Kris Aquino’s sons, Bimby and Josh, with First Lady Liza Marcos | Image: Facebook/Liza Marcos
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that his family and the Aquinos — considered bitter rivals since the 1970s — have always been okay outside of politics.
Marcos on Wednesday was asked about an Instagram post made by his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, where Joshua and Bimby Aquino were shown to be visiting her.
Joshua and Bimby are sons of celebrity Kris Aquino, whose parents — former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino and former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino — fought the two-decade rule of Marcos’ father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
“Well, we’ve always been okay. We just don’t agree politically,” Marcos said of the Marcos-Aquino relations.
LOOK: Kris Aquino’s sons Bimby and Joshua meet with First Lady Liza Marcos
Marcos said the two families had links even though they were on different sides of the political fence—up to the presidency of Kris’ brother, former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.
“Well, maliwanag naman ‘yung last part of […] Until the presidency of Noynoy, talagang we were on other sides of the political…” the president recalled.
(Well, it has been clear that during the last part of […] until the presidency of Noynoy, we were really on other sides of the political fence).
“The reason na pinuntahan nila si First Lady ay simple lamang. Nangailangan si… I think it was Kris Aquino who needed some assistance for something,” he said.
(The reason that they (Josh and Bimby) went to the First Lady is simple. I think it was Kris Aquino who needed some assistance with something.)
“But what the reports did not say is that Liza is their aunt. Dahil ang kanyang auntie ay napangasawa si Don Pepe, the eldest brother of Cory. So, they are related,” Marcos explained.
(But what the reports did not say is that Liza is their aunt. Because her aunt was married to Don Pepe, the eldest brother of Cory. So, they are related.)
“Kaya’t hindi naman nakakapagtaka, kilalang kilala niya si — kilalang kilala niya ‘yong mga pamangkin nya very well. So, that… And so, they came at nagbiyahe sila. Bumalik may dalang pasalubong,” he narrated.
(That’s why it is not surprising that she knows very well… she knows very well her nephews. And so, they came from a trip, and returned with gifts.)
When pressed further, Marcos said Kris asked for help regarding travel arrangements — noting that it was a fine gesture from the Aquino family to thank his wife.
“I think it was just to help them for their travel arrangements. So, tumulong si First Lady at ‘yun lang. Sabi lang, magpapasalamat sila. And so — I think it was a very fine gesture on the part of the Aquino family,” he observed.
(I think it was just to help them with their travel arrangements. So, the First Lady helped, and that’s it. They only visited to thank her. And so — I think the Aquino family did the right thing.)
“I think it was — it sort of, I suppose, put a little more — how do you say — personal human interaction between our families,” he added.
While the Marcoses and the Aquinos have been on opposite ends of the political spectrum, members of the two clans have similar backgrounds.
Both sides’ patriarchs — Marcos Sr. and Ninoy studied at the University of the Philippines (UP); were members of UP’s Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity; and served in the Senate.
In one instance, celebrated talk show host Kris, also interviewed then Congressman Bongbong Marcos to explain their side.
During the interview, Kris said that she and Bongbong are actually godparents to then-Isabela Mayor Bojie Dy’s child.
Marcos Jr. and the first lady also paid their respects to former President Cory, who died in August 2009 due to colon cancer complications.