Unleash the Memories of a Vintage Era: Imelda Marcos' Shoe Collection and the Marcos Legacy
Even as many today can't remember the times – half the Philippines' population was under eight during Marcos' parents' expulsion – I certainly do. It was the age of Eau de Vie and a legendary kleptocracy, marked by tales that I, as a former journalist in the region, experienced firsthand.
October 1976 saw the International Monetary Fund/World Bank hold their annual meeting in Manila. In response, the Marcos family embarked on an unprecedented construction boom: 14 new luxury hotels were built in just a few months. At the Plaza Hotel's grand opening, 2,000 guests savored hors d'oeuvres before feasting on an impressive spread.
These hotels, owned by Marcos' cronies, were primarily built with public funds that did not prioritize the needs of the Philippines' poorest citizens. Meanwhile, the Philippines received World Bank aid to rebuild parts of the Tondo slum, one of Asia's most notorious slums, near Manila. Unfortunately, that money vanished.
Robert McNamara, the former U.S. Defense Secretary and then-World Bank President, visited the city, and when he discovered that the funds were missing, Imelda ordered Tondo's slums to be razed and replaced with paved streets. An estimated 60 families were relocated twenty miles outside the city and left stranded on a vacant lot.
I uncovered this sinister plan. McNamara was livid, and to this day, Imelda has never forgiven me. On the same day my story was published, I was assigned to cover a coup in Thailand, leaving thousands of Philippine families in limbo – some still in Tondo, others in distant suburbs of Manila. Tondo remains one of Asia's poorest slums, and the young Marcos promised little change, though that was one of many problematic legacies of his parents' rule.
Bang Bang Marcos, the sole surviving heir of the Marcos dynasty, received an indulged and gilded upbringing. At 92, Imelda remains steadfast in her support of Bang Bang's aspirations while growing increasingly reserved in her public appearances.
Dindo Manhit, CEO of the Stratbase ADR Institute, a prominent political think tank in the Philippines, shared his thoughts with me, "Imelda has disappeared from the public eye."
Many still believe that the Marcos family cares for the average Filipino, but Bang Bang maintains this proposition. Strikingly, some experts speculate that Imelda saw Bang Bang find closure in concluding his search for the vast fortune he and she had stolen, while the threat of imprisonment loomed.
In a society where the Marcos family's rule from 1965 to 1986 saw 21 years of Brutal, Corrupt leadership, what could a new Marcos in a Democracy look like? A struggle the Filipinos have fought for 40 years, ever since I began reporting on his politics as head of the Southeast Asia Bureau at The New York Times.
Born in 1947, the Philippines emerged as a nation in 1946, following the brutal Japanese occupation during World War II. Now, Bon Bon and his crew seem intent on replicating Donald Trump's 'Make America Great Again' agenda.
"This is the rise of social media," said Manhit during a call from Manila. "On the Philippines, Facebook and YouTube, apart from TV, are the second-largest sources of information, surpassing newspapers and radio."
"It's one-sided propaganda," Manhit added, noting that supporters of Bang Bang would simply dismiss as 'fake news' any attempts by media organizations to challenge Bang Bang's positions. Does this sound familiar?
During the Marcos regime, corruption was rampant and violence was an everyday occurrence – far from the peaceful era of prosperity, law, and order that the history books would have you believe.
"Supporter of Ferdinand 'Bongbang' Marcos Jr. displays a photo of his father and mother Imelda at a campaign rally in February."
Now, according to CNN Philippines, Bong Bang is vaguely outlining plans for unity – "[Jobs and opportunities]. Jobs, jobs, jobs. Prices, prices, prices."
Bang Bang wants to ensure that his family, who ruled brutally and corruptedly from 1965 to 1986, can retake power once more. He's allied with the still-controversial Duterte and made his daughter Sara a vice-presidential candidate.
Bang Bang has worked hard to restore his family's reputation, and in an interview with CNN Philippines, he described his father as a "genius." Despite the 1972 Martial Law imposed by Ferdinand Marcos, which Human Rights Watch claimed saw thousands detained, tortured, disappeared, and killed, Bang Bang still hails his father as a "genius."
Marcos is often viewed as a China sympathizer – his first post-campaign visit was to the Chinese embassy. China continues to assert its influence in the South China Sea. Favorable public opinion in the U.S. and Australia could serve to temper that. In recent remarks, Bang Bang has softened his rhetoric, reflecting the international pressure facing him.
What questions remain unanswered? How much of this China-backing is merely a tactic? But the most crucial is: Will the Biden Administration tolerate abuses or excesses reminiscent of the Marcos era, as was the case with earlier U.S. presidents during the two decades of Marcos family rule and the Vietnam War?
In Conclusion
As the Philippine elections draw near, the legacy of the Marcos family continues to overshadow the nation's political landscape. The controversy surrounding Imelda Marcos' shoe collection is a stark reminder of the excess, corruption, and abuse of power that characterized that era of Philippine history. While some view the collection as a symbol of her opulent style, others see it as a testament to the Marcos regime's financial misdeeds.
Regardless of one's perspective, it's essential to understand that the Marcos family's rule represents a dark period in Philippine history. As the nation moves forward, it's crucial to learn from the past and strive for a better future, one that prioritizes the welfare of the Filipino people over personal wealth and political power.
