Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of the late dictator, gestures as he greets the crowd during a campaign rally in Quezon City, Philippines, in April 2022. He won the May election.
(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Ferdinand Marcos Jr.‘s references to a Golden Age in the Philippines invites a nostalgic look at the past. But it also warns of a darker future in keeping with how his father ran the country.
Adrian De Leon, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Bongbong Marcos is the projected winner of the Philippines election. That the son of a brutal dictator has won shows how wedded the country is to dynastic politics – and image manipulation.
Philippine presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, delivers a speech during a campaign rally in Lipa, Batangas province, Philippines, April 20, 2022.
Reuters/Alamy
The people of the Philippines brought down a dictator without resorting to violence 30 years ago. But continuing disappointment with their democracy means they now support a populist president.
Duterte has, among other things, mobilised nationalist antipathy against foreign interference to deflect criticism of his violent drug crackdown.
KING RODRIGUEZ / PPD / HANDOUT
Duterte used his “tough on crime” approach to win the election as a political outsider, promising to restore law and order with strongman rule. His approval rating has since soared to over 90%.
The preserved body of late former president Ferdinand Marcos lies in public view in a mausoleum in his home province in northern Philippines.
REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco