Ferdinand Marcos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ferdinand Marcos
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Marcos in 1982
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| 10th President of the Philippines | |
| In office December 30, 1965 – February 25, 1986 |
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| Prime Minister | Himself (1978–1981) Cesar Virata (1981–1986) |
| Vice President |
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| Preceded by | Diosdado Macapagal |
| Succeeded by | Corazon C. Aquino |
| 3rd Prime Minister of the Philippines | |
| In office June 12, 1978 – June 30, 1981 |
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| Preceded by | Office established (Position previously held by Jorge B. Vargas as Ministries involved) |
| Succeeded by | Cesar Virata |
| Secretary of National Defense (in concurrent capacity as President of the Philippines) |
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| In office August 28, 1971 – January 3, 1972 |
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| President | Himself |
| Preceded by | Juan Ponce Enrile |
| Succeeded by | Juan Ponce Enrile |
| In office December 31, 1965 – January 20, 1967 |
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| President | Himself |
| Preceded by | Macario Peralta |
| Succeeded by | Ernesto Mata |
| 9th President of the Senate of the Philippines | |
| In office April 5, 1963 – December 30, 1965 |
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| Preceded by | Eulogio Rodriguez |
| Succeeded by | Arturo Tolentino |
| Senator of the Philippines | |
| In office December 30, 1959 – December 30, 1965 |
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| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Ilocos Norte's 2nd district |
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| In office December 30, 1949 – December 30, 1959 |
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| Preceded by | Pedro Albano |
| Succeeded by | Simeon M. Valdez |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr.
September 11, 1917 Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Philippine Islands |
| Died | September 28, 1989 (aged 72) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Resting place | Ferdinand E. Marcos Presidential Center, Batac, Ilocos Norte, Philippines (1993–2016) Libingan ng mga Bayani, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines (since November 18, 2016) |
| Political party | Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (1978–1989) |
| Other political affiliations |
Liberal (1946–1965) Nacionalista (1965–1972) |
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| Alma mater | University of the Philippines (LL.B.) |
| Profession |
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| Signature |  |
| Nicknames | Macoy, Ferdie |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
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| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank | First lieutenant Major |
| Unit | 21st Infantry Division (USAFFE) 14th Infantry Regiment (USAFIP-NL) |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. (September 11, 1917–September 28, 1989) was a Filipino politician and lawyer. He served as the 10th president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. During his time as president, he declared martial law in 1972, which lasted until 1981. He called his style of rule a "New Society Movement." His time in power is known for being controversial.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos was born on September 11, 1917. His hometown was Sarrat, Ilocos Norte. His parents were Mariano Marcos, a lawyer and congressman, and Josefa Edralin, a schoolteacher.
Ferdinand was first baptized into the Philippine Independent Church. He later became a Catholic to marry Imelda Trinidad Romualdez. They married on April 17, 1954. They had three children: Ferdinand Jr., Imee, and Irene Marcos. They also adopted a daughter, Aimee.
Education and Early Career
Marcos studied law at the University of the Philippines in Manila. He was very good at his studies and also enjoyed sports like swimming, boxing, and wrestling. He was also a talented speaker and writer for the student newspaper.
In 1939, he took the Bar Examinations and scored very high. He graduated with honors. He also received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Central Philippine University in 1967.
After his studies, Marcos served in the US Armed Forces in the Philippines during World War II. He was a soldier from 1942 to 1945.
Political Journey
After the war, Ferdinand Marcos became a lawyer. He then entered politics.
- He served in the Philippine House of Representatives from 1949 to 1959.
- He was a Philippine Senator from 1959 to 1965.
- From 1963 to 1965, he was the Senate President. He is the last Senate President to become President of the Philippines.
Becoming President
Marcos was elected President of the Philippines in 1965. He promised to build more roads, schools, and improve rice production. To do this, his government borrowed a lot of money from other countries. This led to economic challenges later on.
During his first term, he started building big projects like the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex. He also worked closely with the Philippine military and increased its budget. He even served as his own defense secretary for a time.
Marcos also started to build relationships with countries like China and the Soviet Union.
Challenges and Martial Law
Marcos was reelected for a second term in 1969. He was the first and only Filipino president to win a second full term. However, his second term faced many challenges. There was a lot of social unrest and protests.
In 1972, a bribery scandal happened during the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1971. This event involved his wife, Imelda Marcos.
On September 23, 1972, Marcos announced that he had placed the Philippines under martial law. He said this was to create a "New Society" (Bagong Lipunan). Under martial law, he had more power. He controlled media outlets and arrested people who spoke against his government.
During this time, the military grew much larger. Many people were arrested for political reasons. The United States government provided financial aid to the Philippines during this period.
Martial law officially ended on January 17, 1981. However, Marcos kept many of his special powers.
Later Years in Office
In 1981, Marcos won another presidential election. Many major opposition groups did not participate in this election.
The Philippine economy faced big problems during this time. It went into a deep recession in 1984 and 1985. Many people became poor.
In 1983, a famous opposition leader, Benigno Aquino Jr., was killed at the airport when he returned to the Philippines. Many people blamed Marcos or his government for this. This event caused even more political problems.
Marcos's health also became very poor. He had kidney problems. His wife, Imelda, became a very powerful public figure during this time.
End of Presidency
In late 1985, due to growing public unhappiness, Marcos called for a special election. This was known as a "snap election." He ran against Corazon Aquino, the widow of Benigno Aquino Jr.
The election was held on February 7, 1986. There were many reports of cheating and violence. Both sides claimed victory.
This led to the "People Power movement," where many Filipinos gathered peacefully to protest. On February 25, 1986, Marcos was forced to leave the Philippines and went to Hawaii. Corazon Aquino became the new president.
Key Programs and Projects
Masagana 99
Marcos launched the Masagana 99 program in 1973. Its goal was to help the Philippines produce enough rice for its people. The program encouraged farmers to use new types of rice seeds and fertilizers.
This program helped increase rice production. For a while, the Philippines even exported rice. However, the program also led to farmers taking on a lot of debt. It was criticized for benefiting rich landowners more than poor farmers.
Industrial Projects
Marcos also started many large industrial projects. These included building power plants and factories for things like steel and fertilizer. The goal was to make the Philippines less dependent on foreign goods.
One of the most famous projects was the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. Construction started in 1976 and finished in 1985. However, there were many concerns about its safety and location. It was built near a volcano and earthquake faults. After the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, the plant was never used. It cost a lot of money, and the government continued to pay for its maintenance for many years.
Education and Metro Manila
Marcos focused on building more schools and improving education. Many state colleges and universities were established during his time.
In 1975, he created the Metro Manila Commission. This brought together several cities and towns around Manila under one government. His wife, Imelda Marcos, was appointed as its governor. This made her a very powerful person in the government.
Economic Situation
During Marcos's 21 years in power, the Philippine economy saw both good and bad times. The country's total economic output grew significantly. However, a large amount of this money was borrowed from international lenders.
The external debt of the Philippines grew from $360 million in 1962 to $26.2 billion in 1985. This made the Philippines one of the most indebted countries in Asia. Critics say that much of this money was misused.
Towards the end of Marcos's rule, the economy faced a severe recession. Many factories closed, and many people lost their jobs. The number of people living in poverty also increased.
After His Presidency
Legal Cases and Recovering Funds
After Marcos left the Philippines, many legal cases were filed against him and his family. These cases involved claims of human rights abuses and taking money from the government.
In 1995, about 10,000 Filipinos won a lawsuit in the US against the Marcos estate. They were victims of human rights violations. The Swiss government also returned $684 million of money that was linked to Marcos.
In 2013, the Philippine Congress passed a law to provide payments to victims of human rights violations during the martial law period. Money for this came from funds taken from the Marcoses. By 2018, over 11,000 victims received payments.
The Philippine Supreme Court has stated that any Marcos family assets beyond their declared salaries are considered illegally obtained. The government agency responsible for recovering these funds estimates that Marcos stole billions of dollars from the Philippine treasury.
Death and Burial
Ferdinand Marcos died in Honolulu, Hawaii, on September 28, 1989, at the age of 72. He died from kidney, heart, and lung problems.
For many years, his body was kept in a refrigerated crypt in Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The government at the time did not allow his body to be buried in the Philippines' heroes' cemetery.
However, on November 18, 2016, his remains were buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes' Cemetery) in Taguig, Metro Manila. This decision was made by President Rodrigo Duterte and was met with mixed reactions from the public.
Honors and Recognition
Marcos received several honors during his lifetime, both from the Philippines and other countries. These include:
- Chief Commander of the Philippine Legion of Honor
- Knight Grand Cross of Rizal
- Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (Japan)
- Knight of the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (Spain)
- Knight of the Most Auspicious Order of the Rajamitrabhorn (Thailand)
In 1989, Guinness World Records recognized Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda, for the largest theft from a government.
See also
In Spanish: Ferdinand Marcos para niños
- Bantayog ng mga Bayani
- Conjugal dictatorship
- Economic history of the Philippines (1965–1986)
- Ferdinand Marcos's cult of personality
- Rolex 12
Images for kids
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Ferdinand Marcos as a soldier in the 1940s
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Ferdinand Marcos is sworn into his first term on December 30, 1965.
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Leaders of some of the SEATO nations in Manila, hosted by Marcos on October 24, 1966.
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President Marcos (left) and his wife Imelda (center) meet with US President Lyndon B. Johnson (right) in Manila in October 1966.
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Marcos with Japanese Emperor Hirohito in 1966.
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Richard Nixon with the Marcos family in 1969.
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Marcos greeting Robert Muldoon on his official visit to the Philippines, 1980.
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President Ferdinand E. Marcos in Washington in 1982.
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Marcos at the North–South Summit in Cancun alongside other world leaders; October 23, 1981.
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Corazon Aquino, widow of the assassinated opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr., takes the Oath of Office on February 25, 1986.
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Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos at the White House with US President Ronald Reagan in 1982.
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A 1999 view of the San Fernando segment of North Luzon Expressway, one of Marcos's infrastructure projects.
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San Juanico Bridge connecting Leyte and Samar.
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Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos with the Johnsons in 1966.
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Grand Cross of the Order of the Equatorial Star.
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Grand Cross of the Order of Military Merit.
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