Bongbong Marcos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bongbong Marcos
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Official portrait, 2022
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| 17th President of the Philippines | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2022 |
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| Vice President | Sara Duterte |
| Preceded by | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Secretary of Agriculture | |
| In office June 30, 2022 – November 3, 2023 |
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| President | Himself |
| Preceded by | William Dar |
| Succeeded by | Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. |
| Senator of the Philippines | |
| In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016 |
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| Member of the House of Representatives from Ilocos Norte's 2nd district | |
| In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Imee Marcos |
| Succeeded by | Imelda Marcos |
| In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Mariano Nalupta Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Simeon Valdez |
| 19th Governor of Ilocos Norte | |
| In office June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Rodolfo Fariñas |
| Succeeded by | Michael Marcos Keon |
| In office March 23, 1983 – February 25, 1986 |
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| Preceded by | Elizabeth Keon |
| Succeeded by | Castor Raval (OIC) |
| Vice Governor of Ilocos Norte | |
| In office June 30, 1980 – March 23, 1983 |
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| Governor | Elizabeth Keon |
| Preceded by | Antonio Lazo |
| Chairman of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas | |
| Assumed office October 5, 2021 |
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| President | Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. |
| Preceded by | Abubakar Mangelen |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.
September 13, 1957 Santa Mesa, Manila, Philippines |
| Political party | PFP (2021–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Nacionalista (2009–21) KBL (1978–2009) |
| Spouse |
Louise Araneta
(m. 1993) |
| Children | 3, including Sandro |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Marcos family |
| Residences | |
| Education | Worth School (secondary) |
| Alma mater |
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| Signature |  |
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. (born September 13, 1957), often called PBBM or BBM, is a Filipino politician. He is the 17th and current president of the Philippines. He is the second child and only son of the 10th president, Ferdinand Marcos, and former first lady Imelda Marcos.
In 1980, Marcos became Vice Governor of Ilocos Norte. He then became Governor of Ilocos Norte in 1983. His family later left the Philippines in February 1986 after the People Power Revolution. After his father passed away in 1989, President Corazon Aquino allowed his family to return to the Philippines.
Marcos was elected as a Representative for Ilocos Norte's 2nd congressional district from 1992 to 1995. He was elected Governor of Ilocos Norte again in 1998. After nine years, he returned to his position as Representative from 2007 to 2010. He then became a senator from 2010 to 2016. Marcos ran for vice president in the 2016 election but did not win.
Marcos ran for President of the Philippines in the 2022 election under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas party. He won by a large number of votes, getting almost 59% of all votes. This was the biggest win since 1981.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Bongbong Marcos was born Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on September 13, 1957. He was born at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Santa Mesa, Manila, Philippines. His parents are Ferdinand Marcos and Imelda Marcos. When he was born, his father was a representative for Ilocos Norte.
His Schooling
Marcos first went to school at Institución Teresiana in Quezon City for kindergarten. He then went to La Salle Green Hills in Mandaluyong for elementary school.
In 1970, Marcos went to England to study at Worth School. This was an all-boys school in West Sussex.
Marcos later attended the Center for Research and Communication, where he took a special course in economics but did not finish it. He then enrolled at St Edmund Hall, Oxford to study philosophy, politics, and economics. He did not get a full degree in this program. Instead, he received a special diploma in social studies. Marcos also enrolled in a Masters in Business Administration program at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, but he did not complete it.
Marcos became known to the public when he was young. He was only three years old when he was first in the national spotlight. When his father ran for president in 1965, Marcos was eight years old.
During his father's 1965 campaign, Marcos played himself in a movie called Iginuhit ng Tadhana: The Ferdinand E. Marcos Story. In the film, a young Marcos gives a speech saying he wants to be a politician when he grows up. This movie helped his father win the 1965 Philippine elections.
Start in Politics
Marcos began his political career when he was elected Vice Governor of Ilocos Norte in 1980, at age 22. On March 23, 1983, he became the Governor of Ilocos Norte. He stayed in this role until his family left the country in 1986.
Return to the Philippines and Later Political Roles
After his family returned to the Philippines in the early 1990s, Bongbong Marcos quickly sought political office. He was the first Marcos family member to return to the Philippines in 1991.
Serving in the House of Representatives
Marcos ran for and was elected as a Representative for the Ilocos Norte's 2nd congressional district from 1992 to 1995. During this time, he helped create laws for the Department of Energy and the National Youth Commission. He also used funds to help teachers and farmers in his home province. In 1994, he became president of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan party.
In 1995, Marcos ran for the Senate but did not win.
Governor of Ilocos Norte Again
Marcos was elected as governor of Ilocos Norte again in 1998. He served three terms, ending in 2007.
Second Term in the House of Representatives
In 2007, Marcos ran for Congress again and won without opposition. He supported the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law and promoted the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act.
Becoming a Senator
Marcos ran for the Senate a second time in 2010 and won. He took office on June 30, 2010.
As a senator, Marcos wrote many bills. Some of these became laws, like the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. He also helped pass a law to postpone the 2013 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. He led committees on urban planning, local government, and public works.
Financial Matters
In 2014, Marcos was mentioned in a case about how public funds were used. He said that his signatures were fake and that money was released without his knowledge.
In 2016, he was also part of a case about how some of his funds were used. These funds were meant for projects but were allegedly sent to organizations that did not exist.
Running for Vice President in 2016
On October 5, 2015, Marcos announced he would run for Vice President of the Philippines in the 2016 election. He ran as an independent candidate.
Marcos came in second place in the vice presidential race. He lost to Leni Robredo by a small number of votes. Marcos challenged the results, but his challenge was later dismissed.
2022 Presidential Campaign and Election
Marcos officially started his campaign for president of the Philippines on October 5, 2021. He ran under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas party. On November 16, he announced that Davao City mayor Sara Duterte would be his running mate. Their team was called "UniTeam" and focused on unity.
Several requests were made to stop Marcos from running for president. Most of these were about his past tax issues. Marcos said these requests were just propaganda against him.
Marcos was very popular in surveys before the May 2022 election. He was the first presidential candidate to get over 50% in surveys since 1999. He was criticized for not attending most of the presidential debates.
On May 25, 2022, Marcos was officially announced as the president-elect of the Philippines. He received over 31 million votes, which was about 58.77% of the total votes. This was a very large win, marking the Marcos family's return to national power after 36 years.
On June 20, 2022, Marcos announced that he would also serve as the Secretary of Agriculture.
Presidency (2022–present)
| Presidential styles of Bongbong Marcos |
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| Reference style | President Marcos Jr., His Excellency |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Alternative style | Mr. President |
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First Actions as President
On June 30, 2022, Marcos Jr. took his oath of office as the 17th President of the Philippines. He also appointed himself as Secretary of Agriculture to help with food prices and farming. His first executive order as president closed two offices: the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.
The day after his inauguration, Marcos signed a plan to offer free train rides to students. He also extended free rides on the EDSA Carousel until the end of 2022. Later, he said free train rides would only be for students using the LRT Line 2.
Two days after becoming president, Marcos stopped a bill that aimed to create a free economic zone near the New Manila International Airport. He said it had "fiscal risks" and needed more study. He also ordered a review of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to make sure only qualified people received help.
On July 5, 2022, Marcos held his first cabinet meeting. He discussed plans to improve the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. He talked about food security, transportation, and bringing back face-to-face classes.
On July 25, 2022, Marcos allowed a law about vaping products to become official. He also launched a campaign called "PinasLakas" to encourage more people to get COVID-19 booster shots.
Marcos stated that the Philippines does not plan to rejoin the International Criminal Court. He said that cases related to the country's drug war are already being investigated by the government. On July 30, 2022, Marcos stopped two bills. One would have given tax exemptions to poll workers, and the other would have created a transport safety board.
Domestic Policy
Agriculture and Farming Reforms
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As Secretary of Agriculture, Marcos started programs to improve farming in the Philippines. He wanted to make it easier to get farm products to local markets. In August 2022, when sugar prices were high, a plan was made to import sugar. Marcos rejected this plan, saying it was done without his approval. This led to changes in the Sugar Regulatory Administration.
In November 2022, Marcos expanded the Kadiwa Project. This project helps bring fresh local products to markets at lower prices. It aims to connect farms directly to consumers.
In January 2023, due to high onion prices, Marcos approved importing onions. He said the government had no other choice because local production was low.
Marcos also signed an executive order in September 2022. This order stopped farmers from having to pay their debts for one year. This helps farmers with their finances.
In July 2023, Marcos signed the New Agrarian Emancipation Act. This law freed about 600,000 farmers from old debts.
After more than a year as Secretary of Agriculture, Marcos stepped down from the role. He appointed Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to take his place.
Defense
In August 2022, Marcos's government considered buying helicopters from the United States. This was to replace Russian helicopters that were no longer being purchased.
Marcos supports the AFP Modernization Act, which aims to make the country's defense stronger. He has asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines to focus more on protecting against outside threats.
During the Philippine Navy's 125th anniversary, Marcos announced plans to get the country's first submarine.
Marcos has approved a plan to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines over 10 years. This plan aims to strengthen the country's defense by improving its ability to monitor its waters and skies.
Education
In August 2022, Marcos and Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte reopened in-person classes across the country. This happened even though not many students had received COVID-19 vaccinations. Most public schools returned to in-person classes by November 2022.
Marcos also looked at the K–12 education program. He wants to improve the education system to help students find jobs. He also wants to update schools with better science subjects and technology.
Economy
Early in his presidency, Marcos focused on improving the country's economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. He lifted lockdowns and mask rules. His government aims for strong economic growth and to reduce poverty by 2028. They also want to lower the country's debt. Marcos supports creating more economic zones to attract investments. He also plans to collect more taxes to help pay off debts.
Foreign Policy
Marcos promised to continue being "friends to all, enemies to none" in foreign policy. He first sought closer ties with China. However, he has since been seen as more friendly with the United States. During his first State of the Nation Address, Marcos promised not to give up any Philippine territory to other countries.
Under his presidency, Marcos has increased cooperation with Western countries like the United States, Japan, Australia, and the European Union. He approved four more bases for the United States military to use. In May 2024, the Philippines and the United States held their largest military exercises.
Marcos has asked all countries involved in the South China Sea to follow international law. This is to avoid conflicts. Relations between China and the Philippines have become more tense under Marcos. This is due to ongoing disagreements over territory.
Public Profile
Historical Discussions
Marcos has received criticism for how he talks about the past. Some people say he downplays human rights issues and financial problems that happened during his father's time as president. Marcos has said that his family would only apologize if they had done something wrong.
In 2012, when people remembered the 40th year of martial law, Marcos dismissed calls for an apology. He called them "self-serving statements."
During his 2016 vice presidential campaign, Marcos said people should "leave history to the professors." This led to many professors and schools speaking out. They said he was trying to change history and not acknowledge past events.
Online Presence
Research has shown that Marcos has benefited from false information online. Many social media pages that spread this information support him.
In 2020, someone claimed that Marcos had asked a company to help "rebrand" his family's image online. Marcos's spokesperson denied these claims.
Urban Legends
An old urban legend claimed that Marcos Jr. died while studying abroad. The legend said his family found someone who looked like him to replace him. Marcos has said in his vlogs that this story is not true.
Another myth, called the "Tallano gold myth," claims that the Marcos family has a huge amount of gold. This myth suggests that if Bongbong Marcos became president, he would share this gold with Filipinos. However, during his 2022 presidential campaign, Marcos denied knowing about any "Tallano gold." He even joked that people should tell him if they find any.
Personal Life
Marcos is married to lawyer Louise "Liza" Cacho Araneta. They got married in Fiesole, Italy, on April 17, 1993. They have three sons: Ferdinand Alexander III "Sandro" (born 1994), Joseph Simon (born 1995), and William Vincent "Vinny" (born 1997). Although his family is from Ilocos, he grew up in Manila and does not speak the Ilocano language. The Marcos family lives in Forbes Park, Makati.
Besides his nickname "Bongbong", his friends sometimes call him "Bonggets". Marcos enjoys listening to rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and jazz music. He used to have a large record collection. He is a big fan of the Beatles and collects their items. Marcos can also play the saxophone.
Marcos exercises regularly and avoids sweets and soft drinks. He also loves to read, watch movies, and is interested in guns. He follows Formula One racing and supports Scuderia Ferrari. He has attended the Singapore Grand Prix.
On March 31, 2020, Marcos's spokesperson confirmed that Marcos had tested positive for COVID-19. He recovered a month later. On July 8, 2022, he tested positive for COVID-19 again but only had a slight fever.
Images for kids
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Signature of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
See also
In Spanish: Bongbong Marcos para niños
