The trend lines are not as good for the opposition, but also not as prohibitive for BBM, said Heydarian. Sara Duterte's pull in Mindano is a huge plus for BBM. Merely extending a social invitation to a Marcos was the stuff of scandal. Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos (left) and San Jose Del Monte City Rep. Florida Robes (MANILA BULLETIN, Facebook) "Alam natin kung ano ang . Take my old boss and drinking buddy, the poet Pete Lacaba, who wrote a seemingly harmless, apolitical poem titled Prometheus Unbound. When read vertically, the first letter of every line said, Marcos, Hitler, Diktador, Tuta the famous anti-dictatorship slogan, Marcos, Hitler, Dictator, Puppet.. READ:Do the Marcoses have ill-gotten wealth? For me, the Marcos victory should instead trigger a hard and honest reckoning of how and why most Philippine voters are willing to delve deeper into authoritarian fantasy and reject the high principles and hero personalities of liberal democracy. For how can he, the dictators son, ever lead our country if he has approved, covered up, or been complicit in the commission of past crimes that somehow continue into the present? Marcos Jrs mother Imelda has been sentenced to a minimum of 42 years in jail in 2018. As a result, Tiktok, Facebook and Youtube are now the undisputed kingmakers in the Philippines. Ronald Reagan, as California governor, struck an alliance with Marcos that stretched into his own presidency. His son and his allies want us to forget what his regime did. His deliberate non-appearance in major presidential debates may seem, to many, as a lost opportunity. And we have to give credit to Marcos for this, for making Filipinos extremely suspicious of political leaders who suddenly get rich. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Critics say a Bongbong Marcos victory would pose a huge threat to Philippine democracy. 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.. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. In recent years, many analysts have unfairly caricatured the so-called surprise electoral victories of populist leaders as the result of uneducated voters brainwashed by disinformation. Platforms instead need to work collaboratively with academics and legal experts for strategic policy advocacy. Call 896 6000. FORMER SENATOR. Magazines, Digital In many ways, the anti-epal mood is rooted in how Filipinos grew so disgusted with the Marcoses. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, speaks during a rally as he campaigns for the presidency on Feb. 19, 2022 in Caloocan, Metro Manila, Philippines. However, the incoming president and his family are very explicit about being victims of an important player in liberal democracy: the press. Most voters only use free data, unwilling to pay for additional data. Still, Marcos gained favor among Filipinos with his populist agenda. I must reiterate again that I was first here in Malacaan Palace when President Marcos was the President, as the young Minister of Agriculture, and how pleased I am to be back here with Marcos Jr. Bongbong to be there. 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. 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.. These polling agencies are legit, said Prof. Heydarian, policy adviser and chair of geopolitics at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). They were friends after all. Magazines, Sara Duterte, who is running for vice-president, Bongbong Marcos Takes Huge Lead in Philippine Election, Capture a Year of Painand Resiliencein Ukraine, Or create a free account to access more articles, Why Bongbong Marcos, a Philippine Dictators Son, Leads the Race for the Presidency. # marcos # era "the golden age of the armed forces of the philippines (afp), marcos era: 1970's - 1980's". But his ultimate target is history itself. Bongbong Marcos became a senator in 2010, and ran for vice president in 2016, albeit unsuccessfully. The coming election is far too important to leave to chance; in the end, our choice is really about who we are as a people. Son of former dictator wins Philippine presidency, described being tortured and sexually abused by soldiers, clandestine investments in New York real estate, maintained the relationship was still great.. 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. Don't miss out on the latest news and information. The Marcoses, she says, have ruled with martial law for so long. He was special assistant to his father in 1979 and later, vice governor then governor of their bailiwick, Ilocos Norte. 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. The narrative today is Filipinos have come to take it as a given that all their politicians steal anyway. 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. he'll be the first Philippine leader who cannot set foot in . It's a smart choice. Terms of Use They think Marcos did well as a senator, has enough political experience, they mention his housing bills, his tenure as a congressman. Ed Garcia is a framer of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, a former researcher at the international secretariat of Amnesty International, and a peace envoy at International Alert. His loyalists say the period was a golden age of development. In 2013, the 40 richest families, who control key sectors of the economy, including giant media networks, ring-fenced 76% of newly-created growth, according to one report. He does not attack other candidates. Image Credit:. The glint of celebrity also didnt hurt. The Marcos family returned from exile in 1991 and began to astutely revamp its image. 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. Marcos Jr. followed in his fathers footsteps by holding a variety of public offices, including governor and congressman. 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.. Former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno declared that he has completely moved on after his defeat in the 2022 presidential elections, reason why he agreed to play the role of the late opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. in the upcoming film "Martyr or Murderer" (MoM) where Sen. Imee Marcos is the executive and creative producer. 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. And the desire for proximity to that celebrity is real.. Why? Marcos Jr. has secured 30 million votes in an initial count, more than double his closest rivalcurrent vice president Leni Robredo. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon. These polling agencies are legit. The Constitution bars him from seeking a second term. Stop attacking the messenger. Exiled to Hawaii three decades ago in the aftermath of a peaceful revolution that overthrew his fathers brutal regime, Marcos and his family are set to return to Malacanang Palacethe presidential residencewith riches intact, new and powerful allies, and a frighteningly bold electoral mandate. This positive messaging extends to Marcos social media platforms, where political content is interspersed with light-hearted family vlogs. Prof. Heydarian echoes Prof. La Via. But he has done nothing to right these wrongs. That night, at Reagans urging, Marcos conceded to Aquino and fled with his family to Hawaii. The message of Marcos Jr, 64, is simple: Unity. I am extremely pleased. One thing became clear during the Marcos years: Even during dark times, Filipinos can still maintain a healthy sense of humor. In rallies and sorties, the late dictators son sticks to his message of unity. In 2016, polling agencies (notably Social Weather Station, or SWS) correctly predicted that Robredo would win. The reverse is happening. But, more importantly, people want a leader who gets things done. Content takedowns and de-platforming alone will not solve the disinformation crisis in the Philippines or elsewhere. '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. Political opponents decry the human rights violations during his fathers dictatorship, the billions of dollars in ill-gotten wealth, and the familys unpaid taxes. He current get more than 50%, while the 9 other candidates divide the crumbs among themselves. But he has decided to look the other way. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital The polls overwhelmingly favour Marcos Jr. But, certainly, he set a seemingly unbreakable record. 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. Marcos Jr. was 8 years old when his father was elected president in 1965. 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. 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. His opponents find it hard to chip away from that perception. He previously served as a senator from 2010 to 2016. 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. 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.. You cant really blame him the focus in media and social media has been on the abuses during Marcos 21 years in power. Both on your website and other media. 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. For a while, the Marcoses were cancelled public pariahs. All Rights Reserved. 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 . Today, many believe the 21 years under Marcos, including a 14-year one-man rule, as the Golden Era. 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 . You just wont find such an act of defiance in other places. Ferdinand Sr. is known as one of the worlds biggest pillagers. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital The numbers show the jump from the previous polls is not significant. For the first elections held under the COVID-19 pandemic, its the economy thats top of mind. That makes them vulnerable to disinformation and fake news. The education system did not teach the martial law experience properly, historicallyso that means that voters born after 1986 can easily be convinced that all of that was not true. His victory . Crony capitalism, in which Marcos favored the business interests of friends and relatives, was blamed. His campaign portrayed him as a champion of the poor about one-fifth of Filipinos live in extreme poverty. 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. The economy and markets are "under surveillance". Envoy: Japan, Australia may join patrols with US, PH. Hundreds of pro-Marcos Youtube videos had been fact-checked, and taken down from the popular video sharing platform controlled by US-based Google/Alphabet. Marcos imposed nationwide martial law in September 1972 in response to escalating protests from civil libertarians and threats of communist insurgency. They also point out that matriarch Imelda Marcos has managed to avoid jail, despite being convicted of graft. Your IP: For too long, progressives have taken for granted that facts in themselves are sufficient. 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. He is the second child and only son of 10th . 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. Bongbong Marcos himself, who was convicted for tax evasion in 1997, did not go to jail for it after an appeals court modified the ruling. Filipino columnist Benjamin Pimentel could only describe this bewildering plot twist in the language of high fantasy: Its as if Kylo Ren emerged and the Empire is back in power., Read More: How TikTok Helped Marcos Rewrite His Familys Brutal Legacy. Please try again. Presidents who came after Marcos certainly ran into this problem. 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. PDP-Laban, the party Duterte chairs, has adopted Sara Duterte as its vice presidential candidate but has not endorsed a presidential aspirant. And no talk means no mistake. To find out more, please click this link. 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 . Family who pillaged billions of dollars from national coffers back in style. BBMs numbers have left other camps stumped. Thats probably why Bongbong Marcos wants Filipinos to forget about what happened to us during his fathers reign. The anti-oligarch sentiment runs deep. 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. But theres another political figure whom candidates could look to for an endorsement: Senator Grace Poe, who ran for president in the 2016 elections. And thank you very much for this hospitality. Canned slogans of unity and positivity during his campaign might mean that he will eschew any high-profile quarrels with rival political families. Even the artists dared try new things. They were either supportive of candidates from political clans or undecided over whether theyd vote dynasties into power. In this free-for-all, trolls can be at the employ of various entities companies, celebrities, opposition politicians and the government, and trolls trolling trolls. Of course, Willie Nepomucenos career faced a crisis when Marcos was kicked out of the country, and later died. Bea is a senior multimedia reporter who covers national politics. To find out more, please click this link. Hopefully, we don't get caught in the middle of a shooting war between the US and China over Taiwan. Disinformation does play a role (in shaping voter preference), especially in the low-income communities, said De La Salle University Political Scientist Cleve Arguelles. If you mention Marcos anywhere in the world, for better or for worse, there is at least a vague knowledge perhaps about the shoes, Villaraza said. To be honest, I dont think attacking Marcos (Jr) will be very useful, for the (opposition) campaign anymore. He also scored upwards of 30% in the perception that he has the proven ability to respond to future pandemics (32%), honors and respects the law (32%), is not beholden to anything who can influence his decisions (34%). There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is the presumptive President of the Philippines after winning a landslide in elections on May 9, according to unofficial results. The Marcos myths of a strong and stable nationand of being misunderstood victims who could thus relate with anyones social and economic victimhoodwould resonate in many countries. By providing an email address. Fortunately, like the late tyrant, Willie Nepomuceno did not intend to die. When we actually talk to paid political trolls, we might be surprised as to why this has become a gig for many. IE 11 is not supported. 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. 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%). "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 end of the Marcos era was only the beginning of the familys troubles. Marcos Jr and his siblings are beneficiaries of two Swiss foundations that held stolen funds. He has never acknowledged the serious nature of the abuses committed during the martial law period and never sought forgiveness, and yet claims to be a unifying leader when his election would in fact deepen the divisions among our people and reopen the wounds inflicted by his fathers dictatorial rule. 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. It's a smart choice. 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. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is the most multilingual president of the Philippines, being able to speak ten languages. 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. Their son, Bongbong Marcos, is at far right. We should've learned our lessons already from our elders who lived . At the launch of Bongbong Marcos campaign, a celebrity emcee rallied the crowd saying: We have a winner, the fight is over! 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. All Rights Reserved. Digital (This is an updated version of a list six years ago, which clearly is worth revisiting. Social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok, where many Filipinos consume their information, were flooded with content casting martial law and life under the elder Marcos as a golden age., This directly informed many peoples understanding of martial law under his father presenting that history in a positive light, Villaraza said. And even when BBM does not say or do anythingnow or is nowhere to be found his message remains clear: i.e. This was the last public appearance by Marcos and his family before exile. Not enough about gratitude to the late dictator and his allies. The challenge is to differentiate yourself, said political analyst Tony La Via. Imee Marcos questions new Edca sites: Why a stones throw away from Taiwan? Marcos Jr. also benefits from an existing power base in the northern provinces, in a country where politics is inherently dynastic. articles a month for anyone to read, even non-subscribers! The elder Marcos, a lawyer, leveraged his military service during World War II to ascend the countrys political ranks. Read More: Imelda Marcos Has Had Part of Her Art Collection Seized. It's a rather vague promise, amplified on social media. 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. Here are some of them: Ferdinand Marcos was not the first, or the last, president to abuse his power. 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. I mean how can how one justify owning 3,000 pairs of shoes and bragging about it? This could be a problem later one when the country does need to make changes in the basic law of the land. Students at UP used to launch lightning rallies, in which they marched from one floor to another yelling slogans and waving banners and then quickly folding the banners away and dispersing before the cops showed up. Despite leading preference polls, Marcos Jr has yet to lay out a comprehensive platform. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. 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. 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. Thats why theyre keeping him in a refrigerated vault. 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. 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. 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.

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