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The 10th president of the Republic of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos was born on September 11, 1917 in Sarat, Ilocos Norte to Mariano Marcos and Josefa Edralin. His administration was recognized for its strict government, and he held office for 20 years. He became the first prime minister that served our country when Martial Law was declared in 1972.
Ferdinand Marcos got his law degree at the University of the Philippines, and was one of the top-notch students who took the bar exams. His entry in public service began when he worked as an officer for the Philippine Armed Forces during the Second World War. He was also one of the many soldiers who were captured and survived the Death March in Bataan. His consequent claims of being an important figure in the Filipino guerilla faction became a vital factor in his political career. But later, his claim was contradicted by the US Government archives; they said that Marcos played little or no part at all in the anti-Japanese actions during the Second World War.
He first entered the political scene as an assistant to Pres. Manuel Roxas. He then became a member of the House of Representatives, and later on a Senator of the Republic. When Marcos married Imelda Romualdez in 1954, he acquired the position of Senate President. During the 1965 presidential campaign, Marcos left the Liberal party after failing to be nominated as the party’s candidate for the presidential post. He then joined the Nationalista Party and went against Diosdado Macapagal, the chosen candidate of his rival party, who was then running for re-election.
After the tight and grueling battle for the presidency, Ferdinand Marcos won and was inaugurated on December 30, 1965. He was re-elected after four years and, in one of the dirtiest elections in the country, became the first president to serve a second term. In his first term of service, his government made progress in agriculture, industry and education. But his administration was always pestered by student demonstrations and urban-guerilla movements. Nevertheless, he was still considered to be one of the best presidents our country ever had.
As his charisma started to fade as the years passed, Marcos declared Martial Law on September 21, 1972. During this time, he imprisoned all the people who tried to oppose him. He was both the president and the prime minister under the new but suspended constitution. There was no freedom of the press; major airlines and utilities went under government control, and the writ of habeas corpus was suspended.
Marcos’ role as a dictator began.
The Supreme Court was granted little authority, while the Catholic Church, US Embassy officials and the Amnesty International charged the government with violations of human rights. Political leaders contradicted Ferdinand Marcos, while the New People’s Army and Muslim separatists tried to bring down his regime.
Martial Law was brought down in January 1981, but with the aid of various “gray areas” in the constitutional formats, Marcos was able to stay in power until the People Power revolution of 1986. His administration was flawed by raging corruption, economic stagnation, and continual widening of economic inequalities between the rich and the poor.
By 1983, Marcos’ command over his subordinates was showing cracks, and hostility towards his rule was growing stronger. To prove his strength to the people, he called for a snap election. His opponent was Corazon Aquino, wife of the late Senator Ninoy Aquino.
He “defeated” Ninoy’s widow and declared himself president of the republic despite the widespread protest of the people. During the “People Power Revolution” on February 25, 1986, Marcos' rule was overthrown. He then escaped to Hawaii at the advice of the US Government.
Marcos passed away on September 28, 1989 in Hawaii.
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