Marcos catches cold in Belgium

BRUSSELS – President Marcos delivered remarks in a squeaky voice and with a runny nose in at least two events here last Tuesday as he developed a cold after two days of below freezing temperature.

During the start of his remarks at the CEO Suite luncheon for the ASEAN-EU Business Summit, Marcos apologized for his voice, attributing it to the huge temperature difference between the Philippines and Belgium.

“I would also like at this point to apologize for my voice, but you must understand that a temperature difference of – from 35 degrees to -3 is a big jump for this old body,” the 65-year-old President said.

Marcos had to explain his condition again during the 10th ASEAN-EU Business Summit.

“Please excuse my voice. Winter is not suitable to Filipinos. And thank you for putting up with this very strange, squeaky voice,” he said.

During the summit, Marcos was visibly having a hard time reading his prepared statement. He had to wipe his nose at one point of his speech and had to clear his throat near the end of his remarks.

To prepare for his next engagements, Marcos skipped a press briefing with Manila-based reporters scheduled yesterday. His cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, faced the members of the media instead.

“He’s got a cold. He has a hoarse voice. I think he has a common cold right now. I told him to rest. I hope he gets some rest tonight,” Romualdez said.

The President was scheduled to attend business meetings, the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit, ten bilateral meetings and a gala dinner yesterday before flying back to Manila.

It was not the first time Marcos’ health condition made headlines. The President has caught COVID-19 twice. His first bout with the disease was in 2020, when he experienced chest pains and breathing difficulties. He contracted COVID-19 again in July, a few days after he assumed the presidency, and recovered after a week.