Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., the second child of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, is the presumptive winner of the Philippine presidential election, with U.S. President Joe Biden calling to congratulate him on Thursday. Historian Manuel Quezon says the Philippines is part of a global trend whereby extreme views find favor with voters, while fueling anti-democratic impulses. Dutertes daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio is running for vice president, further cementing a Duterte-Marcos alliance. The younger Marcos, better known as Bongbong, has kept a low profile in the mainstream media, instead running a sophisticated social media campaign with millions of followers. He did this by capitalizing on the strengths of the land and its people, and by showcasing the provinces natural and cultural destination areas. A monthly digest of the top articles read by FP subscribers. This is out of the 10 charges involving Swiss-based private Marcos Jr. has traded on carefully curated nostalgia about his fathers reign to propel himself to the presidency. "It is [my] promise to be a president for all Filipinos," he added. After nearly 21 years in power, Marcos' rule collapsed with stunning speed in 1986, as popular discontent boiled over. If he was given a chance to change a part of the Philippines history, presidential aspirant and former senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr. (BBM) said it would be to do away with the Spanish and American colonization, which practically left Filipinos searching for their own identity, their pre-colonial culture, traditions, and heritage. "[60] He favors a pacifist approach to resolving the territorial disputes in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea),[61] specifically "through diplomacy and dialogue. Ukraines economy and infrastructure have been dealt blows that will take decades to recover from. [17] Following his presidential inauguration, he administered a mass oath-taking of his Cabinet officials. This has made the campaign all about him and left his opponents looking small. Bongbong Marcos is the son of 10th president Ferdinand Marcos, who was in power from 1965 to 1986. During what was described as their conjugal dictatorship, the first couple is alleged to have stolen between $5 billion and $10 billion. The long-time politician, who returned to the Philippines in 1991, has sought to paint his father's presidency as a golden age and polls suggest he is popular among the young. Is Weiss correct? (Pro-Marcos military personnel would later be convicted in Aquinos death.). Instead, he has used vague phrases such as "national unity" and implied that his policies would continue to back Duterte's infrastructure-based "Build, Build, Build" public works plan.. Her infamous 3,000-pair shoe collection discovered when protesters stormed the presidential palace in the 1986 uprising is now housed in a Manila museum. This has made the campaign all about him and left his opponents looking small. The results may help explain the Marcos familys political staying power. The younger Mr Marcos has served in various elected positions over the years. But the pro-Marcos disinformation campaign also benefited from widespread public disappointment with the failure of the post-1986 administrations to bring significant improvements to the lives of poorer Filipinos. A supporter flashes the peace sign, the campaign symbol of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., during his last campaign rally before the election on May 07, 2022 in Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines. Few have a recollection of martial law.. Feb 7, 2022. These rich and powerful family networks can protect politicians from real accountability and keep reform at bay., The history of the Philippine eliteand why voters continue to uphold their powerhas colonial roots. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. More than half of the countrys population was born after 1986, and thus have no personal memory of martial law or the catalysts for the Marcoses downfall. Download the new FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere. The family fled to the U.S. shortly thereafter. One famous scandal involved members of congress funneling money to phony nongovernmental organizations in exchange for kickbacks in what is known widely as the. . Over 50% of Filipinos eligible to vote on Monday's election are between the ages of 18 and 41, according to the Commission on Elections as quoted by the local media. Ferdinand Marcos Jr, known as Bongbong, was educated in the Philippines and at a boarding school in England. Ella Mage contributed to this story from Manila. This began at least a decade ago, with hundreds of deceptively-edited videos being uploaded to YouTube, which were then reposted on sympathetic Facebook pages. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. [citation needed], The Marcos administration launched its COVID-19 booster shot campaign, PinasLakas, to administer booster doses to at least 23 million Filipinos during Marcos' first 100 days,[45] but managed to boost only 3.5 million. There is now little doubt that Putin failed in his initial goals: Kyiv is still Show morestanding, Ukrainians are determined to keep fighting, and the West has so far stayed resolute in its support of Ukraine. Five years ago, 86% of Filipinos were found to have less than $10,000 in wealth. [56] To "boost government initiatives against scams committed through text and online messages", Marcos signed his first law, which mandated SIM card registration. Across generations, the deeply entrenched political dynasties of the Philippines have hollowed out the political process, making elections not about parties or ideas but about family names. Create an FP account to save articles to read later and in the FP mobile app. His mother Imelda Marcos, 92, ran for president twice and lost in the 1990s.. The opposite happened. Like voters everywhere, Filipinos say they dont support corruption. This position sets him apart from his four main rivals, who are far more hard-line on China. Analyst Robert Herrara-Lim says the chances of that happening in the May 9 election are "small but not insignificant. Analysis: FPsRavi Agrawalsat down with U.S. Trade RepresentativeKatherine Tai, the Biden administrations top official tasked with mapping out and implementing the White Houses trade policy.Watchthe conversation onFP Live, the magazines forum for live journalism, orreada condensed transcript. and which came to light in July of 2013. He and first lady Nancy Reagan counted Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos as friends, upholding the Philippines as a rare democracy in Southeast Asia. [citation needed] The Marcos administration faced challenges during this period such as a domestic sugar supply shortage in mid-2022, rising inflation rate brought about by the pandemic, and the economic effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While his father's loyalties to the United States were unquestioned, Marcos Jr. lives in a world where the U.S.-China rivalry presents geopolitical stakes of a different order, and they loom over the Philippines. [55], In 2022, the Marcos administration launched the BroadBand ng Masa Program to provide internet in remote areas. But the land was sold at prices well above what the poor could afford. Twenty-five years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that 23 billion pesos ($442 million) was due. Manila-based political analyst Richard Heydarian says Marcos has effectively tapped into discontent over the governments that followed his father's rule. The elder Marcos was "capable, brilliant, cunning, utterly rapacious," says historian Joseph Scalice. In a bid to rewrite the past, Marcos narrates polished videos that portray his parents as philanthropists and his father as a great innovator, sidestepping any mention of human rights abuses or theft of the national treasury. Read about our approach to external linking. Meanwhile, Debbie Torres is the newly-appointed Director 4 for the DILG, while Jose Albert Barrogo and Luz Marcelino have both been named Director 3 for the DA. Jessica Chen Weiss, formerly a senior advisor for policy planning at the State Department under the Biden administration, makes the case that the United States is becoming consumed by competition with China, a strategy that could lead to dangerous conflict. But the BBC's Howard Johnson in Manila says there are lingering questions about broken machines at polling stations and videos allegedly showing vote buying. [67][68], Mobilizations against Marcos' presidency have occurred as protests against historical distortion,[70] human rights violations,[71] and economic conditions.[72]. For a significant portion of Filipinos voting for the presidential election in the Philippines, the memories of dictator Ferdinand Marcos' brutal and corrupt reign have not been erased. When Philippine President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jnr. Bongbong Marcos 2022 presidential campaign, Presidential transition of Bongbong Marcos, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, List of major acts and legislation during the presidency of Bongbong Marcos, List of executive orders by Bongbong Marcos, Ordinance Power of the President of the Philippines, List of administration members in the presidency of Bongbong Marcos Administration and cabinet, Secretary of Human Settlements and Urban Development, Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, Secretary of Information and Communications Technology, Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority, Secretary of the Presidential Management Staff, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications, First 100 days of Bongbong Marcos' presidency, domestic sugar supply shortage in mid-2022, List of international presidential trips made by Bongbong Marcos, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, military capabilities are nearly 15 times "stronger", the Philippines' relations with its traditional ally, First 100 days of Bongbong Marcos' presidency Approval ratings, "Lawmakers say rightsizing plan of gov't offices commendable", "Philippines lifts the stringent travel restrictions", "From 2016 to 2022: Provinces' flip key to Marcos win", "Unity call in forefront as Marcos-Duterte tandem closes Visayas campaign", "Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., a Dictator's Son, Takes Huge Lead in Philippine Presidential Election", "Marcos Jr. officially proclaimed president-elect", "Marcos Jr. sworn in as PH's 17th president", "Military might on full display at inauguration parade", "National athletes march in military-civic parade during Bongbong Marcos inauguration", "Inaugural Address of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr., June 30, 2022", "Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First State of the Nation Address, July 25, 2022", "Ceremonial Signing of the General Appropriations Act of 2023", "P5.268-T nat'l budget supports Marcos admin's overall goals", "Marcos leadership style more systematic, efficient Palace", "LIST: Who are the members of Marcos Cabinet? Powerful families date back to the Spanish period and have cemented their hold on power. Political officer: Marcos Jr. apologized for not attending After accounting for a candidate previously holding officesince incumbents are more likely to be reelected and more likely to face corruption chargescandidates indicted for corruption are 5 percent to 7 percent less likely to be elected. He says, "Marcos did that. This could have helped protect poor farmers from being dispossessed, but the land titles were so expensive and complicated to acquire that only the well-off got titles. Pemberitahuan legal. In the run-up to this election, critics say his campaign didn't detail his plans or policies, and that he avoided debates where he might face independent questioning. Late in April, he rejected a one-on-one debate with his closest rival Leni Robredo, the current vice president. Jinggoy Estrada, son of former President Joseph Estrada, helped build day care centers when he was mayor of San Juan. Beijing's expansive claim to most of the South China Sea unnerves its smaller neighbors including the Philippines. Why Corruption Thrives in the Philippines. [52], The Marcos administration will continue the Build! Critics say this was the result of Mr Marcos Jr consistently painting his father's rule as a prosperous time, whitewashing a period of rampant corruption and widespread poverty. Xi Jinpings signature foreign policy is a shadow of its former self.. The history of the Philippine eliteand why voters continue to uphold their powerhas colonial roots. Janet Lim-Napoles, a businesswoman and the convicted ringleader of the scheme, claimed Marcos Jr. was involved, although he denied any knowledge and said his signature on forms releasing money to fake NGOs was forged. Marcos assumed office in 1965, imposed martial law in 1972 and didn't formally lift it until nearly a decade later, in 1981. The results may help explain the Marcos familys political staying power. The Philippines ratified the RCEP on February 2023. None of the dozen online influencers NPR reached out to agreed to be interviewed. All Rights Reserved. Youre on the list! He also became its governor and congressman, before becoming senator of the Republic. Alberto Marquez/AP Southeast Asia In addition, current Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gave the clan a boost in 2016 when he had Marcos Sr. reburied in the Cemetery of Heroes in Manila. The rich were able to buy up more land, while the poor were left without titles or access to the best land. A supporter holds pictures of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda Marcos, as Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Davao city Mayor Sara Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, take part in a rally to campaign for the presidency and the vice presidency in February, in Manila. Build! Cue the protests from other parts of the globe: A chorus of nations are accusing Washington of fostering unfair competition. When the United States seized control of the Philippines in 1898, it pledged to give land to the poor. Critics allege his election campaign was fuelled by a misinformation campaign on social media, which he denies. It helps that Duterte is an ally. What will another year of war look like? ", As for martial law, his parents told him it instilled "discipline.". Bongbongs mother, Imelda Marcos, was found guilty of seven counts of graft in November 2018. Cambodian opposition leader set for treason trial verdict, SUBSCRIBE But tucking into dinner at a Manila fish market, Jeffrey Zorilla, 39, a freelance actor, says it's the warm memories his parents have of the senior Marcos that appeal to him. Decades after dictator Ferdinand Marcos was ousted in a popular uprising that laid bare the brutality and sweeping corruption of his regime, his son is poised to revive the family's political fortunes in next month's presidential elections. The youthfulness of the Philippine population helps obscure the truth of the Marcos dictatorship. The opposite happened. Washington is right to counter Iran's brutality at home and abroad, but that shouldn't stop it from engaging with an adversary to preserve regional peace. But challenges, from high inflation to the aftermath of a brutal anti-drug campaign by President Rodrigo Duterte, remain. Opportunistic firms in Asia and Europe have already begun to relocate investments to the United States. rs worth well over $400 billion. The rival campaigns turned this into one of the Philippines' most watched elections. Supporters see vindication, and opponents see an assault on the country's fragile democracy. Bongbong Marcos successfully portrayed himself as the candidate for change, like his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, promising happiness and unity to a country weary of the years of political polarisation and pandemic hardship and hungry for a better story. Marcos Jr., in turn, has been accused of graft and convicted of tax evasion. As governor, he turned Ilocos Norte into a first-class province. This is similar to how voters react to corruption in other countries. For example, in 1912, the Philippine Assembly made it a crime to break a labor contract, which effectively forced sharecroppers to stay on large plantations. Marcos Jr.s campaign also appeals to nostalgia among voters who lived during the era when Marcos Sr. built new rail lines, cultural centers, hospitals, and other infrastructure projects, as well as among younger voters who have been sold on this sanitized image of the Marcos era. For its part, Washington has made a series of policy choices over the last few years that can be summed Show moreup as tough on Beijing, even seeking to contain the rise of the worlds second-biggest economy. Familiarity certainly helps. Marcos assumed the presidency over the Philippines as the world was still struggling from the economic and social impact brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, and its negative effects were further amplified by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Imelda Marcos arrives at the Commission on Elections to lend support for her daughter Imee Marcos in filing her candidacy for a Senate seat in 2018 in Manila. Marcos Sr. was forced out of office 36 years ago, which is well before much of the electorate was even born. that, as of 2019, 80 percent of governors, 67 percent of members of the House of Representatives, and 53 percent of mayors had at least one relative in office. [8] The inaugural ceremony was notable for his meeting with outgoing president Rodrigo Duterte at the Malacaang Palace whose departure honors were also held at the complex, the military-civic parade, and his 25-minute speech that gives a view of what his presidency will look like.[9][10]. Delivered Thursday. Source: https://www.facebook.com/IPOPHL, Sign up for The Manila Times daily newsletters, By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the. What does that mean for trade and globalization? History could come full circle in the Philippines next month. His father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who ruled as a dictator for 14 years under martial law, was known for his big infrastructure projects but also for his enormous corruption. He looked for new and modern opportunities to develop the province. Marcos Jr., in turn, has been accused of graft and convicted of tax evasion. [7], Marcos was inaugurated as the seventeenth president of the Philippines on June 30, 2022, at the National Museum of Fine Arts. Former first lady Imelda Marcos, famous for her lavish shoe collection, recalled stuffing "diamonds into diapers" in the rush to escape aboard a U.S. Air Force plane. Scalice says the Marcos era saw the warrantless arrests of 70,000 people, the deaths of nearly 4,000, the stifling of free speech and the persecution of political rivals. Politicians commonly jump from one party to another, making party labels meaningless. Scalice says that revisionist effort, aided by falsehoods and misinformation, can flourish because textbooks in Philippine high schools have never taught the crimes of the martial law era. Don Joaqun Ortega was appointed the first governor of La Union in 1901, and 120 years later his descendants are still governors., Voters turn to political dynasties for a variety of reasons. As legislator, one of the most important pieces of legislation that BBM was "Military deals are advantageous to both countries," he said, adding that the U.S. could do "many things" to help the Philippines. Delivered Wednesday. A curated selection of our very best long reads. This could have helped protect poor farmers from being dispossessed, but the land titles were so expensive and complicated to acquire that only the well-off got titles. So what accounts for Marcos Jr.s popularity in spite of his legacy of malfeasance? The election was not just for the presidential positions, but also for senators, the lower house and regional officials across the entire archipelago. Are You Asking About Is Bongbong Marcos A Lawyer? Marcos assumed office in 1965, imposed martial law in 1972 and didn't formally lift it until nearly a decade later, in 1981. If Putin had hoped to weaken NATO, the very opposite has happened, with Finland and Sweden on the cusp of joining the transatlantic military alliance. As the vote count showed the scale of Mr Marcos' lead, Ms Robredo told supporters to continue their fight for truth and dismantle "the structures of lies". The rising inflation and shortage of the countrys food supply were major challenges during the beginning of his presidency. He held lavish rallies featuring pop music, comedy and dancing, where attendees were given freebies like wristbands and T-shirts. Known as Bongbong in the Philippines, Marcos Jr is running on a platform of unity and has promised more jobs, lower prices, and more investment in agriculture and infrastructure. Bongbong, whose slogan is "Together we shall rise again," has stuck to an evocative message of rekindling the idea of former greatness. Marcos has signed five bills into law, three of which are national in scope. [51], In December 2022, Marcos issued an executive order formalizing former President Rodrigo Duterte's spoken order earlier that May to suspend e-sabong (online cockfighting) operations in the country. MANILA -- As frontrunner in the Philippines' presidential race, the son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos appears poised to complete a remarkable rebranding of the family name 36 years after a "people power" uprising ended his father's autocratic rule. Their conspiracy-laced content, followed by millions, vilifies Marcos rivals and the mainstream media, she says, trolling and intimidating journalists assigned to cover the campaign. Bullit Marquez/AP Copyright The Manila Times All Rights Reserved. His older sister ran a childrens TV show when Marcos Sr. was in power. Marcos' presidential transition began on May 25, 2022, when the Congress of the Philippines proclaimed his candidacy as the winner of the 2022 Philippine presidential election held on May 9, 2022. Ferdinand Marcos Sr, who died in 1989, and his wife Imelda stole an estimated $10bn (8.1bn) from the Philippines' coffers, becoming infamous examples of public graft. In fact, they don't even exist because a majority of the electorate were either not born or were too young to remember that era. [66], Unlike Duterte, whose foreign policy lessened the country's dependence on the United States, Marcos sought to strengthen the Philippines' relations with its traditional ally. Based on the list released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Negre's appointment took effect last February 27. Ronald Reagan, as California governor, struck an alliance with Marcos that stretched into his own presidency. Marcos Jr. followed in his fathers footsteps by holding a variety of public offices, including governor and congressman. Turnout on voting day was high and previous elections in the country have largely been ruled to be fair. hide caption. Based on the list released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Negre's appointment took effect last February 27. Families are also known for delivering pork barrel projects and even direct payouts before elections. Want to read more on this topic or region? What can we glean from the current state of play on the battlefield? But Marcos says he is inclined to walk away from a landmark Hague tribunal ruling favoring the Philippines over China and its claim to much of the South China Sea. But historians say any analysis of the Philippines future with a Marcos scion at the helm would ring hollow without a critical eye toward the past. The other major candidates running against Marcos Jr. dont come from such important families with such deep political connections. The political is personal in the Philippines and vice versa; no felt connection to that time period, coupled with the lack of learning about martial law in school curriculum, created a chasm waiting to be filled with the loudest perspectives.. The younger Marcos has spent long years in politics. He also became its governor and congressman, before becoming senator of the Republic. [49], The Philippines finally ratified the RCEP on February 21, 2023, the largest trade bloc in history. And how might that be impacting the world? Garafil served as the OfficerinCharge from October 7, 2022 to January 10, 2023. Ferdinand Marcos Sr. ruled with an iron fist for nearly two decades until 1986, a period marked by great poverty, unemployment and a debt crisis.