The Marcoses never left

THE Marcoses never really left because they kept their local political bases in Ilocos Norte intact.

The story of Ferdinand Marcos (FM) can never be completely told without going into some length on his Ilocano roots and connections. According to American historian and journalist Sterling Seagrave, FM's Ilocano patron, then Vice President Elpidio Quirino, "wangled" a position for him on a team sent to the United States to negotiate for World War 2 veterans back pay and benefits. FM used that stint and his status as a war hero to run for Congress in 1949, which he won with 70 percent of the votes. During the campaign, FM declared: "Elect me a congressman now, and I pledge you an Ilocano president in 20 years." Notice that FM underlined his Ilocano identity in relation to his national political ambitions.