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Who Is Imelda Marcos?
Imelda Marcos, wife of the late Ferdinand Marcos, became the First Lady of the Philippines in 1965. Known for her extravagant lifestyle, she played a prominent role during her husband’s authoritarian regime, which was marked by widespread human rights abuses and corruption. Imelda was scrutinized for her lavish spending, amassing a vast collection of shoes and investing in luxury properties in New York. After the Marcos family fled the Philippines in 1986 following a popular uprising, Imelda eventually returned to the country and resumed a political career, being elected to congress in 1995 and 2010. Her two children also entered politics.
Early Life
Imelda Remedios Visitacion Romualdez was born on July 2, 1929, in Manila, Philippines (some sources cite Leyte province). She was the eldest child of a lawyer and a homemaker, with five younger siblings and several older half-siblings from her father’s first marriage. Her early life was fraught with challenges: her mother passed away when she was eight, and her father’s legal practice failed soon after. The family relocated to Leyte, where financial hardships persisted. Despite these difficulties, Imelda attended Holy Infant Academy, a Catholic girls’ school, and displayed a talent for singing.
First Lady of the Philippines
In the early 1950s, Imelda moved to Manila, where she met Ferdinand Marcos, a rising politician. In 1954, just 11 days after meeting, the two were married. As Ferdinand’s political career advanced, Imelda supported him while raising their three children: Imee, Ferdinand Jr. (“Bongbong”), and Irene.
When Ferdinand became president in 1965, Imelda, known for her beauty and charm, drew comparisons to American First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. In her role, she mingled with global leaders, including U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson, Fidel Castro, and Muammar al-Qaddafi. She also held several political positions, including governor of Metro Manila and minister of human settlements, often championing costly beautification projects.
Lavish Spending and Dictatorship
Imelda Marcos became infamous for her excessive spending, even as many Filipinos lived in poverty. She frequently traveled abroad to purchase high-end fashion, jewelry, and luxury goods. Her ostentatious lifestyle was largely funded by money embezzled from the Philippine treasury, with the Marcos family and their associates reportedly amassing billions.
The Marcos regime, particularly after Ferdinand declared martial law in 1972, became increasingly oppressive. Under this authoritarian rule, political opposition was brutally suppressed, with thousands of Filipinos tortured or executed. The assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino in 1983 marked the beginning of the end for the Marcos government. By 1986, a people’s uprising forced Ferdinand and Imelda into exile, fleeing to Hawaii. The discovery of Imelda’s collection of approximately 1,200 pairs of designer shoes became a symbol of the regime’s corruption and excess.
Exile and Legal Battles
In exile in Hawaii, the Marcoses lived comfortably despite facing numerous legal challenges. After Ferdinand’s death in 1989, Imelda was indicted on fraud and racketeering charges in the U.S. for allegedly using $200 million of stolen funds to purchase New York real estate. Though she was acquitted, the trial further tarnished her image.
Imelda returned to the Philippines in 1991, where she was immediately arrested. Released on bail, she attempted a political comeback by running for president in 1992, but lost. In 1993, she was convicted of corruption and sentenced to a lengthy prison term and a $4.3 million fine, although the conviction was overturned in 1998. Despite her controversial past, Imelda Marcos remained an enduring figure in Philippine politics.
Contemporary Politician: Imelda Marcos
Imelda Marcos, once the First Lady of the Philippines, has carved out her own path as a significant political figure. Since returning from exile in the mid-1990s, she successfully re-entered politics, serving as a member of the House of Representatives for several years. In 2010, she secured a victory to represent Ilocos Norte, the home province of her late husband, where the Marcos family maintains considerable influence. Politics runs in the family—her daughter, Imee, was elected governor of Ilocos Norte in 2010, while her son, Ferdinand Jr., won a seat in the national senate that same year.
Despite her ongoing political presence, Imelda Marcos remains closely tied to the controversies of her past. Though the vast majority of the 900 civil and criminal cases filed against the Marcos family have been dismissed, legal challenges persist. In 2010, a court ordered her to repay nearly $300,000 in misappropriated funds from the National Food Authority during her husband’s regime. In 2016, her iconic jewelry collection, valued at $21 million, was mandated by the government to be auctioned off.
Marcos’ life has continued to captivate the public, as evidenced by the 2013 disco-influenced and controversial musical Here Lies Love, created by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, which premiered at New York’s Public Theater.