The deposed Strongman of the Philippines made a rare appearance in local politics last week. Deposed from power in 1986, Marcos was exiled to Hawaii, where he and his wife Imelda found a safe home under the protection of the U.S. Government. It would seem odd for a formerly-deposed leader to make his way back into politics, especially when there are still outstanding court cases and accusations over the swindling of billions of dollars by the former leader during his 21 years in office. However, that isn’t as strange as the fact that his appearance comes 20 years after his death.
In a move seen as a way to increase her popular appeal in the current election to be the Representative of Ilocos Norte, the former first lady held a photo-op with the preserved body of her deceased husband. Dressed in formal attire, Ferdinand is shown lying in a climate-controlled glass coffin in a private mausoleum located next to their home in Batac. With approximately 30% of the voting demographic being too young to remember the controversy surrounding the former Strongman, the hope of showcasing the 80 year old Imelda as a loving widow might tip the election in her favor.
Another reason for his appearance is the debate over his final resting place. When he died while in exile, the wish was to bring his body back to the Philippines to be buried in the national cemetery with state honors. He was denied this right by his successor, Corazon Aquino. She was the widow of opposition leader Benigno Aquino. He was assassinated by members of the military with the assumption that the order came from Marcos himself. In a twist of irony, Imelda might not see her husband buried for at least another six years following this election.
The current front-runner in the Presidential election is the son of Benigno and Corazon Aquino. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino has realized a bounce in the polls following the death of his mother last year. He has stated that many of the fiscal and social problems being faced by the Philippines today are the legacy of Marcos, and that he hasn’t done anything to warrant the honor of a state burial.
On a personal note, I was living in Hawaii when the Marcos were exiled to the island state. One of the long-running quips in my family centers around how Imelda brought over many of her famous shoes in diaper boxes. The television cameras were rolling as crew members were offloading box after box from the plane. Whenever we would see someone carrying a large diaper box or simply had too many boxes in their cars, we’d ask ourselves if they found more of Imelda’s shoes.
For the next few months after arriving in Hawaii, the news crews were chasing after the infamous first couple as they searched for a home and settle into their new lifestyle. While trying to put on a good face through the ordeal, Imelda would turn to the camera relucantly and wave and smile, but then turn back to her husbad and walk away from the cameras. After all these years later, her return to the media spotlight is within her classic Imelda-style – a smiling, motherly woman trying to care for her husband. Will it be enough to help her win the election? We’ll find out in a few weeks.
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