Marcos grandson weds presidential rival’s granddaughter

Love conquers all, even political differences.

The marriage this week of the grandchildren of former president Ferdinand Marcos and former senator Raul Manglapus signals the end of a decades-long rivalry, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos said Saturday.

"Many years ago my father was . . . gravely disappointed and saddened by the (loss) to the Supreme Court in his right to travel back home. That is the Supreme Court case Marcos vs. Manglapus," Marcos said during a thanksgiving celebration of the wedding of her son, lawyer Ferdinand Michael Manotoc, to Carina Amelia Manglapus.

"Tonight we have reversed that miserable ruling . . . Cara joining our family, love wins."

Manotoc and Manglapus' wedding on Wednesday was held privately in Makati.

On Saturday, Laoag Bishop Renato Mayugba presided over a thanksgiving mass held at Paoay church. Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, presidential adviser Francis Tolentino, and presidential spokesman Harry Roque were in attendance.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos said: "I'm very, very happy today because two families that are in contrast for so many years suddenly fell in love."

Ferdinand Marcos won the 1965 presidential election over Raul Manglapus, who later became one of the pro-democracy opposition leaders based in the US.

Manglapus served as the foreign affairs secretary of former President Cory Aquino.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, meanwhile, thanked the Marcos family for helping her father President Rodrigo Duterte during the 2016 elections.

The mayor said she's also grateful that some of the wedding gifts will be donated for the rehabilitation of Marawi City. — With reports from Kim Lorenzo, ABS-CBN News

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Late dictator Marcos buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani

MANILA - The late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was buried hurriedly at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes Cemetery) on Friday, as the family embarked on a political revival while thousands who suffered under his two-decade-long rule still cry for justice.

Former first lady Imelda Marcos, wearing black terno, clutched a rosary, as soldiers carrying his wooden casket marched slowly to his grave, a video released by the family showed. The ceremonies were closed to the public.

The late dictator's children all wore white. His only living sibling, Fortuna Marcos-Barba watched the burial from her wheelchair, according to footage from the Facebook page of his eldest daughter, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos.



The Supreme Court (SC) on November 8 rejected a petition by human rights victims to stop the transfer of Marcos' remains to the same resting place of former presidents, national artists, and heroes of war.

President Rodrigo Duterte, an ally of the Marcoses, allowed the burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, which was the late strongman's last wish, according to his family.

Marcos' remains were transferred by helicopter from Ilocos Norte province, where it had been kept since it was brought back to the country in 1993. He died while on exile in Hawaii in 1989, three years after he was ousted by a military-backed popular revolt.

“We should not be surprised because that’s how Marcos lived, in defiance of the law, illegally and that’s how he will be buried, again in defiance of the law and with his body being snuck in the Libingan ng mga Bayani surrounded by military and police guards,” said human rights lawyer Barry Gutierrez.

Although there is a 15-day period following the issuance of the SC decision for a motion for reconsideration to be filed, this does not prevent the Marcos family from pursuing the burial at heroes' cemetery.

"Even if there is a 15 day period, there was no order restraining the act," SC spokesman Theodore Te added.

The country marked the 30th anniversary of Marcos' ouster this year, with 75,000 victims still awaiting reparation.

The Marcoses allegedly plundered $10 billion from state coffers during their reign and only $4 billion in cash and assets have been recovered by an anti-graft body formed by his successor, the late president Corazon Aquino.

The late dictator's only son and namesake, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., narrowly lost the vice-presidential race this year to Leni Robredo, an ally of the family's political nemesis and Duterte's immediate predecessor, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

His widow, former first lady Imelda Marcos is a congresswoman in Ilocos Norte while his eldest daughter, Imee, is the provincial governor.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Ageless? Imee Marcos draws mixed reactions for mag cover

MANILA - Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos took a break from politics to show off her fashionable side, gracing the cover of a local lifestyle magazine -- leaving many Filipinos amazed by her ageless beauty, while others not.

Marcos, the daughter of former First Lady Imelda Marcos and sister of vice presidential aspirant Senator Bongbong Marcos, appears on the October 2015 cover of society magazine Philippine Tatler, where she is seen barefoot and wearing a red Filipiniana.

On Wednesday, the 59-year-old Marcos shared the photo on her Facebook page. It immediately drew praise from her followers claiming that she is one of the "most beautiful and talented" politicians in the country.

Some, however, scrutinized the photo, claiming that it was heavily Photoshopped to give Marcos a leaner body and a younger face.




The shoot was done by photographer BJ Pascual with styling and make up from Cath Sobrevega, Maita Baello, and Robbie Piñera.

The issue promises to reveal Marcos' thoughts "on growing up in the shadow of her parents, supporting Philippine designers, and the wisdom that comes with turning (believe it or not) 60."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com