Two Marcoses, One Legacy in the Philippines

Photo Credit: NikkeiAsia

Two presidents with the name Marcos have ruled the Philippines. The first was Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who was president from 1965 to 1986. He became known for declaring martial law, building large projects, but also for corruption, heavy debt, and human rights abuses. After he was ousted by the People Power Revolution (Known as the EDSA People Power Revolution), his family went into exile. Decades later, after the dictatorship of Marcos Sr. was overthrown, his son, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., rose to power and became president in 2022. Because of this, the leadership of father and son is often compared, with people asking if the country is experiencing real change or simply a repeat of the past.

Marcos Then: Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.

In 1972, Martial Law was declared by Marcos Sr. The Constitution was suspended, Congress was closed, and strict control was placed on media outlets like newspapers, radio, and television. Thousands of activists, journalists, and opposition leaders were jailed. Reports of torture, killings, and disappearances became widespread. Among those arrested was Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., who later became a symbol of resistance against the dictatorship. Fear and silence spread across the country as ordinary citizens were prevented from speaking out.

Were the Marcos Sr. Projects for the People or for Power?

During the rule of Marcos Sr., many large infrastructure projects were built. Among the most well-known were the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the San Juanico Bridge, and specialized hospitals like the Philippine Heart Center. These projects were displayed as signs of progress and modernization. They were often used to promote the image of a strong and developing nation under his leadership.

However, the true cost of these projects was hidden behind borrowed money. Much of the funding came from foreign loans, which placed a heavy burden on the national budget. By the end of his rule, the country’s foreign debt had grown massively, from around $600 million in 1965 to more than $26 billion in 1986.

While a few Filipinos benefited from modern facilities and improved infrastructure, most ordinary citizens did not see improvements in their daily lives. Instead, poverty worsened. Reports showed that a large portion of the borrowed money was lost to corruption. 

Businesses, industries, and even government contracts were handed over to close friends and political allies, known as Marcos’s “cronies.” These cronies became wealthy through government favors, while ordinary workers and farmers struggled to survive.

For many critics, these projects were seen not as real development, but as “edifice politics”, grand and expensive buildings meant to impress, while the economy was sinking deeper into debt and the majority of the population continued to live in hardship.

Marcos Now: Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

After the Marcos family was ousted from Malacañang in 1986, decades of exile and controversy followed. They were remembered for corruption, hidden wealth, and human rights violations during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. However, in 2022, a major political comeback was achieved when Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. won the presidency. His victory was strongly influenced by the widespread use of social media campaigns that reshaped public memory of the Martial Law period, presenting it as a time of discipline and progress rather than repression. In addition, alliances with powerful families, most notably the Dutertes, strengthened his campaign. With this win, the Marcos family was fully restored to national power after nearly four decades of being pushed away from leadership.

Promises vs Corruption

Today, the Philippine economy faces serious challenges that directly affect ordinary Filipinos. Prices of basic goods, including rice, onions, sugar, fuel, and electricity, remain painfully high. A campaign promise was made to lower the price of rice to ₱20 per kilo, but this has never been fulfilled. Instead, consumers continue to pay much higher prices in the markets. Farmers, who are considered the backbone of the country’s food supply, complain that government assistance is minimal and inconsistent. Workers, on the other hand, struggle with low wages that cannot keep pace with inflation. Unstable jobs, rising debt, and the ever-increasing cost of living continue to burden millions of families.

While large infrastructure projects and economic programs are often announced by the Marcos Jr. administration, many citizens say that these projects have not yet translated into improvements in their daily lives. To critics, these announcements resemble the “edifice politics” of his father, grand projects that showcase progress but fail to answer the most urgent needs of the poor.

Justice Denied: Marcos Jr. and the Duterte Shield. 

Marcos Jr.’s approach to human rights mirrors old patterns. While the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates Duterte’s drug war killings, an effort driven by victims’ families and defenders, he postures against abuses but avoids real action, even obstructing the process instead of supporting true accountability.

This contradiction is further exposed in his treatment of Vice President Sara Duterte. Despite corruption allegations, Marcos Jr. has not held Sara Duterte accountable, with her impeachment stalled. Critics say fear of exposing his own misuse of funds keeps both leaders tied in silence, making true accountability impossible.

Image of Change, Reality of Corruption.

Unlike his father, Marcos Jr. has not declared Martial Law, instead projecting a calm and modern image abroad. But at home, unresolved issues, human rights abuses, press freedom, and hidden wealth, persist. Critics say his rule relies on stolen wealth, shady alliances, and budget misuse, with billions funneled into confidential funds and kickbacks. When the (DPWH) Department of Public Works and Highways corruption scandals broke, he posed as anti-corruption, but critics call it mere theater to protect allies and preserve patronage networks.

Echoes of a Dynasty: How Marcos Jr. Mirrors His Father’s Legacy

Both Marcos Sr. and Marcos Jr. have relied on grand projects to project progress while ordinary Filipinos continue to suffer from poverty. They both leaned on alliances with powerful families, cronies, and political networks to secure and maintain power. Accusations of massive corruption and misuse of public funds shadowed their rule, with wealth and privilege concentrated among allies. Each projected an image of strong and capable leadership, Marcos Sr. through authoritarian control and Marcos Jr. through diplomacy and modern branding, while leaving unresolved issues of human rights violations, hidden wealth, and accountability. In this way, the son’s presidency mirrors many of the same patterns that marked his father’s dictatorship. 

Moreover, not once have Marcos Jr. apologized nor recognized for his father’s legacy of dictatorship.

Marcos Then, Marcos Now: The People’s Unyielding Fight Against a Corrupt and Oppressive Regime

We in Pinay Collection support the Philippine campaign to end the corrupt and oppressive system in government. As the Philippines commemorates the anniversary of Martial Law on September 21, people will gather in Luneta, Manila. We call on the diaspora and the international community to stand in solidarity with the Filipino people in demanding an end to corruption and oppression.