In some interviews, Marcos has let slip that he sees himself as the victim of mainstream media, insinuating that journalists have their own agenda. Borrowing a line from Donald Trumps playbook against liberal media outlets, he has recast as fake news legitimate evidence of his familys ill-gotten wealth. If you also want to express your gratitude to the late dictator, please visit the NeverAgain page on Facebook. Why Finland and Sweden Seem Likely to Join NATO, The Secret History of the Shadow Campaign That Saved the 2020 Election. Marcos Jr. has secured 30 million votes in an initial count, more than double his closest rivalcurrent vice president Leni Robredo. A great leader doesnt need to influence someone with hate, says 20-year-old voter Azcune. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1251db4b92cacd One thing became clear during the Marcos years: Even during dark times, Filipinos can still maintain a healthy sense of humor. For too long, progressives have taken for granted that facts in themselves are sufficient. It's really in differentiating yourself from what he stands for and from his record, and differentiating themselves from each other, so that votees will be consolidated on a couple of candidates.. 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. The opposition has attacked even the the pollsters, too. This is the biggest straw, and has proven to be the most effective weapon in the resurgence of the Marcos dynasty. His victory . The attacks against BBM with the issue of nakaw (ill-gotten wealth) and all of that, it does not resonate as much, said Heydarian, policy adviser and chair of geopolitics at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). For a while, the Marcoses were cancelled public pariahs. 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. But from 1972 to 1981, Marcos also controlled the Philippines through martial law, which he declared was necessary in order to combat perceived threats to the country from communists and Muslim separatists. He who's gotthe deepest pocketgets to convert the most hearts and minds. Saddled with such a record, how can he ever bring about healing and unify our divided country? Please try again. Their son, Bongbong Marcos, is at far right. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. # marcos # era "the golden age of the armed forces of the philippines (afp), marcos era: 1970's - 1980's". They also point out that matriarch Imelda Marcos has managed to avoid jail, despite being convicted of graft. To be honest, I dont think attacking Marcos (Jr) will be very useful, for the (opposition) campaign anymore. The Marcos family returned from exile in 1991 and began to astutely revamp its image. Pundits say that if the trend lines continue, with the polling just 67 days away, another Marcos will be in Malacanang Palace, the Asian countrys seat of power. Marcos imposed nationwide martial law in September 1972 in response to escalating protests from civil libertarians and threats of communist insurgency. Manila After winning an overwhelming mandate of more than 30 million votes in Monday's election, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is the de-facto president-elect of the Philippines. Two years later, Imelda Marcos was allowed to return to the Philippines, where she ran for president twice unsuccessfully before winning a seat in the countrys Congress four times, most recently in 2016. It's a rather vague promise, amplified on social media. Situate the analysis of his accomplishments in a vacuum and. MANILA, Philippines In choosing the next president, Filipinos consider many things: concern for the poor, trustworthiness, an untainted reputation, a clear program of action, and experience in governance, to name a few. The Constitution bars him from seeking a second term. 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. How can one not laugh at Marcos and Imeldas antics? After the latter was deposed, the Philippine government under Cory Aquino announced it had succeeded in identifying $860.8 million squirrelled away by Marcos and his wife Imelda. In the run-up to the 2022 presidential elections, Marcos met with leaders of transport groups and promised that a government under him would offer a "decent home" and livelihood programs for . On this note, and based on a survey ahead of the office election period, presidential race frontrunner Bongbong Marcos Jr. was seen as the candidate who possesses the characteristics voters are looking for in the next countrys leader. Yes, Philippine politics is still widely considered as an easy road to easy money, but too much greed is now generally accepted as being dangerous to ones political career. His near-certain. He was special assistant to his father in 1979 and later, vice governor then governor of their bailiwick, Ilocos Norte. That a great number of Filipinos count on the mythical mountain of gold supposedly handed down to Marcos Sr by a fictional Tallano Family (whose gold stash supposedly came all the way from King Solomon), is no mystery. Privacy Policy. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. (UK: / m r k s / MAR-koss, US: /-k o s,-k s /-kohss, -kawss, Tagalog: ; born September 13, 1957), commonly referred to by the initials PBBM or BBM, is a Filipino politician who is the 17th and current president of the Philippines. Sa Ikauunlad ng Bayan, Disiplina ang Kailangan. For our nation to develop, we need discipline. That was the regimes slogan for Marcos New Society. The Uniteam is a formidable force in the elections not only because of its 2022 ticket. Protesters raise clinched fists as they hold banners with anti-Marcos slogans during a demonstration to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the People Power Revolution in 1986 that ousted the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, in front of the People Power monument in Quezon City, suburban Manila on Feb. 25, 2022. Read More: The Philippines Problem With Dynastic Politics. The late President Ferdinand Marcos waves goodbye to supporters from the balcony of Malacaang Palace in Manila following his oath-taking ceremony as victor in the Philippine Presidential snap elections, Feb. 25 1986. This, together with sustained geo-targetting of Filipino social media users with content favouring Marcos and his family, goes all the way back to at least 2014, according to one study. He had already given a number presidential debates a pass. Theres former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, Senator Bong Revilla of Lakas-CMD, and former president Erap Estradas son Jinggoy Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, to name a few. Still, Marcos gained favor among Filipinos with his populist agenda. He was so good with his Marcos impersonation, that during the critical hours of the People Power Revolt, when the dictator appeared on TV to prove he was still in charge, there were those who believed it was a ploy with the popular comedian in the starring role. Philanthropic foreign attempts to bolster the local liberal press, or support democratic organizations and opposition groups, will likely be attacked as unpatriotic by Marcos in the emotive language of nationalismas Duterte did before him and as Modi does in India. And nuns praying the rosary in front of tanks? He believes without question YouTube videos about the tonnes of Marcos gold stashed away in some vault. 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. A Marcos Jr. win would complete his once-disgraced familys resurrection arc. They are artfully compelling stories for the young and the excluded. All Rights Reserved. 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. Add your comment to start the conversation. But the Marcoses certainly took the brazen display of extreme affluence, in the face of extreme poverty, to a new low. So its very hard for them to counter-check claims circulating on the internet, given their limited access to actual content, or fact-check sites, for example. And so I doubt the Philippines will move towards a 20th century-style dictatorship. 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. 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. Many people are voting for Marcos, not because they like Marcos more; they just dont like being told and being treated as bad [people], says Antonio Contreras, a political analyst in Manila. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Besides, todays generation, dont care much about what happened in the past. 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. Disinformation does play a role (in shaping voter preference), especially in the low-income communities, said De La Salle University Political Scientist Cleve Arguelles. When the Marcoses and their entourage absconded from the Philippines, it was with a stunning supply of wealth, The Los Angeles Times reported in 1986: $7.7 million in cash and $4 million in gems and jewelry, including a gold crown and three diamond-studded tiaras. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. (Podcast). With his familys comeback decades in the making, Marcos presumably has a heavy axe to grind. Bush to Manila to praise Marcos adherence to democratic principles. A few years later, the dictator was gone. 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. 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. and But the power plant was never used, and the countrys external debt soared from $800 million at the start of Marcos first term in 1965 to $28.3 billion when he was oustedmore than 80% of the countrys GDP. Call 896 6000. But it shows simple, diligent messaging works. Bongbong has successfully portrayed himself as the candidate for change, promising happiness and unity to a country weary of years of political polarisation and pandemic hardship, and hungry for. Whatever the future holds, this much is evident, Rafael said: Marcos Jr. was able to apply his fathers propaganda toolkit to scale the political heights and orchestrate a comeback for his family that 36 years ago would have seemed inconceivable. But even before the People Power Revolt, during the darkest days of dictatorship, Filipinos were already coming up with creative ways to defy the regime. 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. It's a smart choice. PDP-Laban, the party Duterte chairs, has adopted Sara Duterte as its vice presidential candidate but has not endorsed a presidential aspirant. The polls overwhelmingly favour Marcos Jr. 'Bongbong' is the son of former president Ferdinand Marcos who was ousted by a people's uprising in 1986 The latest polls show Bongbong as the favorite pick for VP CNN It's been 30 years. In the 2016 general elections, his son BBM lost to Robredo, the current vice president, by a slim margin. Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com, By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our Heis a poster boy for the most well-heeled Filipinos falling for disinformation. The younger Marcos also knows where to meet these supporters: his team engages with millions of users on social platformsespecially TikTok and Facebookboth inside the Philippines and abroad. Ronald Reagan, as California governor, struck an alliance with Marcos that stretched into his own presidency. Independent media outlets were also shut down. Both on your website and other media. FORMER SENATOR. Dr Peralta (name changed) believesBBMs victory is a matter of destiny. The rest? He has been found guilty by a Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals of tax evasion for the billions of pesos in unpaid taxes racked up by the Marcos estate. Now take note: I said brazenly. For I know, elections Philippine-style are still dirty and cheating-prone. It is also reflective of the shared problems of many advanced democraciesand not just those in the global South. Marcos Jr.s 2022 presidential campaign advocates unity as a means of lifting the country from the economic doldrums of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Marcoses are back from being pariahs, knocking on the gates of Malacanang Palace. Digital Prof. Heydarian echoes Prof. La Via. In the case of the Philippines, the liberal weapons of historical accuracy and fact-checking are simply no match for Marcos creative folklore, turbocharged by social media fan culture and relatable influencers. You cant really blame him the focus in media and social media has been on the abuses during Marcos 21 years in power. Aided by an army of paid trolls, he has conducted his electoral campaign, in large part, on a strategy of misinformation that seeks to mislead rather than clarify. It was unthinkable at first. Read this in The Manila Times digital edition. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Your subscription could not be saved. Or at the very least, that its not important, says Antonio La Via, former dean of the Ateneo School of Government. Performance & security by Cloudflare. The elites have been doing that for generations well before he came to power. Robredo was around 19% to 20%. Unofficial results from Mondays election show Marcos Jr., 64, capturing more than 31 million votes, double that of his closest rival, current Vice President Leni Robredo, with other candidates trailing far behind, including retired boxing champ Manny Pacquiao. Family who pillaged billions of dollars from national coffers back in style. Thats why Duterte won, not because hes really good, but he convinced people that hes really the guy who gets things done. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Please try again. Initial polls showed she was even ahead of Marcos Jr in the presidential race. Marcos was perhaps the most charismatic of all Philippine presidents when democrats were still fashionable in elections and statecraft. subscription, ePaper The Marcos clan has since returned to the mainstream. Their restoration presents a democraticindeed existentialcrisis for the Philippines. Marcos Jr is the most controversial, and is himself facing numerous cases, including a conviction over a tax-evasion case. With more than half of voters aged between 18 and 41, the effect is significant. hippie fest 2022 michigan; family picture poses for 5 adults; unforgettable who killed rachel; pacific northwest college of art notable alumni; adler sense of belonging family constellation; how to spot fake bvlgari serpenti bag; In 2016, polling agencies (notably Social Weather Station, or SWS) correctly predicted that Robredo would win. 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. (an article by cire oiraunay) i deeply cried when i discovered this very shocking truthful history of the greatness and brilliance of our beloved former president ferdinand e. marcos sr. then, he said: "i have committed many sins in my life. 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. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Theater of popular music. The survey was held from October 20-23, 2021, the same month national candidates filed their Certificates of Candidacy. The Php15.44-million peso (About $297,800) cash bond for the recount nearly bankrupted the Robredo family, known for their rather modest means. The trend lines are not as good for the opposition, but also not as prohibitive for BBM, said Heydarian. (Pro-Marcos military personnel would later be convicted in Aquinos death.). Marcos Jr's deliberate non-appearance in major presidential debates may seem, to many, as a lost opportunity. 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%). Despite leading preference polls, Marcos Jr has yet to lay out a comprehensive platform. 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. Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism. In 2016, as voting day drew near, Pulse Asia had correctly predicted that Robredo would win, and she did. The two decades that Ferdinand Marcos Sr . But there was also little for people to pick apart during the campaign, said Vicente Rafael, author of The Sovereign Trickster: Death and Laughter in the Age of Duterte and aprofessor of Southeast Asian history at the University of Washington in Seattle. Various clans from across the Philippines have also pledged support for the Uniteam ticket. He is the second child and only son of 10th . The total national loss from November 1965 was believed to be $5$10 billion. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's visit cited Malaysia's "great contribution" to the peace process in Mindanao. Thats why theyre keeping him in a refrigerated vault. "And we hope that this support that they have shown over the past few years will continue and will continue to contribute to the success of the peace process and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region," Marcos said. The numbers show the jump from the previous polls is not significant. These polling agencies are legit, said Prof. Heydarian, policy adviser and chair of geopolitics at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). His running-mate, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte, is the daughter of the incumbent president. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rally the crowd on his presidential bid in the May Philippine elections, in Mandaluyong CIty on February 13, 2022. Then in 1983, the assassination of Marcos chief political rival, Benigno Aquino Jr., led the U.S. to distance itself from the Marcos regime. Manhit pointed out that based on research, only 1 in 4 Filipinos would not vote for a candidate from a political dynasty. The Manila Times Podcasts. Many kept these claims alive on social media, and within his self-reinforcing silo of followers. Marcos Jrs commanding leads in most polls todaydoes not surprise political scientists here. His opponents find it hard to chip away from that perception.