At the last party aboard the presidential yacht celebrating Irene Marcos-Araneta’s birthday before her father’s downfall, a young Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. could be seen partying with such exhilaration.
He was performing “We Are The World,” along with siblings, friends and guests. “There are people dying. Oh, and it’s time to lend a hand to life. The greatest gift of all,” Mr. Marcos Jr. sang, before belting the chorus.
The only presidential son was donning a white polo, orange bowtie and thick eyeglasses, displaying a much youthful aura. Besides him was Imee Marcos, exhibiting much flamboyant fashion with her multicolored wig and sparkling red top.
It was just one of the parties that the Marcos family documented in tapes, leaving copies behind when they went to Hawaii in exile.
Partying has been in Mr. Marcos Jr.’s DNA. I bet if he had it his way, away from the political limelight, he would be a regular patron of Xylo at Bonifacio Global City, dancing all night to the tune of popular hits and drowning in the most expensive liquor teens could ever imagine.
Upon ascending to the presidency, he has already held parties for his mother, Imelda, and his wife, Liza, and attended a birthday bash for Sen. Sonny Angara.
The party for the former first lady was leaked to the public; the surprise celebration for the current first lady was documented via a vlog amid news on rising prices of commodities and the destruction of Typhoon “Florita.” Mr. Marcos Jr.’s over-the-top performance of “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” at Mr. Angara’s 50th birthday bash spread like wildfire on TikTok.
No law or jurisprudence prohibits presidents from partying, even amid a national crisis. But they don’t flaunt their celebrations during the darkest times to show compassion and goodwill to Filipinos who cannot think about enjoying their lives because of the repercussions of such crisis.
The First Family and their allies have defended these celebrations.
Ms. Marcos said that her mother’s birthday galore was just a simple “get-together”: “Well, nag-merienda lang. Siyempre ‘yung nanay ko 93 na. Matanda na, pag sinabing party na parang yugyugan, hindi ganun, kasi they’re also ancient. But yes, we had a get-together, very simple merienda with a small recital of old friends and scholars.”
Mr. Angara’s communication director, Dennis Legaspi, emphasized that the party had a noble cause: “In lieu of gifts po kasi, we exhorted the guests to instead donate to the Philippine General Hospital Medical Foundation, Inc. Yearly po tuwing birthday ni Senator nagdo-donate talaga s’ya dyan.”
And Sen. Raffy Tulfo called critics “killjoy.”
The Marcoses have never been shy of displaying their excesses. Mrs. Marcos said in the documentary “The Kingmaker” that she was a “star,” illuminating in the midst of the impoverished every time she went out in glamorous fashion. From shoes to stolen paintings, elitism runs through their every being.
But as the nation is beset with a mountain of problems, seeing the president party like hell is the last thing people want to see, especially those who have put their faith in him. It’s like blatantly raising the middle finger to the very people who elevated him there.
It is doubtful, however, that this behavior will dent his popularity, considering that the electorate has turned a blind eye to much more grievous things that could have easily stained anyone’s reputation. This is minor compared to the deceitful lies he has spewed over the last three decades. Also, his administration is still enjoying a 100-day – or maybe 365-day, or perhaps a 6-year, depending on what the trolls like – honeymoon period.
No law or jurisprudence prohibits presidents from partying, even amid a national crisis. But they don’t flaunt their celebrations during the darkest times to show compassion and goodwill to Filipinos who cannot think about enjoying their lives because of the repercussions of such crisis.
I suggest to Mr. Marcos Jr. that if there’s an itch to be like an 18-year-old thesis-consumed student who wants to make out at G-Side, he should make sure that these affairs will never, ever be revealed to the public. He could impose a cellphone ban among his guests or secretly construct an underground hangout for his compadres to transform Malacañang into a luxurious bar.
He should use his fullest capacity as chief executive to ensure that not a single picture will reach his critics and ardent supporters or there will be blood. Had he watched the fate of Boris Johnson?
By making his parties super secret, he’d demonstrate to the people, albeit insincerely, that he’s abreast of the nation’s affairs while satisfying himself with what has become part of his life. A further advantage: He’d be able to do all the Rated SPG stuff, therefore staining the Office of the President and making it a strip club.
Featured images are from The Probe Archives’s Vimeo Channel and Manila Bulletin.
The Edj View 
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