Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the president of the Philippines, happily trumpeted the dawn of Bagong Pilipinas andnbsp,( New Philippines ), during his second State of The Nation address. & nbsp,
He said,” I’ve said before that my faith in our upcoming was based on our world-class men.” ” I am aware that the state of the country is good and getting better. The New Philippines has arrived, according to nbsp.
His father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr’s and Bagong Lipunan andnbsp,( New Society ), is eerily brought to mind by the new government phrase. & nbsp,
His ideas for the New Society were based on bolstering the financial, business, and financial institutions, allowing for foreign purchase and promoting agricultural development. In the end, his plan was burdened by fundamental flaws, outside shock, and crony capitalism.
However, during the post-authoritarian times, public judgment on the later strongman’s tradition has changed. Marcos Sr. may have been the greatest lawmaker the Philippines has always produced in the eyes of some Filipinos. & nbsp,
Marcos Sr., a steadfast supporter of glory and life, skillfully crafted his ascent to power with analogous stories about the nation of the Philippines.
Marcos Sr., however, also stood for the” initial sin” of post Philippine government, patronage government inherited from US colonizers and the conquest brought on by the violence of the Japanese occupation during World War II. Both were expertly used by Marcos Sr. to support his autocratic rule.
Marcos Jr & nbsp promises to provide” a comfortable, resilient, and tranquil life for every Filipino ,” taking inspiration from his father’s playbook. However, there appears to be a significant disconnect between truth and promise.
Marcos Jr. ‘ s talk emphasized the contributions of his administration over the previous 12 months. But he unintentionally revealed its flaws as well.
By enhancing value chains and adjusting import, he vowed to increase regional agricultural output. However, he still serves as Agriculture Secretary and has not chosen a long-term replacement who may focus more on the position.
He presented a comprehensive road network program for connecting the three main islands to promote economic growth in terms of transportation. However, he kept quiet about the contentious issue of modernizing public utility vehicles, which would have an impact on dozens of jeep drivers. & nbsp,
By signing a laws endorsing the 570.6 trillion peso( US$ 1 trillion ) arrears of 610,054 farmers, he, like his father, made agricultural reform one of the main initiatives of his administration. However, he kept quiet about increasing the minimum wage for employees across the country.
Inflation reached a 14-year high of 8.7 % in January 2023, more than twice the administration’s 4 % target. Over the previous month, food accounted for nearly half of prices.
Marcos Jr. asserted in his statement that the cost of rice, meat, fish, vegetables, and glucose andnbsp had already decreased. However, they continue to be expensive for regular users. & nbsp,
It is also unclear how much political money he will spend to keep his promise to hoarders and smugglers who control the supply of these goods, going after & nbsp.
Just six pieces of legislation were signed by Marcos Jr. during the first year of his administration, including only three of the 42 focus expenses put forth by his administration’s Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council. & nbsp,
Given his administration’s great approval ratings, a” supermajority” alliance in both chambers of Congress, and his sizable democratic mandate in 2022, this subpar legislative production is puzzling.
The leader is willing to use some of his social capital, as in the case of the Maharlika Investment Fund, the nation’s first sovereign fund. The bank will act as a long-term investment capital source, promoting job growth and economic growth. & nbsp,
It will be used by the Marcos Jr. leadership to funding a number of facilities initiatives, including airports, roads, and bridges.
The bill’s proponents hailed it as a critical step toward boosting the economy and securing its economic future. Worries about its possible abuse and lack of transparency were voiced by critics. & nbsp,
Some have compared it to Najib Razak’s government, which was overthrown by the corrupt 1Malaysia Development Berhad & nbsp.
The Marcos story has always been centered on mysticism. The success of Marcos Jr. is largely explained by a well-oiled social media advertising equipment.
Social media has recently emerged as the platform for internet users who look back andnbsp at the Marcos Sr years with nostalgia — a” golden age” for the Philippines. Educational books, on the other hand, frequently draws attention to the regime’s excesses, shortcomings, and brutalities. & nbsp,
The Marcos Sr. economy was not a” golden age ,” as evidenced by its debt-driven growth between 1970 and 1983, stagnation, and severe economic crisis between 1983 and 1986.
According to the Marcos narrative, they were victims of the” people power” revolution of 1986, which was” fabricated” by the US, oligarchs, the Roman Catholic Church, and state enemies.
One aspect of the Marcos story is suffering. The more potent component is atonement, or nbsp. Most observers believed that Marcos Jr. ‘ s platform for electing the electorate in 2022 was” redeemment ,” or the son who aspires to restore family honor and right the wrongs that have been done to them. & nbsp,
However, Marcos Jr. can just reach his ultimate goal of atonement if he stays away from his father’s errors.
De La Salle University’s Julio C. Teehankee is a teacher of political science and international research.
This andnbsp, post, and was initially published by East Asia Forum and are being reprinted with a Creative Commons license.