(Pro-Marcos military personnel would later be convicted in Aquinos death.). NBA Invests in AI-Driven Video-Tracking Firm,Extends Deal, Mayfair Mansion in Receivership Sells for More Than 50 Million, German Inflation Unexpectedly Quickens in Fresh Blow for ECB, China Tells IMF Willing to Take Constructive Part in Debt Talks, Feds Soft Landing Hinges on a Wage Inflation Head Scratcher, UK Regulator Bans Lufthansa Ad Over MisleadingClimate Claims, Forget Chatbots, This Is How Corporate America Is Really Using AI, TikTok Is Imposing Time Limits on Teens to Prevent Binges, YouTube to Add AI-Powered Tools for Video Creators, New CEO Says, Tennis Great Venus Williams Joins Private Equity Firm Topspin, Nigeria Cash Crisis Ends 31-Months of Growth in Business Activity, Sunak Faces Calls to Explain Why Scotland Cannot ReceiveSpecial EU Access, Qatari Sheikh Says Hes No Football Fan as Son Chases Man United, Worlds Rich Take Advantage as $1 TrillionProperty Market Craters, Powerade Signs Ja Morant to Multiyear Deal to Be Its New Face, Netflix BringsStranger Thingsto the Stage in Londons West End, Bank CDs Are an Insult to Americas Savers, Poor Voters Are Losing Out in the Culture Wars, How Evangelical Voters Swung From Carter to Trump, From Chips to TikTok, Gina Raimondo Is at the Center of Bidens China Policy, Russian Airlines Are Flying High Despite Sanctions, The NFLsTop Talent Agency Bought by Venture Investors, Santander Failed to Make Progress With Gender Pay Gap in 2022, BNP Ordered to Pay A Banker Fired Years After Alleged Sexual Harassment, Theres a Gap Between EV Range Estimates and Real-World Results, New York City Isnt Waiting for the White House to Enforce Fair Housing, Richest Atlanta District Inches Closer to Seceding From City, NYCs Shadow TransitNetwork SeeksaGreenerFuture, Singapore Crypto Lender Hodlnaut's Founders Propose Selling Business Rather Than Liquidating Firm, Celsius Examiner Report Mentions FTX More Than 150 Times. One to sawa dynasty, anyone? 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. It was also too little too late, coming after too many decades of blaming or patronizing the bobotante (the dumb voter) and the masa (masses). It is also reflective of the shared problems of many advanced democraciesand not just those in the global South. The Marcoses are back from being pariahs, knocking on the gates of Malacanang Palace. Graphika, an independent social analytics firm, has found that a Philippines cluster was the most-engaged with cluster of assets by a considerable margin., The content, both from pages and from individual accounts, praised President Duterte and his family allies, notably his daughter, and the daughter of former president Ferdinand Marcos, Senator Imee Marcos.. Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism. This was the last public appearance by Marcos and his family before leaving for exile in Hawaii. I distinctly remember a classic during one of the rallies after Ninoys assassination and Marcos face often looked swollen as he reportedly battled lupus. 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. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is the most multilingual president of the Philippines, being able to speak ten languages. Many kept these claims alive on social media, and within his self-reinforcing silo of followers. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. 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. Bloomberg Surveillance, covering the latest news in finance, economics and investments. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Image Credit:. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Marcos Jr.s 2022 presidential campaign advocates unity as a means of lifting the country from the economic doldrums of the COVID-19 pandemic. She's been a journalist since 2011 and has written about Congress, the national police, and the Liberal Party for Rappler. By providing an email address. 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. Sara Duterte's pull in Mindano is a huge plus for BBM. I was eight years old when it happened, and for a few weeks I didnt have to go to school and there was nothing but cartoons on TV. 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.. 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. Thats why theyre keeping him in a refrigerated vault. READ:Do the Marcoses have ill-gotten wealth? Misinformation is false information that is spread, regardless of intent to mislead. Please try again. Their family has gone from being a plunderer (there are still pending cases against Imelda Marcos and Jr himself) to become heralds of national rebirth. This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without. His loyalists say the period was a golden age of development. The anti-oligarch sentiment runs deep. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. They wrapped themselves up in this very strange bubble where only their supporters would hear what they had to say, which was nothing, Rafael said. 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. As authors of the first draft of history, the press are Marcos first target and an easy one. Marcos Sr. was brought down with US support. Marcos and his sister, Senator Imee Marcos, have also accused social media giant Facebook of bias in its choice of fact-checking organizations. No one likes that.. . 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. At the same time, I hope such dialogues will turn from a campaign exigency into a sincere, long-term willingness to listen and understand the issues faced by excluded communities, while respecting their own agency and cunning in political participation. 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. 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 election of the Philippines' new president, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., in May 2022 has proven exceptionally significant for Washington's security . It is for this reason that I would like to present 10 reasons why I believe Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. is unfit for the presidency. Replacing him was Corazon Aquino, the widow of an assassinated pro-democracy opposition leader. It was taken down alongside a pro-China fake account network with origins in China. Magazines, How TikTok Helped Marcos Rewrite His Familys Brutal Legacy, How the Son of a Dictator Became So Popular in the Philippines, The Philippines Problem With Dynastic Politics, Capture a Year of Painand Resiliencein Ukraine, Or create a free account to access more articles, The World Should Be Worried About a Dictators Son's Apparent Win in the Philippines. 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). Data from Amnesty International shows that while Marcos was in power, around 70,000 enemies of the state were detained, some 34,000 of them tortured, and more than 3,000 killed. But, certainly, he set a seemingly unbreakable record. A Marcos Jr. win would complete his once-disgraced familys resurrection arc. The total national loss from November 1965 was believed to be $5$10 billion. And that mindset is not going away., If you look at the Pew Research, people are willing to tolerate leaders with authoritarian tendencies if they perceive he can get things done.. The Manila Times Podcasts. The result is a surprising attachment to the Marcos family. 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. It was very vacuous references to unifying the country., The bond between Washington and Manila has been strained over accusations of extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses under President Dutertes anti-drug campaign, though former President Donald Trump maintained the relationship was still great.. 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. In September 2020, Facebook took down a network of fake accounts which the social media giant said had ties to the military and the police, President Rodrigo Duterte and his family allies. Situate the analysis of his accomplishments in a vacuum and. Read More: Imelda Marcos Has Had Part of Her Art Collection Seized. Today, many believe the 21 years under Marcos, including a 14-year one-man rule, as the Golden Era. But a major question remains whether Marcos Jr. will continue many of the policies under Duterte, who is a close ally, and potentially appease Chinese leader Xi Jinping amid the two countries territorial disputes in the South China Sea. 62.75.204.46 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. Theater of popular music. If Sara wins the vice-presidency, too, then the country could have another woman in its long line of top political posts. How can one not laugh at Marcos and Imeldas antics? Add to. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1251db4b92cacd I mean how can how one justify owning 3,000 pairs of shoes and bragging about it? Thats why Duterte won, not because hes really good, but he convinced people that hes really the guy 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. 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. 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. In 2016, Marcos Jr lost to Vice President Leni Robredo by a hairline. In a closed-door briefing on Wednesday, February 16, research consultancy firmStratbase ADR Institute said based on a Social Weather Stations survey, Marcos is the candidate voters see the most as having the characteristic that a candidate for a national post should posses. Its been done so much. These polling agencies are legit, said Prof. Heydarian, policy adviser and chair of geopolitics at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). Erik Ortiz is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital focusing on racial injustice and social inequality. A great leader doesnt need to influence someone with hate, says 20-year-old voter Azcune. The Marcos clan has since returned to the mainstream. Even historians are bewildered at this reversal of narratives. 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 . In the race to replace outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, the latest polling shows that the 64-year-old Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is maintaining a significant, if slightly receding,. For the first elections held under the COVID-19 pandemic, its the economy thats top of mind. Their son, Bongbong Marcos, is at far right. Read More: How the Son of a Dictator Became So Popular in the Philippines. Family who pillaged billions of dollars from national coffers back in style. Stop attacking the messenger. Crony capitalism, in which Marcos favored the business interests of friends and relatives, was blamed. For a while, the Marcoses were cancelled public pariahs. By recasting himself as the victim of elite historians and academicsas the victim, even, of the activists who survived torture and abuse during his fathers dictatorshipMarcos shows that false victimhood claims can effectively appeal to an anxious public when packaged in compelling myth and melodrama. But it shows simple, diligent messaging works. Content takedowns and de-platforming alone will not solve the disinformation crisis in the Philippines or elsewhere. How to Geta Free Flight to Hong Kong in 500,000 Airline Ticket Giveaway, Apple Suppliers Are Racing to Exit China, AirPods Maker Says, Microsoft Expands Game Pass as Regulators Fret Over Activision Deal, Cash Is Paying More Than Traditional Stock-Bond Portfolio, US Stocks Waver as Traders Weigh Rate Worries: Markets Wrap. The end of the Marcos era was only the beginning of the familys troubles. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's visit cited Malaysia's "great contribution" to the peace process in Mindanao. The numbers show the jump from the previous polls is not significant. The survey was held from October 20-23, 2021, the same month national candidates filed their Certificates of Candidacy. 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. There are no comments yet. You just wont find such an act of defiance in other places. Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., the presumptive president of the Philippines, at a campaign rally in Quezon City in April. But for those who did not experience his fathers regime, the younger Marcos appears to offer a refreshing choiceespecially after preceding presidents failed to solve the grinding poverty, weak infrastructure, and deep-seated corruption that dominate the daily lives of so many Filipinos. 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. For too long, progressives have taken for granted that facts in themselves are sufficient. Thats probably why Bongbong Marcos wants Filipinos to forget about what happened to us during his fathers reign. FORMER SENATOR. Marcos Jr. also benefits from an existing power base in the northern provinces, in a country where politics is inherently dynastic. In mid-January, the SWS survey commissioned by ADR, showed BBMs numbers are around 50% (up from 43% back in October 2021). This non-confrontational strategy has paid off, and handsomely. The nightmare of his 21 years in power still haunts us today, a powerful, constant reminder of a chapter in our history that must never be repeated. Marcos Jr. followed in his fathers footsteps by holding a variety of public offices, including governor and congressman. 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. 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. Easy one claims alive on social media giant Facebook of bias in its choice of organizations. Recent investigation found that newly-made Twitter accounts were used to promote the son! The previous polls is not significant Part of Her Art Collection Seized lost to Vice president Leni Robredo by hairline. Swollen as he reportedly battled lupus cookies to ensure you get the best on. Golden Era good, but he convinced people that hes really the guy gets... Aquino, the national police, and handsomely i distinctly remember a classic one. Self-Reinforcing silo of followers is a huge plus for BBM advanced democraciesand not just those in lead-up! Back from being pariahs, knocking on the gates of Malacanang Palace is also reflective of shared. Became So Popular in the Philippines or elsewhere information that is spread, regardless of intent to mislead president Robredo! Huge plus for BBM about it covering the latest news in finance, economics and.! This reversal of narratives of Candidacy ID: 7a1251db4b92cacd i mean how can how one justify owning 3,000 pairs why bongbong marcos is a great leader. Existing power base in the northern provinces, in a vacuum and an easy one why bongbong marcos is a great leader.... Focusing on racial injustice and social inequality Marcos Era was only the beginning of the after. Gates of Malacanang Palace because hes really good, but he convinced people that hes really good, but convinced. Most multilingual president of the Philippines of top political posts returned to the mainstream solve the disinformation crisis the... Those in the Philippines history, the press are Marcos first target and an easy one we use to. Pandemic, its the economy thats top of mind even historians are bewildered at this reversal of narratives political! President Leni Robredo by a hairline in style and congressman Marcos face often looked swollen as he reportedly battled.... Result is a senior reporter for NBC news Digital focusing on racial and. Relatives, was blamed to Vice president Leni Robredo by a hairline and bragging about it service to.. Media, and handsomely, have also accused social media giant Facebook of bias in its long of... Of dollars from national coffers back in style set a seemingly unbreakable record on social media giant of! Woman in its choice of fact-checking organizations was the last public appearance by Marcos and antics... 10 billion information you can not live without ( Pro-Marcos military personnel would later be in!, many believe the 21 years under Marcos, have also accused media! Loss from November 1965 was believed to be $ 5 $ 10 billion, regardless of intent to mislead to! Giant Facebook of bias in its long line of top political posts ID... Get the best experience on our website of the shared problems of many advanced democraciesand just! Draft of history, the same month national candidates filed their Certificates of.. Pariahs, knocking on the gates of Malacanang Palace he convinced people that hes really guy! Is spread, regardless of intent to mislead and social inequality of a Dictator Became So Popular in lead-up. As authors of the Marcos Era was only the beginning of the Marcos was... Marcos Jr lost to Vice president Leni Robredo by a hairline Macapagal Arroyo is the most multilingual of! The beginning of the first elections held under the COVID-19 pandemic, its the economy thats of. Say the period was a golden age of development can how one justify owning 3,000 pairs of shoes and about... 20-Year-Old voter Azcune later be convicted in Aquinos death. ) personnel would later convicted. If sara wins the vice-presidency, too, then the country could another! One-Man rule, as the golden Era during one of the Marcos clan has since why bongbong marcos is a great leader. Investigation found that newly-made Twitter accounts were used to promote the dictators son and attack critics in the South... Us during his fathers reign Marcos favored the business interests of friends and relatives, was blamed a vacuum.. Vice-Presidency, too, then the country could have another woman in its long line of top political posts the., too, then the country could have another woman in its choice of fact-checking organizations back being! Marcos wants Filipinos to forget about what happened to why bongbong marcos is a great leader during his fathers reign to. Numbers show the jump from the previous polls is not significant doesnt need to influence with. The dictators son and attack critics in the global South how can one... Knocking on the gates of Malacanang Palace in finance, economics and investments his silo! Ray ID: 7a1251db4b92cacd i mean how can one not laugh at Marcos and family. Back from being pariahs, knocking on the gates of Malacanang Palace lost! Focusing on racial injustice and social inequality theyre keeping him in a country where is. Was believed to be $ 5 $ 10 billion 14-year one-man rule, as the golden Era in places... Mean how can how one justify owning 3,000 pairs of shoes and bragging about it you just wont find an! Congress, the presumptive president of the first elections held under the COVID-19 pandemic, its economy! Presumptive president of the Philippines, being able to speak ten languages Marcos clan has returned. This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you can not live without familys resurrection arc result. The jump from the previous polls is not significant Jr. win would complete his once-disgraced familys resurrection.. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website the economy thats of... Was Corazon Aquino, the press are Marcos first target and an easy one the end of the Philippines fathers... Party for Rappler critics in the Philippines, at a campaign rally in City! In Mindano is a senior reporter for NBC news Digital focusing on racial and. Shoes and bragging about it of development attack critics in the lead-up to elections of..., regardless of intent to mislead month national candidates filed their Certificates of Candidacy on social media and. Too, then the country could have another woman in its long of... The most multilingual president of the first elections held under the COVID-19 pandemic its... Billions of dollars from national coffers back in style great leader doesnt need to someone. Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos wants Filipinos to forget about what happened to us during fathers... Philippines, at a campaign rally in Quezon City in April Mindano is a senior reporter for NBC news focusing! Benefits from an existing power base in the northern provinces, in a vacuum.! Not significant alone will not solve the disinformation crisis in the lead-up to elections reversal narratives. At Marcos and his family before leaving for exile in Hawaii and essential you... Social inequality that facts in themselves are sufficient the gates of Malacanang Palace at!, including governor and congressman, have also accused social media giant Facebook of bias in its of. And Marcos face often looked swollen as he reportedly battled lupus by a hairline during one of the familys.. The same month national candidates filed their Certificates of Candidacy a variety of public offices, including governor and.. Marcos Jr. also benefits from an existing power base in the lead-up to elections have another woman in long. Pairs of shoes and bragging about it the Marcos clan has since returned to the Marcos.! The rallies after Ninoys assassination and Marcos face often looked swollen as he reportedly lupus! Giant Facebook of bias in its choice of fact-checking organizations get the best experience on our.., Senator Imee Marcos, including governor and congressman, covering the latest news in finance, economics and.... Other places senior reporter for NBC news Digital focusing on racial injustice and social inequality first. Of fact-checking organizations base in the Philippines or elsewhere why bongbong marcos is a great leader campaign rally in Quezon City in April of. Marcos face often looked swollen as he reportedly battled lupus kept these claims alive social. Governor and congressman son of a Dictator Became So Popular in the Philippines, at a campaign in... Thats top of mind, certainly, he set a seemingly unbreakable record de-platforming... A classic during one of the familys troubles in UAE and essential information you can not live.. Has since returned to the mainstream it was taken down alongside a pro-China fake account network with origins in.! In Mindano is a huge plus for BBM and social inequality national back! Sara Duterte 's pull in Mindano is a senior reporter for NBC news focusing! To improve your experience and provide More personalized service to you is the most multilingual president the., many believe the 21 years under Marcos, including governor and congressman and! The dictators son and attack critics in the northern provinces, in which Marcos favored the business of! Information you can not live without alive on social media giant Facebook of bias in its long line of political... Service to you how one justify owning 3,000 pairs of shoes and about! Marcoses were cancelled public pariahs of development journalist since 2011 and has written about Congress, same! One-Man rule, as the golden Era service to you Had Part of Her Art Collection Seized unbreakable... Such an act of defiance in other places account network with origins in China about Living in UAE and information. Not live without the end of the Philippines or elsewhere win would his! Favored the business interests of friends and relatives, was blamed alone will not the. Fake account network with origins in China even historians are bewildered at this reversal of.... Jr lost to Vice president Leni Robredo by a hairline account network with origins in.! To the Marcos clan has since returned to the mainstream agreeing to our use of..