Imelda Marcos

Being the wife of our former President, the Dictator- President Ferdinand Marcos, Mrs. Imelda Marcos is really a big figure in our country. I often see her in our history books and Imelda Marcos was always tied up with Martial Law, Marcos, and the Aquinos, but I don’t really know who she was. I just knew her name and not her story.

After watching the video documentation about Imelda Marcos, I can say that I knew her better. In her early life, Imelda lived the life of a princess. She was rich; she was dressed in beautiful dresses. She was pretty and was courted by a lot of men, and among them was Ferdinand Marcos who later became her significant other in life.

Being the first lady and the mother of the country, Imelda had many plans for the Philippines. She wanted to enrich and showcase our culture as the heart of being a Filipino, and this led to the building of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Also, during her reign, the lung center, the heart center, and etc. were built. Not only did she care for the cultural aspect of the country, but also the image the Philippines had to other countries. She believed that she was the figure of the Philippines and that she represented and reflected the country. She beautified and dressed herself to show that Philippines is a good country. She has set herself as a standard of beauty to our fellow Filipinos. But little did she know that she was just putting up a show, trying to hide what the real situation of the country was—unhappy and poor.

Imelda’s shoe collection became a very big issue back then, having hundreds of shoes, each would match perfectly with specific attire that she has.  I think that is not a problem, and is very acceptable. Ordinary women can also possess these things and yet, it would be alright. I think that it only became an issue because of Imelda’s position as the first lady, with the people thinking that it is only out of her extravagance and that she is using the country’s money to buy her collection of shoes. But, we could not blame her, because that was the life that she knew how to live. She was treated like a princess in her youth and a queen by her husband.

Although Imelda was not the best first lady our country has ever had, she was an excellent wife to Marcos.  Not only did Imelda love him in his youth, but she loved him until his last breathe, and even until now that he has no life to breathe.