According to Xinhua News Agency, the preliminary statistics released by the Philippine media in the early morning of the 10th show that the Philippine Federalist Party candidate Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos (hereinafter referred to as "Little Marcos") won the presidential election held on the 9th.
An election with "no suspense", such a label, seems to have lost a lot of attention to this election in advance.
But the protagonist Marcos Jr. is full of highlights.
He was pampered by his father's election as president of the Philippines at the age of 8; his father's regime was overthrown at the age of 28 and he went into exile with his parents in the United States; after returning to China to join politics, he rose rapidly and was elected president at the age of 65. Such a tragic and joyful life of great ups and downs added legendary color to his victory today.
Meanwhile, his running mate, Sarah Duterte, as the daughter of incumbent President Duterte, won the vice presidency election.
The two major political families of the Philippines have joined forces, and the combination of the "second generation of presidents" has long locked in the victory in advance.
Marcos Jr. (left) and Sarah form the "presidential second generation" election camp.
The first half of life was full of ups and downs
Previously, some public opinion believed that if Marcos Jr. partnered with Sarah as a vice presidential candidate, the odds of winning the election might be higher, but Marcos Jr. rejected the role of vice president. He has always regarded being president as a goal in life.
Unlike his father, who came from a military background and had a cold style, Little Marcos had a cute baby face. Growing up in the president's home, he was influenced by the political atmosphere at home from an early age.
On the eve of the 1965 Philippine election, a feature film about Senator Marcos was released, in which the 8-year-old Marcos jr. played himself. In a childish voice, he said, "I want to be a politician when I grow up and serve my country." I will give the children many toys so that they will no longer cry. The film helped Marcos get president.
In 1965, the elder Marcos won the Philippine presidential election, and the family greeted supporters.
In 1975, Marcos Jr. entered Oxford University to study philosophy. He joined a pub band and became a fan of the Beatles. However, he did not get a degree in the end. More than 30 years later, he explained the incident, saying that he always felt very hard when he took philosophy classes, so he did not finish it. He also later pursued an MBA in the United States, but did not earn a degree either.
As the president's eldest son, Marcos Jr.'s failure to get a degree did not affect his development after returning home. In 1981, he became Vice-Governor of Ilocos do Norte, and two years later he became Governor. In 1985, he was appointed chairman of the Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation by his father.
Young Marcos (first from right), an 8-year-old, followed his parents and sisters to The Marakanan Palace.
Little Marcos, who had a smooth ride, soon ushered in the first turning point in his life.
On February 15, 1986, the People Power Revolution led by Mrs. Aquino broke out, overthrowing the Marcos regime and forcing the family into exile in Hawaii. Marcos died of kidney disease in Hawaii in 1989, and the only person who stood by his sickbed was Marcos Jr.
Old Marcos.
In 1991, the Marcos family returned to the Philippines as a result of the lawsuit. Marcos Jr. also began politics after returning to the Philippines that year.
Although the Marcos family has been in exile for many years, the family territory has not been lost. In his second year back in the Philippines, Marcos Jr. was elected to the House of Representatives of Ilocos Dora Dora, became governor in 1998, and was re-elected to Congress in 2007 and senator in 2010.
In 2015, the Philippine Constitutional Association awarded Marcos Jr. the title of "Great Defender of the Philippine Constitution." At the ceremony, Marcos Jr. half-jokingly said that as Marcos's son, he had become the defender of the constitution formulated by Mrs. Aquino, who overthrew Marcos. "If my father had seen all this in heaven, he would have scratched his head and asked, 'How can this be?' ”
During this time, the Marcos family worked to reinvent the family's image. In 2016, during the controversy, the body of the elder Marcos was buried at the Philippine National Hero Cemetery, and the Duterte administration held a high-profile funeral for him with 21 salutes and a military honor guard.
In 2016, Little Marcos and family members laid flowers in front of his father's grave.
That same year, Marcos Jr. announced his candidacy for vice president. Although the final result was defeated, this is generally considered to be a rehearsal for him to storm the presidency six years later.
In 2016, Marcos Jr. ran for vice president.
Mom and Dad become the biggest "baggage"?
As we all know, Filipino politics is family politics, and while each family dynasty writes a family story, it also leaves an indelible family mark on future generations, of course, there are good and bad.
Without a doubt, the most indelible political element of Marcos Jr. comes from his controversial father.
Under president Marcos Sr., industry, agriculture, and education in the Philippines developed. However, his corruption and dictatorship led to mass protests and eventually the family was forced into exile.
According to the New York Times, the biggest challenge Marcos faced in the campaign was the "family baggage" he carried ,—— labeled "son of a dictator."
Marcos Jr. shows early family photos at an event.
However, Marcos Jr., who has been in politics for many years, is smart enough to use his father's achievements in politics to downplay the accusations he has been accused of.
When he mentioned the country's agricultural development on his campaign website, he did not forget to mention his father's contribution. "During his presidency, the Philippines ushered in a golden age of agriculture."
He also never made up his mind that his father's influence was one of the main reasons for his political career. He said he had been exposed to different doctrines and ideas in his early years, but eventually chose the way of thinking of his father, who in his mind was "the greatest father."
Such an answer obviously did not satisfy the media, and under the unremitting pursuit of questioning, Little Marcos also learned some roundabout "words".
In February, in an interview with Radio DzBB in the Philippines, Marcos Jr. was asked to evaluate his father's political career. He said the question should be left to historians, who should have an unbiased study of what really happened in history.
"In my opinion, it can be discussed. But let's solve the problem now. We are in a crisis where many Filipinos are in a difficult situation. ”
In a conversation with the Philippine World Journal, he was questioned about entering politics to make up for the regrets and deficiencies left by his father.
He defended his father again, "What some people see as inadequate, in my opinion may not be." He said he ran not to make up for anyone, but to serve the interests of the Philippines.
In an interview with CNN Philippines on April 26 this year, Marcos Jr. directly called his father a "political genius." Regarding the problems of his father's reign, he still insisted that "historical problems should be left to the professor."
Little Marcos interacts with supporters of his hometown.
It is unknown what the deceased father had expected of Marcos Jr., and the mother, Imelda, has been pinning her hopes on her son for the revival of the family.
From a former beauty queen to a "first lady" to a living away in exile, Imelda never gave up her quest for power and wealth. After the 1986 coup, she fled the presidential palace in a hurry, leaving behind 508 long skirts, 1,000 handbags, and 1,060 pairs of shoes. These extravagant practices have been widely criticized by public opinion.
Imelda was a Filipino beauty pageant in her early years and was deeply involved in corruption investigations in her old age.
During the campaign, Marcos Jr. also had to face questions about how to handle the family's ill-gotten gains.
The World Journal threw questions at him about what would happen to the President's Integrity Commission (PCGG), which was set up specifically to recover corrupt money from the Marcos family if elected. Marcos Jr. said: "I think in terms of anti-corruption measures, we need to strengthen PCGG. ”
Presumably, while the old mother is happy that her son has won the presidency, she must also consider how to cooperate with her son's subordinates in the liquidation of assets.
Little Marcos and Mum Imelda.
Master the winning password
Although before the election, the major media had used "no suspense" to predict The Victory of Marcos Jr., his campaign path was not without twists and turns.
Previously, he was nearly disqualified from running for president due to tax filing problems, and in the end, the Philippine authorities determined that the tax problem did not exist.
On October 6, 2021, Marcos Jr. presented his candidacy credentials after applying for the May 2022 presidential campaign.
His poll-led advantage didn't start out strong.
Just in the first half of last year, Marcos Jr.'s support lagged behind Sarah, Duterte and Manila Mayor Moreno, falling third in the presidential polls. In less than a year, he was able to rise rapidly and gain absolute superiority, which was once puzzling.
Political analyst Haida Ryan said in a column in the Philippine "Daily Inquirer" that last November, Sarah gave up running for president and instead joined forces with Marcos Jr. as a vice presidential candidate, which became a very crucial turning point.
Sarah is the representative of the Duterte family, whose family power is located in the southern island of Mindanao, echoing the northern power of the Marcos family. Joining forces, "Martha Match" makes opponents difficult to overcome.
Marcos Jr. (right) forms a running partner with Sarah.
Why didn't the negative impact of his father's failure to govern affect The Little Marcos' approval rating to a greater extent?
A commentary by news site Rappler analyzed that the "People Power" revolution in 1986 overthrew the Marcos regime, but for nearly three decades, several Philippine governments have failed to address corruption and poverty. The dissatisfaction of older voters with the current government, the selective amnesia of some cruel history, and the lack of interest in history among young people have contributed to the return of Marcos Jr. to some extent.
Not only that, but Marcos Jr. seems to have mastered the secret of gaining the support of young people.
On the video site, Marcos Jr. has more than 2 million followers. There, he is a middle-aged romantic uncle who can play the guitar, can compete with young people in the mobile game world, and is also a good father and husband who often goes out with his family. He interacted with netizens and was even willing to accept the game challenge sent by netizens, changing the conservative and serious image of Filipino politicians and showing full affinity.
Time magazine pointed out that for young people in the Philippines, Marcos Jr. offers a refreshing option.
Marcos Jr. (above, bottom, second from right) often posts photos of family outings on social media.
After being elected, Little Marcos can still have enough time to interact with netizens, which is difficult to say, because he is facing many problems at present.
The Associated Press said the Philippines is currently at its "most vulnerable moment" in the face of COVID-19, severe poverty and unemployment, hyperinflation caused by soaring oil and gas prices. Singapore's "Lianhe Zaobao" said that the new president of the Philippines or adjust relations with China and the United States will affect the situation in the Asia-Pacific region.
There is no doubt that what awaits The Little Marcos will be no small challenge.
Column Editor-in-Chief: Gu Wanquan Text Editor: Fang Ying Title Image Source: Xinhua News Agency Photo Editor: Zi Xi
Source: Author: Universal Characters Chen Jiali Zheng Aotian Andy