What did the former First Lady mean with this now famous quote of hers from the documentary The Kingmaker?
In the context of the documentary, why would she allow an American filmaker, Lauren Greenfield, access to shoot a documentary about her and her family so close to the 2016 election?
The Rose of Tacloban grew up poor. Her psychological dysfunction was first documented by Carmen Pedrosa in her book, The Untold Story of Imelda Marcos. Despite this, her life has been one of notable highs and depressing lows, being forced to leave the Philippines and go into exile in Hawaii and staging a triumphant return after her landmark victory in a case filed against her in the United States on RICO charges.
Come June 30, if all goes well, she will be staging the grandest political comeback the world has ever seen. A return to the Palace where she lorded it over thirty-six years ago with her son as the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines.
This is the opposition’s worst nightmare. How and why did they allow it to become a reality?
The Marcos’ have never been part of the country’s short list of what is referred to in Spanish as “de buena familia.” Imelda had provenance but her branch of the Romualdez family was poor compared to the wealth that the Norberto and Miguel branches had.
She became the family matriarch with her marriage to Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who was expected to become President at the opportune time. Their marriage was not made in heaven but one that was conjugal partnership of political gains, which was the norm at that time.
Since their return from exile, the Marcos’ had to contend with being social pariahs since their fall from power. No longer were they on the A list of guest for parties. The Blue Ladies and the Marcos cronies retreated from public view. Only Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. maintained his business and political interests and still had enough wealth to finance both in his continuing role as one of the country’s kingmakers.
Imelda never wanted to become a politician but she became one out of necessity. Once she settled into that role, there was no turning back. Watching the documentary, you get a sense of her astute political instincts, going on a tour of the hospitals she built and doling out cash to the poor children on the streets and the patients in the hospitals. The former First Lady is cognizant of powerful images and their effect on the public. This is how Greenfield falls into the trap set by Imelda.
Greenfield does not even notice how she has given Imeldific a platform. She shows the public the well-arranged documents which are part and parcel of each of the cases the government has filed against her and her family. She showcases her Pacific Plaza and San Juan residences to the public. When she says that the poor need a star to look up to, she means that. She is not delusional. She knows exactly what the masses want to see in their leaders. She is a star that represents a beacon of hope to the poor.
In 2016, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. could have opted for an easy reelection to a second six year term as Senator but opted to run for Vice-President. Was this a calculated move on his part or a serious error?
The political environment then was hostile to the then opposition. Despite their respecting Noynoy Aquino’s victory as President, Aquino looked upon them with disdain. PNoy went after GMA first. Once the former President was in detention, it was the turn of Chief Justice Renato Corona. He was then followed by Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jose Ejercito Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. The latter two Senators were taken out of the 2010 political contest as they could have become the running mate of then Vice-President Jejomar Binay. Or they could have run for President as a tandem. They were a threat and PNoy was clearing the path for a Mar Roxas victory and the continuation of Yellow Ribbon rule.
Given how PNoy operated in this manner, it was inevitable that Bongbong Marcos would lose. It became a close race because the voters were not yet fully aware of the truths behind the anti-Marcos propaganda. But the candidacy of Rodrigo Duterte paved the way for the public to hear Marcos’ side of the story. On the contentious issue of the Marcos burial, Duterte said he would allow it if he won and this enabled him to get the support of the Marcos Loyalists. Marcos was finally buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in simple rites with only family members in attendance.
Marcos would go on to lose his electoral protest before the Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal. He was not given an appointive post by the President but Imee went on to win a Senate seat in the administration ticket in the 2019 midterm with the President and Sara campaigning for her.
The opposition continues with their belief that they will emerge victorious in the end. Robredo’s campaign is one of the people they claim. It is a movement. The momentum is on their side. But along the way they have resorted to their own sorcery, discrediting surveys and turning to Facebook Analytics and Google Trends to convince the voters that Robredo is turning the tide.
Fate is on the Marcos’ side. Whoever would have thought that Rodrigo Duterte, son of Vicente and Soledad, who played roles in the lives of Marcos Sr. and Cory, would become President? Then there is Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the daughter of the President whom Marcos beat in 1965, who also followed in her father’s footsteps and was persecuted by the Aquino-Cojuangco’s after her falling with Cory. Both Duterte and Arroyo are playing major roles in the Marcos’ journey back to Malacanan.
The Marcos’ were the overlords before but they are now perceived as the underdogs. They, who have endured vilification and ostracization for the past thirty-six years, without ever striking back at their political enemies. They have in fact, reconciled with them. Juan Ponce Enrile is campaigning for Marcos while Gringo Honasan is on his Senatorial slate.
Marcos is campaigning on a theme of unity. This sounds similar to the Iron Butterfly’s the true, the good and the beautiful mantra when she was at the peak of her power.
The Kingmaker is now showing for free with Pilipino, Ilokano and Bisaya subtitles. What the opposition does not realize is the documentary actually works against them because it shows Filipinos how not much has changed since the Marcos’ were ousted and what Imelda built has endured the test of time and she really had the vision to provide for contingencies. It cannot be denied that the venues she built have come in handy for the hosting of the ASEAN and APEC Summits. The hospitals bore the brunt of the load during the peak of the pandemic. The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine was also eastblished during her time as First Lady.
She may not disclose it publicly, but it appears that Madame knew all along that the Marcos’ would be able to stage a grand comeback and that she would have the last laugh.
Perception is real and the truth is not.
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