imelda was sentenced to 42 years on corruption charges; Aged 92, he remains free on appeal.
Although Imelda has twice tried to win back the presidency for the family, with dismal results, Bongbong, as he is known to friends and enemies alike, has been eyeing the award for a long time. As a child he played himself in a propaganda feature film, The story of Ferdinand E. Marcos, in which he spoke of his political dreams. ‘I will serve my country, especially the poor,’ he proclaimed. ‘And I will give your children toys so they won’t cry anymore.’
Bongbong’s return to the political life in which he had been involved before the family’s exile began when he won a seat in Congress in 1992. He later returned to the provincial governorship and later served as a senator. In 2016, running for vice president, he lost to Robredo (in the Philippines, the president and vice president are elected on separate tickets), but he made the unlikely claim that his rookie rival had cheated. The high court finally dismissed his election protest in February last year. This time, not only is he the clear favorite to win the presidency, but his running mate, Sara Duterte, the daughter of current President Rodrigo Duterte, is also far ahead in the polls.
The idea that, after what first happened, the people of the Philippines might vote for another Marcos may seem unfathomable, but there are plenty of younger Filipinos who know little about the family’s past and plenty of older ones who believe the leadership authoritarian is what is happening. necessary to move the country forward.
Bongbong is articulate and can engage with multiple demographics affably. He looks younger than his 64 years and wears his hair a bit long without being the full Michael Fabricant. He has sent a message of ‘national unity’, though critics suggest it requires establishing goodwill by returning stolen wealth, acknowledging his father’s human rights violations and paying taxes owed by his family – all highly unlikely concessions. He has strayed from presidential debates and interviews with the mainstream media. Instead, he has stuck to the political staple of leaflets at rallies for the masses and slick online campaigns for the younger electorate.
A friend in a largely opposition province says his wife is horrified by the prospect of another Marcos in power, but her much younger brothers hardly believe what she tells them about the previous regime. Fifty-six percent of the 65 million eligible voters are between the ages of 18 and 41, and Bongbong has used TikTok, Facebook and YouTube to spread his controversial take on Marcos’ story and how he will take over from his father and move forward. to the country.
Any incoming president will inevitably receive staff congratulations and a pledge to improve bilateral relations from Boris Johnson, but politically and economically Britain cares little who wins. The Philippines is the UK’s 64th largest trading partner, accounting for 0.1 percent of total trade. For many of us, it just looks like the country with the polite call center people trying to sort out our banking woes or the nurses helping keep the NHS running.
However, Bongbong’s ties to Britain could brighten the future relationship. He is a huge Beatles fan and went to Worth School in Sussex. He claims to have a degree in PPE from St Edmund Hall, Oxford, even if the memory of the university is that he did not complete his degree but received a special diploma in social studies.
Although final counts may take weeks, it seems likely that Bongbong will have a large enough majority to make the usual claims of voter fraud moot. Like his father, he will start out with an economy in good shape. Before Covid, the country was experiencing annual growth of around 6 percent. Nearly a quarter of the population still lives in poverty but, with the past strategically recast, Marcos’s talk is about addressing inequalities and achieving economic reforms. If there is to be a second President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, he will offer history a second chance to pass judgment.
Reference-www.spectator.co.uk