MANILA, Philippines — In a vlog honoring his mother on her 95th birthday, President Marcos cited former first lady Imelda Marcos’ “profound impact” on the country and praised her for turning Filipinos’ “countless dreams into reality.”
“Taking a moment to appreciate the profound impact my mother has had, not only on our family but on the entire nation. Through her boundless love and dedication, she truly nurtured the soul of our country and helped turn countless dreams into reality,” the President said in the vlog posted on YouTube yesterday.
Titled “Mama Meldy,” the vlog, which lasted for almost six minutes, showed old video clips of Imelda’s activities as the country’s first lady, including her meetings with world leaders.
Marcos said when his father and namesake was elected president, his mother asked him what would be her role as first lady.
He recalled his late father telling his mother, “I will take care of the body of the nation, you must take care of the soul.”
“That’s why she (Imelda) immersed herself in arts, culture – that became her advocacy, so we can be proud of being Filipino,” Marcos said in Filipino.
Marcos cited the specialty hospitals initiated by his mother, including the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center and the Philippine Heart Center, all in Quezon City. He said many have realized the importance of these specialty hospitals in the past three years – or during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marcos also acknowledged the former first lady for promoting arts by putting up the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Folk Arts Theater, noting that his mother has many pet projects and was very passionate about all of these.
He added that his mother treats people equally, be it the Queen of England or her neighbor in Tolosa, Leyte.
“My mother doesn’t get angry. She doesn’t pick a fight with anyone,” Marcos said.
The Chief Executive also said his parents love the country and the Filipinos.
“They will die for the Filipinos. They will die for the Philippines,” he said, bearing some semblance to a famous line by the elder Marcos’ critic, the late senator Benigno Aquino Jr. that “the Filipino is worth dying for.”
Imelda turned 95 on July 2. The President hosted a party at Malacañang last week, which Palace officials described as a “quiet celebration” with family and friends.
The first president Marcos placed the Philippines under military rule on Sept. 21, 1972 through Proclamation 1081. The martial law period was marked by large-scale corruption and gross human rights violations.
The former first lady was criticized for her opulent lifestyle in the past, and the receipt of fat commissions for her pet projects.
Imelda is out on bail after being convicted of seven counts of graft.