EACH Philippine president and his or her presidency leave an indelible mark on the Filipino consciousness that outlives his or her term of office. Memories of that term can harden into myths, sometimes unfairly maligning him or her despite evidence to the contrary. Ultimately, however, history judges a presidency not by facts and figures, but by the lasting impressions passed on by ordinary people to the next generation.
This is why I worry that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s presidency may one day be remembered for only five things.
First, the high cost of living during his administration, with prices of rice, fuel and everyday necessities rising frequently. Second, the arrest of his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte and transport to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity. Third, the massive floods that swallowed entire neighborhoods in Metro Manila, Bulacan and other parts of the country. Fourth, the large-scale corruption in flood control projects involving officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), politicians and contractors. And fifth, the horrendous traffic and vehicular accidents that have killed and injured hundreds.
Despite his administration’s manifold accomplishments, President Marcos’ first three years in office have been overshadowed by these five ill-defining impressions. Filipinos were swept up by these crises and controversies, struggling to see any meaningful achievements tied to his eight-point socioeconomic agenda. Do you still recall them?
It doesn’t augur well that President Marcos frequently loses the narrative while events unfold and seemingly overwhelm his administration. Even his much-publicized anticorruption campaign targeting the multibillion-peso DPWH flood control projects may have backfired and hurt his administration. By exposing the anomalies, he inadvertently revealed the complicity of his relatives and close allies in Congress. The opposition now smells blood, and the public demands accountability. A prolonged legislative investigation risks unearthing deeper scandals that could trigger mass unrest and lead to an Indonesian-style upheaval.
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In fact, the midterm “resignations” of top officials in environment, housing, public works, communications, the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation do not bode well for investor confidence, which sees his government as unsteady and lacking continuity. It also reflects the President’s poor judgment in appointing unfit people to these critical offices. This is a far cry from his father’s respected Cabinet, which was composed of the brightest technocrats in our era, like Cesar Virata, Roberto Ongpin, Gerardo Sicat, Onofre Corpuz and Jaime Laya.
Still, President Marcos has three years left in his term to regain the momentum for his “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines) campaign. The task is daunting, but not impossible. He must assert control over Congress and put an end to these self-serving investigations into the DPWH anomalies. He must direct all prosecuting agencies to file charges against the suspects and promptly put them behind bars, similar to what happened after the pork barrel scam of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles exploded. The 2026 national budget must be airtight and pork barrel-proof to restore the public trust. Likewise, he must confront the resurgence of crimes like rape, illegal drugs, theft, robbery, murder and digital scams before another crime wave hits his administration. And most crucially, he must rein in the greed of his relatives, friends, campaign donors and political allies that are fueling people’s discontent and disillusionment.
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If he fails to face and resolve these, then history may indeed reduce his presidency to those five unfortunate memories. His supporters will argue this is unfair. After all, Marcos has been steadfast in defending Philippine sovereignty against Chinese aggression, earning praise here and abroad. The country’s macroeconomic fundamentals have remained stable despite global headwinds like regional conflicts and supply chain disruptions. And his departure from the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war and human rights violations has earned respect even among his fiercest critics.
Yet, after three years, what most Filipinos remember are five things: high prices, Duterte’s arrest and transfer, catastrophic floods, rampant corruption, and paralyzing traffic and transportation mess. Fair or not, these adverse impressions threaten to eclipse his broader vision and major achievements as he exits in June 2028.
But all is not yet lost. Three years is fast for a transactional and reactive presidency, but it is still long for a transformative and decisive leader. Many Filipinos like myself are fond of underdogs and are now rooting for Marcos, praying that he finds the strength to recover above the disarray, silence his naysayers, and secure his rightful place in the annals of history as one of our greatest presidents.
