At the launch of Bongbong Marcos campaign, a celebrity emcee rallied the crowd saying: We have a winner, the fight is over! It's a smart choice. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. He was special assistant to his father in 1979 and later, vice governor then governor of their bailiwick, Ilocos Norte. And thank you very much for this hospitality. By presenting the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s infrastructure legacy, his "Bagong Lipunan," as so-called proof that the Philippines was a utopia of sorts back during Martial Law. Marcos, the only son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., is the presidential candidate of Uniteam, an alliance that brings together the biggest and most prominent clans in Philippine politics. Read More: Imelda Marcos Has Had Part of Her Art Collection Seized. The reason for the takedown: it violatedFacebooks policies against coordinated in-authentic behaviour the use of fake accounts, made to look real, in a coordinated campaign to promote messages or a political agenda. The opposition has attacked even the the pollsters, too. Leadership is about character. The elites have been doing that for generations well before he came to power. These polling agencies are legit. This is like just cementing the ruling class, La Via, the former dean of the Ateneo School of Government, says. Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our, Dear Reader, please register to read gulfnews.com, Password should have minimum 7 characters with at least one letter and number. This amalgamation of political clans from the countrys two most important, vote-rich regions leaves Marcos Jrs rivals lacking. Therefore, itd be pointless for other candidates to seek the endorsement of the incumbent president. He defeated nine other opponents by a wide margin in an election that experts say was tainted by rampant social media misinformation. With his apparent win, the son and namesake of the late dictator has cemented his familys political comeback 36 years after they fled the Southeast Asian nation in disgrace. Marcos Jr., along with Duterte-Carpio, refused to grant interviews to international media or participate in debates. His supporters will say that Marcos Jr.s presidency will signal the countrys democracy [is] moving forward and looking to the future., Whether or not Bongbong Marcos will be like his father once he takes office, meanwhile, remains to be seenbut experts agree that hes likely not to follow his fathers strongman footsteps.He doesnt have the kind of drive and ambition and scale of vision that his father had, says Heydarian. Of these, only one . We can thank Marcos and Imelda for this. Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2023. But that was only a sliver of what they had amassed, and in the following decades, Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos would be hit with criminal and civil fraud charges filed in the United States and accusations by the Philippine government that the couple plundered billions of dollars from their home country, stashed millions in Swiss and Hong Kong bank accounts, and tried to profit from clandestine investments in New York real estate. Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., who is set to become the president of the Philippines after winning the elections, comes to the job with a controversial family history. Ferdinand Marcos Jr, 64, known as "Bongbong", and more recently, "BBM", is the only son of the late dictator who ruled the Philippines for almost two decades until he was forced out of power by a . Voters have been swayed by his decision to stay out of the mudslinging, and they approve of his promise to unite the country while continuing with the legacy of Rodrigo Duterte. You cant really blame him the focus in media and social media has been on the abuses during Marcos 21 years in power. But then, once back in school, my schoolmates and I had to learn these new weird songs about the new order and how everything was great about the regime and about Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. subscription, ePaper I am extremely pleased. To be fair, Marcos and Imelda did not invent wealth-flaunting. Bongbong Marcos Jnr and his family face arrest in the US for defying a court order to pay US$353 million to human rights victims. You have a succession of administrations which really came short of fulfilling the fundamental ideals and aspirations of the Filipino people, which was expressed in the 1986 revolution, says Richard Heydarian, a professor of political science and Asian geopolitics expert based in Manila. He's the son of a. The survey was held from October 20-23, 2021, the same month national candidates filed their Certificates of Candidacy. Marcos was also seen by voters as the candidate with a clear plan for solving the countrys problems (38%), has good leadership qualities (38%), and defense the territories of the Philippines against China (39%). Theories on how to build a space elevator have been around for decades. Political scientists cite 8reasons why BBM enjoys an unprecedented +50% of voter preference, and why the struggling opposition should care to listen and tweak their campaign: The Tallano gold is part of a bigger narrative to distort history, and burnish the image of Marcoses, through trolls-for-hire armies sustaining a venomous anti-oligarch, and historical distortion campaign. This is the first time anyone had garnered a majority (in 1992, Fidel Ramos only got some 23.5% of the votes). Manhit said candidates apart from Marcos Jr. should focus on building on their own strengths instead of hoping for a Duterte endorsement. But thanks in part to a patient long-term project of brand rehabilitation on social media, and expedient power-brokering with the powerful Dutertes to unify forces against their liberal elite rivals, the family has made a successful comeback. Dr. Julio Teehankee, professor of Political Science and International Studies at the De La Salle University, said: If youre enjoying 50% almost 60% in the surveys, then you can afford to do this.. Answer (1 of 9): A lot of my Filipino friends tell me they will vote for for Bongbong Marcos, the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, in the 2022 elections. Still, Marcos gained favor among Filipinos with his populist agenda. Inside Bongbong's childhood room, hanging next to an ornate four-poster bed, is an extraordinary portrait of the would-be-leader. He had already given a number presidential debates a pass. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Marcos Jrs mother Imelda has been sentenced to a minimum of 42 years in jail in 2018. But his ultimate target is history itself. Rather than introduce top-down censorship of the press, as his father did during martial law, Marcos Jr.s strategy will likely involve stigmatizing unsympathetic news outlets. I must confess that I was thrilled when Marcos imposed Martial Law. Instead of differentiating themselves by highlighting their record and capabilities, other candidates have engaged in a pack attack to try and take Marcos Jr down. Sara Duterte's pull in Mindano is a huge plus for BBM. Both on your website and other media. They think Marcos did well as a senator, has enough political experience, they mention his housing bills, his tenure as a congressman. The Reagan White House finally realized he was a liability to U.S. interests. When Marcos was declared the winner, demonstrators filled the streets of the capital, Manila, for days in what is known as the People Power Revolution. His return to power will raise more questions than answers and provoke rage so that instead of moving forward, people will be litigating unanswered questions to a past that continues to be present. But he has decided to look the other way. Marcos and his sister, Senator Imee Marcos, have also accused social media giant Facebook of bias in its choice of fact-checking organizations. Read More: Bongbong Marcos Takes Huge Lead in Philippine Election, Hes a person with a heart, says Reian Azcune, a 20-year-old voter in Rizal province. Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism. HQ of Philippine carrier Smart padlocked, 12-year-old runs over his father in Saudi Arabia, Body parts of Hong Kong model found in refrigerator, Hundreds of fish 'rained from the sky' in Australia, Video: Two trains collide in Greece, 36 killed, Premier League: Chelsea announce fan advisory board, Art events, outdoor markets and festivals in Dubai, Qatars Emir receives Tahnoun and Mansour, Abdullah bin Zayed chairs G20 Steering Committee meet, Pakistan begins 1st digital population, housing census. "A great leader doesn't need to influence someone with hate," says 20-year-old voter Azcune. Manhit pointed out that based on research, only 1 in 4 Filipinos would not vote for a candidate from a political dynasty. It involves integrity, honesty, hard work, competence, a track record of service to others essential ingredients for every candidate who aspires to become president of a country. Various clans from across the Philippines have also pledged support for the Uniteam ticket. So why is the Philippines still in shambles?. 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 end of the Marcos era was only the beginning of the familys troubles. By providing an email address. His presidential hopes benefited from name recognition and familial and regional loyalties as well as a deep-pocketed campaign that propagated a form of revisionist history, said Lily Ann Villaraza, chair of the Philippine studies departmentat City College of San Francisco. A recent investigation found that newly-made Twitter accounts were used to promote the dictators son and attack critics in the lead-up to elections. Call 896 6000. Prof. Heydarian echoes Prof. La Via. Call 896 6000. But the Marcoses certainly took the brazen display of extreme affluence, in the face of extreme poverty, to a new low. A huge factor in 2022, of course, is the reach of social media and the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation. Imelda Marcos and Marcos Jr. still face a $353 million contempt judgment in the U.S. in a class-action over the elder Marcos rights abuses, and members of the Marcos family are also defendants in at least 40 lawsuits related to their wealth, Reuters reported this month. The two decades that Ferdinand Marcos Sr . By evening, the authoritarian regime of ailing President Ferdinand Marcos endedwith Marcos leaving for exile in Hawaii along with his wife and children. A ranking member of the House of Representatives believes that Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer Bongbong Marcos has a "good heart" and is therefore worthy to lead the country. READ:Do the Marcoses have ill-gotten wealth? Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., presidential candidate and son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, greets supporters during a rally in Las Pias City, suburban Manila, on March 13, 2022. To be honest, I dont think attacking Marcos (Jr) will be very useful, for the (opposition) campaign anymore. You just wont find such an act of defiance in other places. A great leader doesnt need to influence someone with hate, says 20-year-old voter Azcune. The polls overwhelmingly favour Marcos Jr. To the world: Judge me not by my ancestors, but by my actions, Marcos Jr. said upon declaring victory, according to a statement from his spokesman. (Podcast). But, certainly, he set a seemingly unbreakable record. Marcos Jr's repeated claims that he was cheated in 2016, despite his loss in recounts and the final Supreme Court decision, portray him as an underdog. The love for Ferdinand Marcos Sr. is alive!, For sociologist Nicole Curato, the election has been nothing less than a battle for the nations narrative. Marcos Jr.s critics will argue that victory signals democracys failure to hold corrupt politicians accountable, she tells TIME in an email. But now, the Mayor of the southern city of Davao, is campaigning for Marcos, whose family has dominated politics in the countrys north for decades. It was taken down alongside a pro-China fake account network with origins in China. He and first lady Nancy Reagan counted Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos as friends, upholding the Philippines as a rare democracy in Southeast Asia. His familys popularity saw a recent resurgence largely driven by social media. Thats why Duterte won, not because hes really good, but he convinced people that hes really the guy who gets things done. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has promised the Philippine people "unifying leadership," despite his family's dark and divisive legacy. PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday called presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as "spoiled" and a "weak leader" as he spurned a coalition with the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) headed by his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara . His pledge of better roads, more accessible internet, lower utility and food costs, and a desire to unite the Philippines seemed to sway voters, Villaraza said. Your subscription could not be saved. It manifests the resentment many Filipinos have towards oligarchic stranglehold over the country's economy in the last 36 years since the EDSA revolt that ousted Marcos Sr, an order which left many poor and disenfranchised. But, more importantly, people want a leader who gets things done. Marcos Jr. is aware of major judicial rulings in three countries (the Philippines, the United States, and Switzerland) over the years that prove the existence of ill-gotten wealth. His opponents find it hard to chip away from that perception. Yes, people like a leader who is mabait (nice) and compassionate. This was the last public appearance by Marcos and his family before exile. Cultural centers, specialist hospitals, and even a nuclear power plant were erected, funded in large part by foreign loans. Three years later, Aquinos widow, Corazon Aquino, challenged Marcos for president in an election marred by fraud. With more than half of voters aged between 18 and 41, the effect is significant. Ronald Reagan, as California governor, struck an alliance with Marcos that stretched into his own presidency. The Marcoses, she says, have ruled with martial law for so long. But he has done nothing to right these wrongs. Yet, even if Marcos Jr does succeed Duterte, no gold will be passed around. Its been years in the making. Please try again. But then again, after what Marcos did, Filipinos are rightfully suspicious of anyone wanting to fool around with laws meant to prevent power-hungry politicians. Based on a Pulse Asia survey held from January 19 to 24, inflation, workers pay, poverty, graft & corruption, and job creation were the biggest issues for voters. and January 24, 2022 Twitter Removes Hundreds of Accounts . The older Marcos put the Philippines under Martial law for several years, although rights abuses and the pilfering of public funds continued well beyond Martial law. The Philippines may be one of Asias oldest and largest democracies, but its continued embrace of strongman leaders is a wake-up call that liberal democracys messages of equality and rule of law will eventually run hollow once voters get tired of the same old heroes and political dynasties. What drives the popularity of the Marcos-Duterte tandem is the fact that both belong to political clans from North Luzon and Mindanao, respectively. But still, given our experience with Marcos, theres a line, especially in national races, that I suspect candidates will not cross for fear of sparking a severe backlash. Bush to Manila to praise Marcos adherence to democratic principles. A few years later, the dictator was gone. This website stores cookies on your computer. Crony capitalism, in which Marcos favored the business interests of friends and relatives, was blamed. Ironically, Marcos Jr and his family are, in fact, hounded by corruption issues. that the traditional media, the church, the countrys elites and oligarchs are biased against him. A newer January 2022 Pulse Asia survey, which gauged what voters consider the most in picking a presidential candidate, found that not corrupt, has a clear platform of action, and extensive experience in governance were the three top considerations. . Given his record of delaying and obstructing the return of ill-gotten wealth to our country, it is hard to imagine that he can lead efforts to repay the trillions of pesos that the Philippines now owes, in large part due to the pandemic-induced downturn in our economy. Senator Santiago chose Senator Marcos for the simple reason that he has proven to possess the qualities that she values the most. 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