GOING GLOBAL
100 Times
by Benedict Ballaran
Perhaps a trait he inherited from his mother, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. thirsts for international recognition as president and as a son who is tasked with cleaning their name. Now two years and 26 foreign trips into his term, a fool’s gold arrives at his doorstep — an inclusion on TIME Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2024. Appearing beside legends such as Taraji P. Henson, Hayao Miyazaki, and Donald Tusk, Marcos Jr.’s name and story are featured for the whole world to see.
Doubts may surface about the supposed “influence” Marcos Jr. has that made him land among the 100 most influential people of the year. At a time when he could not even influence the bastion of the Dutertes, some may argue that he does not hold influence over his country. But the faux honor of being included in the list is only an exposé of his family and himself.
In the New York City’s TIME Magazine feature, the Philippine President is described as a leader who “elevated the Philippines on the world stage” and steered the country’s “steady” post-pandemic recovery. His steadfast stance against Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea did not go unnoticed either — an easy task considering the passiveness of his predecessor. The revival of the alliance between Manila and Washington was also mentioned, stating that it was necessary in the face of “rising tensions in our regional world.”
But the pats on the back ended there. TIME did not ignore neglected problems in the country, such as the rampant extrajudicial killings and attacks on journalists. The rest of the article is dedicated to reminding the world of the father’s crimes and how the son is rewriting them.
Unfortunately for Marcos Jr., TIME did not forget that the Philippines was under two decades of corrupt rule under his namesake and father. Inseparable as they are, the publication conjoined the words “dictator” and “father” in describing the late patriarch of his family. The billions plundered and the thousands of human rights violations against Filipinos during his father’s regime were also not missed.
Instead of owing his rise to power to his leadership or platforms, TIME Magazine emphasized Marcos Jr.’s “clever manipulation of media” to win the 2022 national elections and to whitewash his family’s legacy. Time did not make the world forget, however. Like indelible ink, his family’s legacy stains him in a way that not even 31 million votes can erase.
As usual, Marcos Jr.’s team demonstrated their prowess in selective reading. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) gladly accepts the recognition, saying that this is a reflection of “his brand of leadership that puts the national interest and welfare of the Filipinos above all else.” The PCO’s statement on Facebook was framed as if an international publication was acknowledging his lackluster leadership, dismissing the fact that the supposed compliments were just unintended consequences of his mission to rehabilitate the Marcos name.
Truth be told, TIME Magazine does not really discriminate between the good and the bad influence. Some of their previous lists include even the most controversial of leaders, such as Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. At one point in 2017, their 100 Most Influential list included the provocative then-president Rodrigo Duterte and his strong dissenter, former Senator Leila De Lima.
The main criteria they follow is the story that defines the past year. Marcos Jr.’s impeccable — albeit unethical — utilization of the media, avoidance and manipulation to whitewash the atrocities of his family makes for a compelling story that even TIME Magazine cannot ignore.
While it may be easy to be impressed by the president’s inclusion in the TIME 100 list — admittedly, it makes for a good public relations move and looks good on paper — the reason for it is more embarrassing than honorable. The feature depicted him as nothing more than a repairman rehabilitating his family name and a leader chasing international recognition while ignoring domestic problems. More than anything, the inclusion on the list was to make a pariah out of him — a thorn among the 99 roses — using his supposed influence only to erase his family’s crimes.
They say time heals all wounds, but TIME Magazine only served to remind the world of the wounds inflicted by the Marcos family. The influence of Marcos Jr. in question is his quest to influence perspectives, international or not, in his family. No matter how hard he tries, the spoiled son of the dictator cannot get the positive international recognition that he craves. Alas, the world does not forget — no matter if he tries fooling it 100 times.
