Born on September 11, 1917 to Mariano Marcos and Josefa Edralin, a couple from Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Ferdinand Marcos was named after Ferdinand VII of Spain. He was a champion debater, boxer, swimmer, and a wrestler while studying at the University of the Philippines where he graduated cum laude with a law degreeat the College of Law in the said university.

However, despite being academically supreme, he was convicted of killing a certain Julio Nalundasan. Julio Nalundasan was the great rival of Mariano Marcos, Marcos’ father, for a seat in the then National Assembly. This resulted to his incarceration. However, while in jail, Marcos prepared for the bar examination and incidentally passed it, making him one of the best scorers in the history of bar examinations. Using his wit and undisputed intellectual abilities, he appealed to the Supreme Court of the Philippines to acquit him of the charges. He successfully won the acquital after impressing the Supreme Court justices, especially when he wrote an 800-page defense while in jail.

After serving as a combat intelligence officer of the 21st infantry division during the Second World War, the then president Manuel Roxas appointed him as special technical assistant. Later, Marcos ran for a congressional seat, representing the 2nd district of the province of Ilocos Norte. It was his unforgettable campaign speech: “Elect me a Congressman now and I pledge you an Ilocano President in 20 years” that made this man loved by his people. Consequently, he was elected congressman for three terms, and in 1959, he made another record in the Philippine history, making him the Senator with the most number of votes by that time. This again served as a milestone in his political career as he was elected president in 1965.

During his first tenure as the head of the State, he envisioned for economic development and good government in the country. He implemented the immediate construction of roads, bridges and public works which include 16,000 kilometers of feeder roads, some 30,000 lineal meters of permanent bridges, a generator with an electric power capacity of one million kilowatts (1,000,000 kW), water services to eight regions and 38 localities. The famous San Juanico Bridge in the Visayas Region (one of the longest bridges in Asia) and the ever controversial Bataan Nuclear Power Plant are among these concrete manifestations of his vision.

Likewise, as president, Marcos spearheaded the revitalization of the Judiciary, the national defense posture and the fight against crimes like smuggling, criminality, and graft and corruption in the government.

And in 1969, another record was made by this great leader as he was reelected for a second term. This became the ground for his detractors to succeed in putting his administration and eventually his good vision toward a better nation. Higher inflation, devaluation of the Philippine peso, radicalization of the country’s student population, and the reemergence of communism in the country were blamed for his misadministration.

His proclamation of the Philippines under the martial law created a graver stir in the country. This resulted to a more chaotic government, despite the massive programs for development, peace and order, and national welfare of the Marcos administration.

His 21-year administration came to an end when the widow of the arch-critic of the Marcos administration challenge him to a snap election in 1986. Gaining the support of millions of Filipinos symphatizing  for the assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr, Corazon Cojuangco Aquino made for herself another record in the Philippine history when she became the first woman president of the country, leading to the demise of the more than two-decade regime of the Marcoses.

These days, despite being tagged as one of the worst leaders in the world, the name Ferdinand Edralin Marcos still continues to capture attention of Filipino voters. His children, Imee Marcos and Bong Bong Marcos being the most popular names, still hold government positions in their bailwick, Ilocos Norte. This proves that great leaders, like Ferdinand Marcos despite the detractions thrown upon them, still win the hearts of those who believe in their greatness.  This proves that politics can make or break a good leader, despite his intentions of pure public service.

My salutations, President Marcos! My salutations to the Eternal President of the Philippines!