Sen. Marcos laments decay of mother’s gowns, shoes

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The decaying condition of the clothes and other personal effects in the National Museum of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda, reflects the “confiscatory policy” of the administrations that seized the Marcos properties “without purpose,” said Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The senator decried a statement from a Malacañang official that the gowns of his mother that are in a state of deterioration have no historical value, “except for some… made by prominent couturiers.”

After languishing in Malacañang for years following the Marcoses’ flight to Hawaii in the aftermath of the first People Power Revolution of 1986, the personal belongings of the Marcos couple were transferred to the National Museum in 2010. Palace caretakers had discovered that molds, termites and humidity had eaten into the objects.

The Associated Press reported that museum staffers realized that the gowns, shoes and other personal belongings of the Marcoses had deteriorated only after they noticed water leaking from the door of the room where these had been stored.

Marcos believes his parents’ personal effects should have been given better treatment since they still carry the memory of his father’s administration.

“So, that part of our history is not important? I’m just astounded by them dismissing outright years of our national history as insignificant,” he said.

Marcos said he is inclined to put the blame on the prevailing attitude that stems from the failure to “move away from 1986.”

“Again, we’re back to talking about politics here. Even if my family has moved away from (that period), why can’t they? I think that’s what it’s all about,” he said.