Source: http://www.piercemattie.com/jewelrypr/Imelda%20Collection.jpg
Imelda Marcos was born on July 2nd, 1929 in Manila, Philippines. She is known for being the First Lady of the Philippines when Ferdinand Marcos was the President from 1965 to 1986. She is also very well-known for her collection of over 3000 pairs of shoes. Not only was she the First Lady of the Philippines, she was also claimed to be one of the most beautiful women the country's ever seen. Former President Ferdinand Marcos' ruling during his term was very corrupt and Imelda Marcos dreamed of a romantic and powerful life which would probably explain her extensive collection of shoes and grand shopping tours to the United States at the time.
Imelda Marcos was born into a very stable and wealthy family with a Spaniard background. Her family wasn't very political though she grew up living close to the Malacanang Palace in San Miguel. Growing up, she became a beauty queen and won several pageant titles. She also had a magnificent singing voice and started to grace many covers of magazines as the Muse of Manila. She began to be exposed to Politics when moved to Manila to live with her cousin in Quezon City.
In 1953. she met Congressman Ferdinand Marcos in Baguio during Holy Week and married him that same year. She had four children with Ferdinand; Imee, Irene, Aimee and Bongbong. Imelda Marcos worked hard to stay in the public eye for the purpose of winning votes for her husband to with the 1965 elections. She graced every magazine cover and traveled a lot to gain the support of other politicians and political figures. Once in presidency, Ferdinand and Imelda corruptly ruled the government of the Philippines and declared martial law to put a hold onto their power. Ferdinand won a second election through buying votes and fraud which kept them in power for another whole term until the Power Of The People Revolution removed them from presidency in September of 1972.
Interview with Imelda Marcos
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHNfqBQbrU0
Questions:
1. Imelda Marcos along with Former President Ferdinand Marcos displayed addiction to power over the Philippines and corrupt ruling to satisfy their own wants. Do you think that this has influenced the Presidents that came after the Marcos'?
2. With the recent death of the non-corrupt Former President Corazon Aquino, her son Noynoy Aquino has taken the incentive to run for President in the 2010 elections. If he wins Presidency, do you think he will continue his mother's legacy of a clean and justly ruling of the government?
External Links:
http://www.marcospresidentialcenter.com/
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501040712-660979,00.html
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/imelda/index.html
Filipino politics has been had an unfortunate connection to corruption for a long, long time. Even Corazon Aquino, with the people power movement, isn't a saint. Her family own hasciendas in which workers are treated unfairly, even killed. Look up Hascienda Lucita and the labour struggles and atrocities that occured there. Good entry.
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