PRESIDENT & A FUTURE PRESIDENT?"
[PHOTO - The photo shows Ferdinand Marcos at the height of his
power. The dictator is surrounded by aides, and behind him, his only son,
Ferdinand Jr., known as Bongbong.]
MANILA,
APRIL 18, 2012
(INQUIRER) By Benjamin Pimentel - The
caption on the photo posted on the "Bongbong Marcos" Facebook page reads: "A fit
former president and a … future president? ;-)"
You can check out the Facebook page here.
You can see how the old photograph sure got fans of the late dictator and
Bongbong excited.
In that little corner of cyberspace, a Marcos loyalist heaven.
"great picture. ibalik ang marcos nang mabago ang imahen ng pilipinas," one
user wrote.
"President Ferdinand Marcos was the best. No one can match or surpass him
except for his son, Senator Ferdinand Jr.," another said.
Referring to Bongbong, one chimed in, "You will be a great President like
your father."
And they kept on going, creating one grotesque Marcosian lovefest.
"we must bring back the golden age of the Philippines."
"No doubt the best president ever. Philippines lucky to have him history gave
him justice and please there is a comparison now."
"My President, My Hero. He is the type of President that will do everything
in his might to make the country strong. … Mr. Senator Bongbong Marcos, I will
pray to GOD, that if ever you decide to run for President, GOD will lay His hand
upon your head to lead our country for Good."
"It's only fitting that a Marcos will once again bring back the glory days
and golden age of the Philippines.. Bongbong Marcos for President!!!"
We will mark the 40th anniversary of the declaration of martial law this
September. It's been more than a quarter of a century since that nightmare
ended.
Memories fade. Some are twisted around and distorted. And clearly, some of
the distorting and the twisting around are happening in social media.
The kooky propaganda line goes something like this: 'They say Marcos was a
bad leader. Well, look at all the problems the country still faces today.'
No mention of the looting, the torture, the unhampered greed which propelled
Marcos to the ranks of the most corrupt leaders in world history. (Again, try
this for fun: Do a Google search on "most corrupt leaders.")
They point to the failures of the presidents who came after the dictator was
overthrown. No mention of the one important point about Marcos: he wanted to be
in power forever. And he tried everything to stay in power forever.
I've said this before. But it's worth repeating:
Democracy – and Philippine democracy in particular – can never be a perfect
system. There's no such thing as a president who can fix the country's problems
with one stroke.
We will have bad leaders and good leaders, smart leaders and dumb leaders,
inspiring leaders and leaders who would make us ask collectively, "How in the
world did this joker get elected president?"
And yep, this also happens in older democracies like the United States.
But the rule in a democratic system is clear: 'All right, you got elected,
you've served your term. Now your term is up. Step aside and let someone else
serve.'
Well, Marcos didn't buy into that core principle of democracy. He found it
inconvenient.
The dictator, like other tyrants, wanted it all – and he wanted all of it
forever. As a result, we lived through 14 years of bullying, stealing and lying.
Fourteen years of a delusional, destructive dictatorship.
Bongbong Marcos is not his father. He should not be blamed for the terror we
endured under dictatorship.
We hope he'd acknowledge what happened. But that's probably not going to
happen.
Still, I imagine he could probably manage to make a statement that goes
something like this: 'I know many people criticize him. But he was my father. I
will always honor his memory."
That's acceptable. I'd even defend his right to say that, in the same way we
should defend any Filipino's right to honor one's parents and family.
But Bongbong is a political player now, one with presidential ambitions.
How can we accept a political figure who says the Marcos years were the best
thing that ever happened to the Filipino nation?
What kind of leader would glorify a brutal regime? What would that leader do,
how would he govern, once he's in power?
And it's also an entirely different story if, in honoring his father's
memory, Bongbong also spits on the grave of those who fought and even died in
the fight against dictatorship – if he demeans the memory of those who
sacrificed much so that our democracy can be restored.
That's what he did when he arrogantly dismissed the Edsa uprising as a
failure.
That's what he did when he suggested that those who opposed the dictatorship
caused the country to suffer more because if they had not fought his father's
regime, the country would have become an economic miracle.
And one of his key arguments is simply mind-boggling: That the Philippines
could have turned into another Singapore, known as one of the least corrupt
nations in the world, under a president now considered one of the most corrupt
in world history.
But then again, we shouldn't be surprised.
The Filipinos of my generation, the martial law babies, and those who came
before use, shouldn't fret. For history doesn't always move in a straight line.
After the fall of the Nazis came the neo-Nazis, and many more battles against
extremely violent racism. It took decades for the Civil Rights movement in the
United States to score important victories for African Americans and other
minorities – victories that must be defended and nurtured to this day.
We prevailed in defeating dictatorship. Now there's another challenge:
Defending the memory and the stories of those whose sacrifices made that victory
possible.
Fortunately, there are many who doing just that. The dictators' followers
aren't the only ones using Facebook.
The "rememberML@40" is
asking Filipinos worldwide not to forget.
The cultural group called Canvas, led by executive director Gigo Alampay,
just launched a campaign asking parents who survived martial law to write a
letter to their children on the nightmare we endured under Marcos. It's a
creative campaign and I encourage everyone to join. You can check it out here.
I also highly recommend an insightful piece on the Hot Manila Web site titled
"Five Pernicious Marcos Myths."
And even on the Bongbong Marcos page on Facebook, there are voices of
dissent.
"hell no," one user wrote.
And there's this from another reader: "When will we ever learn? let history
repeat itself? no way."
No way indeed.
On Twitter @KuwentoPimentel.
On Facebook at www.facebook.com/benjamin.pimentel
FROM THE MANILA TIMES IN 2011
Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.: Leader for the new decade
and the new generation Published : Sunday, August 07, 2011 00:00
Article Views : 9,628 Written by : Flor Prismo Entino, Contributor
Generational change
It's now a a bit more than a full year since Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
was sworn into office as senator in the 15th Congress of the Philippine Republic
on June 30, 2010.
One year is just a small slice in his six-year term as senator, but this
early it will indubitably figure in his political future and career.
At 53, Marcos is a member of a new generation of Filipino political leaders
who have emerged in the second decade of the 21st century, and who now command
the heights in key offices in local and national government.
The group includes President Benigno Aquino 3rd (52), 15th president of the
Philippines, and Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada (48), the President protempore.
Aquino, Estrada and Marcos are all children of former presidents of the
Republic.
Sen. Bongbong Marcos
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada
President Noynoy Aquino
Others in the group are congressmen, governors and mayors.
Together, they comprise the generational change in leadership that is taking
place in Philippine politics and society today—even as the 15th Congress, both
House and Senate, is being led by two tried-and-tested veterans, Senate
President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte—one an
octogenarian, and the other a septuagenarian
19 years in public service When he turns 54 on September 13 this year, Marcos
will be completing already 19 years in public service—for one who looks very
young and even boyish.
In his nearly two decades in public service, Marcos, as he is better known
throughout the archipelago, has compiled a redoubtable record of achievement as
a politician and public manager, most of which was accomplished away from the
spotlight.
Born to highly prominent parents who commanded the heights of Philippine
public life during their time, Marcos was drawn early to the challenge of public
service.
But he has carved his niche in public life in his own way. He is the farthest
thing to a typical politician. He does not open his mouth unless he has
something to say. And while the camera plainly loves the man, he shies away from
the spotlight.
Milestones:
At the age of 23, he had his baptism of political fire when he was elected
vice-governor of Ilocos Norte in 1980.
In 1983, he led a group of young Filipino leaders on a 10-day diplomatic
mission to China to mark the 10th anniversary of Philippine-PRC diplomatic
relations.
The group included young leaders like then Olongapo mayor Richard Gordon. The
visit helped cement a strong relationship that now stretches over three
decades..
As the only son of former President Ferdinand Marcos and former Metro Manila
governor Imelda Romualdez Marcos, Bongbong has carried on the family legacy and
political heritage with great dignity and skill, winning the respect of
many.
From forced exile abroad after the 1986 EDSA revolt against his father, he
was the first among the Marcoses to return home in 1991, braving arrest by the
government of President Corazon Aquino.
In 1992, he won election to the House of Representatives as representative
for the second district of Ilocos Norte. As an opposition congressman, he
authored the landmark act establishing the Philippine Youth Commission.
In 1998, he ran and won for the first of three terms as governor of Ilocos
Norte. In his nine years as governor, he transformed Ilocos Norte into a
first-class province, a major tourism destination, and a pioneer in harnessing
wind power for energy and electrification.
In 2007, he returned to the House of Representatives and served for a time as
Deputy Minority Leader. Despite being an opposition leader, he successfully
championed the passage of significant legislation like the country's Baselines
Law.
Swinging from the executive to the legislative in public service is no big
deal for Bongbong Marcos. In the executive he has proven his mettle as a leader
and manager; in the legislature, he has shown leadership in the making of public
policy.
In the Philippine Senate, he now carries for the first time the hopes and
expectations of his national constituency. Unlike most democracies in the world,
Filipino senators are elected by national vote like the president and
vice-president.
As a freshman senator, he chairs two Senate committees, the Senate committee
on local government, and the Senate committee on urban planning, housing and
resettlement.
Education and family life
After finishing his elementary education at De la Salle College, the young
Marcos studied for his secondary education in the Worth School in England.
From there, he got accepted to Oxford University, where he took a bachelor's
degree in Political Science, Philosophy and Economics in 1978.
From Oxford, he moved to the Wharton School of Business in the US to study
for his Master's in Business Administration.
While still completing his MBA thesis, he got elected in absentia as
vice-governor of Ilocos Norte in 1980.
The educational credentials lead some to believe that his parents designed
for him an education for leadership.
Bongbong says that his studies took him to what really interested him. He
took up political science, philosophy and economics because at the time, they
were key to understanding how the world works.
He moved on to take up an MBA at Wharton because he was interested in
management and how strong organizations and great business enterprises are
built.
He is married to lawyer Louise Araneta, by whom he has three teenage sons.
They make their home in both Metro Manila and Batac, Ilocos Norte.
Architect of Youth Commission
During his first stint in Congress, Bongbong made his mark by championing the
cause of the Filipino youth and spearheading the passage of the Philippine Youth
Commission Act.
The law empowers Filipinos at an early age to take an active role in the
civic and political life of the nation.
The historic act reflects a fundamental part of Bongbong's vision and
understanding of Philippine society.
In his view, the Philippines is a predominantly young country— young in
population, young in outlook, and with its eyes turned towards the future rather
than the past.
This young population gives the nation a large human resource base which,
harnessed and educated properly, can propel Philippine society into the heights
of modernization and development.
This population phenomenon – called "the demographic dividend" by David Bloom
of Harvard University—has accounted for the economic miracles in Taiwan, Korea,
and Hong Kong in the 80s, and now in China and India.
The same in Bongbong's view will help drive the Philippines to full
modernization and development.
During his first congressional term, he was a major contributor to the cause
of the development and growth of cooperatives. He devoted almost all his "pork
barrel" —Countryside Development Fund (CDF) —to organizing cooperatives of
teachers and farmers in his home province.
He believes ardently in cooperatives development becaue in England he saw
their beneficence and contribution to national development and social stability.
Innovative governor
It was partly to turn development ideas into practice that he ran for
governor of Ilocos Norte in 1998.
"I wanted to turn into practice the ideas I learned in school and the
policies I helped to pass in Congress," he says. "Being an executive is a
different challenge."
As Ilocos Norte governor from 1998 to 2007, Bongbong recorded major
achievements: He transformed a third-class province into a first-class one
(based on income) within his first term.
With 73 percent of the provincial population dependent on agriculture, he
raised agricultural productivity in the province by focusing on rice production
and cash crops like vegetables and tobacco. He invested resources in hybrid
seedlings production that underpinned the agricultural transformation.
He set up a successful program for cooperatives development in the province
that greatly helped in the economic development of Ilocos Norte.
He turned Ilocos Norte into a major tourism destination by improving
infrastructure, developing the province's special natural attractions, and
capitalizing on Laoag City's being an international gateway into the country.
He turned his province into a model for public health care by providing100
percent of his province mates with health insurance.
He harnessed wind power as an alternative source of energy for his province
(generating 34 megawatts of power at last count), making Ilocos Norte a model
for other regions.
By the end of his three terms in 2007, Ilocos Norte stood tall as a
progressive medium-sized Philippine province, a cohesive community, and a highly
popular destination for foreign and domestic tourists.
Return to Congress
In the mid-term elections of 2007, Bongbong returned to Congress to represent
again the second district of Ilocos Norte.
In his second stint as legislator and as deputy minority leader, he undertook
major initiatives such as:
The passage of the Philippine Baselines Act, which defines the boundaries of
the national territory according to international law, while retaining the
country's claims to lands under dispute with other nations.
The adoption of English as the principal language of instruction in the
Philippine educational system, and as tool for Filipino competitiveness in
education.
The adoption of a comprehensive infrastructure modernization program as key
to full economic development and as a major part of the national strategy amidst
the global recession.
The focused development of Philippine tourism as another major strategy for
enabling the country to cope with the recession.
The accelerated development of alternative sources of energy to address
Philippine dependence on foreign oil and the volatility of oil prices.
The upgrading of the Filipino overseas workers program which was originated
by his father and has become a major component of Philippine economic growth and
resiliency amidst the global economic crisis.
Standing for the Senate
With national elections looming in 2010, Bongbong decided to seek a seat in
the Philippine Senate.
In announcing his candidacy, he declared: "After 17 years as governor and
representative of Ilocos Norte, I believe I am more than ready to serve on the
national stage."
Seeing him throw his hat into the ring, many observers and political veterans
said Bongbong showed a keen sense of timing and vision.
For made a bid for national office at a time when the Marcos record cum
legacy was being hailed for its long-term vision and enduring achievements.
Among these achievements are the modernization of national infrastructure
like the Pan-Philippines Highway from Luzon to Mindanao, the highly successful
and now indispensable overseas employment program, the launching of innovative
programs like the Pag-Ibig Fund and world-class health care, the establishment
of the Department of Energy to cope with oil price volatility, the protection
and enhancement of Philippine ecology and environment, the pioneering program
for Philippine tourism development, and the expansion of the country's foreign
relations to include China, Russia and the Middle East.
Marcos believes that the 21st century has ushered in a new time of challenge
for the country and for the world.
Great advances in technology and tidal developments in international affairs
have changed the world we live in. And the challenge of adjustment has become
more complicated with the global economic meltdown led by the mighty US economy.
"We cannot answer today's challenges with yesterday's solutions," he senator
said when he was campaigning for a Senate seat. "We can only find those
solutions with a mind open to today's world."
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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