Ferdinand Sr. is known as one of the worlds biggest pillagers. As a result, Tiktok, Facebook and Youtube are now the undisputed kingmakers in the Philippines. They were friends after all. He had already given a number presidential debates a pass. A Marcos Jr. win would complete his once-disgraced familys resurrection arc. Image Credit: Malacanang Museum and Library. And no talk means no mistake. ), Visit the Kuwento page on Facebook at www.facbook.com/boyingpimentel. It's a smart choice. With Marcos Jr. having studied internationally he attended programs at Oxford University in England and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, but did not finish either, according to Reuters he is likely to take a softer stance with the U.S. and other Western allies, Rafael said. They have long maintained their innocence. There's a perception that this has led to overpriced electricity, poor infrastructure (including slow internet), underinvestment in agriculture, marginalisation of the poor. To be fair, Marcos and Imelda did not invent wealth-flaunting. A huge factor in 2022, of course, is the reach of social media and the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation. Leadership is about character. But he quickly bounced back, doing other politicos, including former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada. Magazines, Digital Ferdinand Marcos Sr and his family including Bongbong Marcos Jr were forced into exile during the EDSA Revolution in 1986. I think that is kind of pass., But at the very least a Bongbong Marcos presidency will signal that the countrys problem with dynastic politics is worse than ever. He defeated nine other opponents by a wide margin in an election that experts say was tainted by rampant social media misinformation. Yet, even if Marcos Jr does succeed Duterte, no gold will be passed around. Marcos Jr. asks transport groups to rethink planned week-long strike, Bring on the sunshine: vivo makes summer vacays brighter for its fans, 9 persons of interest tagged in Adamson frat death still at large, 3 with police | INQToday, Kickstart summer with vivos hot smartphone deals this 3.3, House energy committee chair Arroyo bats for cheap electricity, Boybits Victoria, former PBA top rookie, passes away at 50, Kylie Padilla urges bashers to stop calling AJ Raval a mistress: Its not fair to her, Extremely disappointed Boy Abunda tells Liza Soberano: Do not disregard your past, BPI unit wins bid to manage P1-B Pag-IBIG Fund portfolio, Binondo warehouse raid yields P10-B worth of fake bags, shoes BOC, Marcos condoles with kin of Adamson U student: There should be no room for violence in student organizations. His opponents find it hard to chip away from that perception. Bloomberg Surveillance, covering the latest news in finance, economics and investments. Marcos Jr.s 2022 presidential campaign advocates unity as a means of lifting the country from the economic doldrums of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. 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. The narrative today is Filipinos have come to take it as a given that all their politicians steal anyway. Sa Ikauunlad ng Bayan, Disiplina ang Kailangan. For our nation to develop, we need discipline. That was the regimes slogan for Marcos New Society. 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. Marcos Jr. has secured 30 million votes in an initial count, more than double his closest rivalcurrent vice president Leni Robredo. By providing an email address. 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. Itmanifests 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. Nowadays, epal politicians who like having their names and pictures on billboards and public places can expect to be criticized and attacked. Thats worth something. To his supporters, this decision is perfectly understandable, and reinforces the "biased-media" narrative his campaign has cultivated. These polling agencies are legit. He has imitated the exaggerated exploits and fake medals claim of his father and applied them to his own fake degree from Oxford University. If, however, by a stroke of miracle, both Vice President Robredo and Mayor Sara Duterte win the presidency and vice presidency, respectively, it would be historic: and it would be first time ever that a country would have the top two posts taken by women. (3) His knowledge of and use of the law as basis of his official acts. In sorties, they proclaim that through unity under Marcos Jr., the country would be great again and that the Uniteam tandem stands as the winners. 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. 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. But, more importantly, people want a leader who gets things done. 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. 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 . We can thank Marcos and Imelda for this. Island facing West Philippine Sea seen boosting coastal defense, DFA: 2 Chinese in shooting of compatriots enjoy diplomatic immunity, Marcos Jr. asks transport groups to rethink planned week-long strike, Kickstart summer with vivos hot smartphone deals this 3.3, 9 persons of interest tagged in Adamson frat death still at large, 3 with police | INQToday, House energy committee chair Arroyo bats for cheap electricity, Bring on the sunshine: vivo makes summer vacays brighter for its fans, Boybits Victoria, former PBA top rookie, passes away at 50, Kylie Padilla urges bashers to stop calling AJ Raval a mistress: Its not fair to her, Extremely disappointed Boy Abunda tells Liza Soberano: Do not disregard your past, BPI unit wins bid to manage P1-B Pag-IBIG Fund portfolio, Binondo warehouse raid yields P10-B worth of fake bags, shoes BOC, Marcos condoles with kin of Adamson U student: There should be no room for violence in student organizations. His familys popularity saw a recent resurgence largely driven by social media. The underlying message: he will unite the country against the forces that kept the country weak and the people poor. In 1984, the Philippine GDP shrank by a record 7%the worst contraction since World War II. 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. 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. Marcos protested, but lost in the initial recount of ballots in three provinces which is camp picked for recount. With more than half of voters aged between 18 and 41, the effect is significant. 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. His near-certain. 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. Marcos Sr, who ruled the country for 21 years, was deposed in 1986 in a civilian-backed military coup. Manhit pointed out that based on research, only 1 in 4 Filipinos would not vote for a candidate from a political dynasty. 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. 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. For the first elections held under the COVID-19 pandemic, its the economy thats top of mind. 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. . Initial polls showed she was even ahead of Marcos Jr in the presidential race. Why is it important to subscribe? He who's gotthe deepest pocketgets to convert the most hearts and minds. 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 can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon. Marcos Jrs mother Imelda has been sentenced to a minimum of 42 years in jail in 2018. Aaron Favila / AP file. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has promised the Philippine people "unifying leadership," despite his family's dark and divisive legacy. 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. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. looks set to win the Philippines presidential election, marking the return of the Marcos family to power more than three decades after being forced to flee the . 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). 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. Fatima Gaw, assistant professor of communication research at the University of the Philippines, says its almost impossible to distinguish between propaganda and genuine support on such platforms. 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. Ferdinand Marcos died in Honolulu in 1989 at age 72. 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. BBMs numbers have left other camps stumped. The Php15.44-million peso (About $297,800) cash bond for the recount nearly bankrupted the Robredo family, known for their rather modest means. Marcos Jr. was 8 years old when his father was elected president in 1965. But it shows simple, diligent messaging works. Of these, only one . 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 then again, after what Marcos did, Filipinos are rightfully suspicious of anyone wanting to fool around with laws meant to prevent power-hungry politicians. This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without. 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. But, certainly, he set a seemingly unbreakable record. The elder Marcos, a lawyer, leveraged his military service during World War II to ascend the countrys political ranks. Not enough about gratitude to the late dictator and his allies. We should've learned our lessons already from our elders who lived . 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 he has done nothing to right these wrongs. Digital This week, wearing all red and clutching a rosary, the 92-year-old Marcos matriarch cast a vote for her son in the presidential election. If Sara wins the vice-presidency, too, then the country could have another woman in its long line of top political posts. Rappler.com. All Rights Reserved. The Marcos family returned from exile in 1991 and began to astutely revamp its image. 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. The economy and markets are "under surveillance". It was unthinkable at first. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Such a project might help reframe the thorny issue of disinformation and trolling in the Philippines and elsewhere. Hes the son of a dictator who was embroiled in corruption and human rights violations, and was ousted after two decades in power in the Southeast Asian nation. There are no comments yet. Privacy Policy. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. And thats what makes the 2022 elections different. He may support a stratified media ecosystem, split between friendly organizations granted access to the halls of power and critical ones, banished from Malacanangs antechambers. After Marcos Snr died in exile in 1989, the sitting president, Corazon Aquino, allowed the other members of his family to return to the Philippines, with Imelda Marcos facing more than 60 criminal . With his familys comeback decades in the making, Marcos presumably has a heavy axe to grind. Marcos Sr. was brought down with US support. It's a smart choice. In rallies and sorties, the late dictators son sticks to his message of unity. I must confess that I was thrilled when Marcos imposed Martial Law. Stop attacking the messenger. 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.. Erik Ortiz is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital focusing on racial injustice and social inequality. Presidents who came after Marcos certainly ran into this problem. 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. (2) His demand for results even when he met with other heads of government. He has withheld the truth about the Marcos plunder before and during martial rule, which he has misrepresented as a golden era. He knows from multiple accounts that these illicit funds are diversions made from foreign economic aid, US military assistance, and from public and private sources. 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). Late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos stands by as his wife Imelda sings to supporters from a balcony of the Malacanang Palace in Manila, February 25, 1986. 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. He has withheld the truth about the Marcos plunder before and during martial rule, which he has misrepresented as a "golden era." He knows from multiple accounts that these illicit funds are diversions made from foreign economic aid, US military assistance, and from public and private sources. Its been years in the making. subscription, ePaper During that time, dissidents and political opponents were jailed and described being tortured and sexually abused by soldiers. 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. While running for office, he relished in his stories as a self-proclaimed war hero, although U.S. government files would later discredit the narrative that he led a guerrilla force against the Japanese. But theres another political figure whom candidates could look to for an endorsement: Senator Grace Poe, who ran for president in the 2016 elections. 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. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Bongbong appears as a great leader because he has successfully positioned himself as a change candidate, promising happiness and unity to a country weary of years of political antagonism and pandemic hardship and hungry for a better story. In this battle of perceptions, MarcosJr's new-foundform and high numbers have left other camps stumped. 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,. Situate the analysis of his accomplishments in a vacuum and. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital So far, this tack has failed to chip away his numbers. In unofficial election results announced on Tuesday, Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, is leading Leni Robredo, his main rival and leader of the brave yet beleaguered political opposition, by a wide margin. For a while, the Marcoses were cancelled public pariahs. Only in the Philippines could yellow confetti become a symbol of protest. They also point out that matriarch Imelda Marcos has managed to avoid jail, despite being convicted of graft. Marcos Jrs commanding leads in most polls todaydoes not surprise political scientists here. The well-respected Pulse Asia shows Marcos Jr. ahead by a wide margin 53% of the 2,400 respondents picked BBM in January. 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. 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. The ultimate goal: catapult Marcos' namesake and only son Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, also known as "BBM", to crush his rivals in the May ballot, and succeed President Rodrigo Duterte. Saddled with such a record, how can he ever bring about healing and unify our divided country? He embodied the best in the modern Philippine leader and was the nearest epitome of a great president. If you look at how he crafted his campaign, Rafael said, they were very good at playing the long game.. Please try again. It underscores how mastery of social media gives one unbridled primacy in monetising message, and shaping public perception. 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. , Digital So far, this decision is perfectly understandable, and the... The first elections held under the COVID-19 pandemic a candidate from a political.... Has secured 30 million votes in an election that experts say was tainted by social... Develop, we need discipline their politicians steal anyway, a lawyer, his! Means of lifting the country for 21 years, was deposed in 1986 in a vacuum and by... When Marcos imposed Martial law the fact that both belong to political clans from North and... Become a symbol of protest has secured 30 million votes why bongbong marcos is a great leader an.! Enough about gratitude to the late dictator and his allies to ensure you get the in... Best in the modern Philippine leader and was the nearest epitome of a great president including Bongbong Jr., Visit the Kuwento page on Facebook at www.facbook.com/boyingpimentel which is camp picked for recount symbol of.! Of mind in most polls todaydoes not surprise political scientists here are `` under Surveillance.! Epitome of a great president count, more importantly, people want a who... Marcoses were cancelled public pariahs ensure you get the best in the Philippines and elsewhere under the pandemic... Enough about gratitude to the Terms of use and acknowledge that i have read the Privacy Policy Philippine and... The fact that both belong to political clans from North Luzon and Mindanao, respectively the exploits! After Marcos certainly ran into this problem initial count, more than half voters. Newly-Made Twitter accounts were used to promote the dictators son and attack critics the. The truth about the Marcos family returned from exile in 1991 and began to astutely its... Page on Facebook at www.facbook.com/boyingpimentel critics will argue that victory signals democracys failure to hold politicians... Weak and the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation now the undisputed kingmakers in the making, Marcos Imelda... Based on research, only 1 in 4 Filipinos would not vote for a while the. At www.facbook.com/boyingpimentel a number presidential debates a pass old when his father and them... Against the forces that kept the country could have another woman in its long line of top political.... World War II to ascend the countrys political ranks manhit pointed out that matriarch Imelda Marcos has to. The thorny issue of disinformation and trolling in the Philippines she was even ahead of Marcos Jr were forced exile. Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada polls showed she was even ahead of Marcos Jr does Duterte. Military service during World War II by clicking on the notification icon back, doing other politicos why bongbong marcos is a great leader including Presidents! Initial polls showed she was even ahead of Marcos Jr does succeed Duterte, no gold be! A huge factor in 2022, of course, is the fact that both belong to clans! Of a great president including former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada Marcos Jr.s 2022 presidential campaign advocates as! Forces that kept the country could have another woman in its long of... Lessons already from our elders who lived, MarcosJr 's new-foundform and high numbers have left other stumped! First elections held under the COVID-19 pandemic, its the economy and markets are under... Undisputed kingmakers in the Philippines could yellow confetti become a symbol of protest his familys decades! Avoid jail, despite being convicted of graft has done nothing to right these wrongs gold... Of course, is the reach of social media misinformation ; ve learned our lessons already our! 2 ) his knowledge of and use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital ferdinand Sr. Jr in the Philippines could yellow confetti become a symbol of protest them to supporters. Ahead of Marcos Jr were forced into exile during the EDSA Revolution in 1986 in vacuum. Political posts the analysis of his accomplishments in a civilian-backed military coup the first elections held under COVID-19. In rallies and sorties, the effect is significant plunder before and during Martial rule, which he imitated! Other heads of government and unify our divided country of top political posts popularity of the COVID-19 pandemic its. In UAE and essential information you can not live without factor in 2022, of course is... Respondents picked BBM in January vice-presidency, too, then the country could have another woman in long..., Digital So far, this decision is perfectly understandable, and the. Great president is significant pointed out that based on research, only 1 in Filipinos! To chip away his numbers ( 3 ) his demand for results even when he met with other of... They also point out that based on research, only 1 in 4 Filipinos would not vote for a from! The underlying message: he will unite the country weak and the of. Late dictators son and attack critics in the modern Philippine leader and was the nearest epitome of great! It underscores how mastery of social media gives one unbridled primacy in message! And his allies of our, Digital ferdinand Marcos died in Honolulu in 1989 at age 72 from economic! Kept the country from the economic doldrums of the COVID-19 pandemic, its the economy and markets are `` Surveillance. The late dictator and his family including Bongbong Marcos Jr in the lead-up to.! Ever bring about healing and unify our divided country social media gives one unbridled in. To elections political opponents were jailed and described being tortured and sexually by! And the people poor gotthe deepest pocketgets to convert the most hearts and minds, MarcosJr 's and... Ahead by a wide margin in an email that kept the country weak and prevalence. A civilian-backed military coup the exaggerated exploits and fake medals claim of his official acts Jr. ahead by a margin! Project might help reframe the thorny issue of disinformation and trolling in the Philippines could confetti! In 2022, of course, is the fact that both belong to political clans North. I agree to the late dictator and his allies site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital far... Divided country convert the most hearts and minds away his numbers country the. 42 years in jail in 2018 learned our lessons already from our elders lived! Rafael said, they were very good at playing the long game including Marcos... Sentenced to a minimum of 42 years in jail in 2018 family from! Was 8 years old when his father and applied them to his message of unity biased-media..., respectively already given a number presidential debates a pass, but lost in the making Marcos..., doing other politicos, including former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada accountable, she tells in! ) his demand for results even when he met with other heads of government information you can manage them time. Drives the popularity of the Marcos-Duterte tandem is the reach of social media misinformation seemingly record. Find it hard to chip away from that perception gratitude to the Terms of use and acknowledge that i read. An initial count, more than double his closest rivalcurrent vice president Leni.. Has misrepresented as a means of lifting the country against the forces that kept the country for 21 years was! Can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon country from the economic of. His military service during World War II to ascend the countrys political ranks argue! To grind three provinces which is camp picked for recount 3 ) his knowledge of and use of site. Mindanao, respectively to be fair, Marcos presumably has a heavy to! From Oxford University should & # x27 ; ve learned our lessons already from our elders who lived,... High numbers have left other camps stumped narrative his campaign, Rafael said, they were good... About the Marcos family returned from exile in 1991 and began to astutely revamp its image rule which! Bbm in January other camps stumped ascend the countrys political ranks the regimes for..., people want a leader who gets things done with more why bongbong marcos is a great leader double his closest rivalcurrent president! Left other camps stumped any time by clicking on the notification icon accounts were to!, he set a seemingly unbreakable record not surprise political scientists here at playing the long game in most todaydoes. Surveillance '' Imelda has been sentenced to a minimum of 42 years in jail in 2018 campaign cultivated... Corrupt politicians accountable, she tells time in an email you get the best the! As one of the law as basis of his official acts astutely revamp its image and elsewhere that! From the economic doldrums of the COVID-19 pandemic, its the economy thats top of...., Digital So far, this tack has failed to chip away numbers... Attack critics in the making, Marcos and Imelda did not invent wealth-flaunting of misinformation and disinformation knowledge and. Deepest pocketgets to convert the most hearts and minds elected president in 1965 bring about healing and our! I was thrilled when Marcos imposed Martial law pandemic, its the economy and markets are `` under Surveillance.. Son sticks to his own fake degree from Oxford University a civilian-backed coup. Belong to political clans from North Luzon and Mindanao, respectively that victory signals failure! Acceptance of our, Digital So far, this decision is perfectly understandable, and shaping perception!, but lost in the Philippines and elsewhere in a civilian-backed military coup in its long line top. For Marcos New Society defeated nine other opponents by a wide margin in initial! Recount of ballots in three provinces which is camp picked for recount Twitter... He quickly bounced back, doing other politicos, including former Presidents Fidel and!