BBM, the who and what

THE youngish look of President-elect Ferdinand ‘Bongbong/BBM’ Marcos Jr. and his slight build hides a mature politician molded by three generations of political forebears, turbulent histories and times, and personal political tribulations with his family – wrongly pilloried, abducted to Hawaii and persecuted by the U.S. in order for the U.S. to reinstitute full blown restoration of its neo-colonialism in the Philippines in 1986.

BBM has this unique quality of responding to hostility and aggression with equanimity, maintaining his calm and amiable demeanor through thick and thin. The Filipino people viewing this found a strange new type of politician who refused to thrive on mudslinging and rudeness. When the 30 plus-years of the failure of the “Yellow Revolution” dawned on the people and left the people with disillusionment over failed promises – people gave their ear to BBM.

The real power behind the comeback of BBM is the rage of the people at the failed promise of the colored revolution, the Yellow Revolution of 1986 sponsored by the US and defended with US F-16s in 1989.

This Yellow era ended only in 2016 when upstart Rodrigo R. Duterte won the presidency despite openly expressing admiration of the late President Marcos Sr., proceeded to reject US dictates and opened up warm and productive relations with China again.

Duterte also reopened the gates to the relevance of Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. and helped create this tsunami of support and the latter’s unprecedented landslide victory.

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BBM’s domestic policies will be a continuation of the “Build, Build, Build” from Marcos Sr. to Duterte, programs of infrastructure development projects, building ports and bridges, airports, which are already paying dividends today as the country’s first quarter GDP (gross domestic product) registered at 8.3 percent and which showed the country rising from the COVID-19 pandemic. BBM has also said priority will be given to SMSEs with tax breaks as we see China doing.

In the domestic sphere, BBM will have to deal with many vested interests. It is still uncertain how far he can achieve the economic consolidation and direction of the economy that his father did by semi-nationalizing the lucrative energy industry and establishing the Major 11-Industiral Projects program. It’s not so easy to do today as the political-economic oligarchs are stronger than ever, although collaboration with China and RCEP promises a lot of other possibilities.

On external relations I recall photos of an 18-years old BBM standing to the right of Chairman Mao Tsetung and his mother, First Lady Imelda Marcos, on the left of the chairman.

These historic experiences and the subsequent warm relations between China and the Marcos family, and the Philippines will not fail to inspire BBM to further the relations.

Besides, the experience of the Philippines now, especially after 56-million doses of China to our country saving millions from the dreaded Covid-19, has certainly had its positive impact.

BBM will establish even warmer ties with China although he will not be as acerbic with the U.S. as Duterte has been.

BBM must, however, be on extreme look out for the insidious U.S. political operators inside the Philippines who even today are doggedly trying to erode the foundations of his new government before it is even inaugurated.

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The opinion within the country about the former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. is divided along the lines of the votes for BBM, up to 60 percent favorable for the former president but not limited to that as many voters for other losing candidates also have a good view of the former Marcos president. The diehard anti-Marcos Sr. element is limited to 20 percent, more-or-less, those that voted the main rival candidate to BBM.

Regarding what Marcos Sr., brought to the country I think I have explained them quite substantially above, but to recap: infrastructure and economic development, rural development, beginnings of industrialization and a new regard for sovereignty.

There are stirrings of rivalry among the followers of BBM and Sara Duterte but I don’t see that growing to be a menace as the two leaders are showing remarkable unity throughout the partnership from the formation of the tandem to their final victory last May 9, 2022.

And judging from the early indications of the cabinet members being drafted, a careful meld of the exiting administration and the new faces brought in by BBM are very balanced.

For the future, I have the impression that the succession issue is not significant at all, certainly not at this point.

(Samahan si Ka Mentong Laurel at mga panauhin sa “Power Thinks” tuwing Miyerkules @6pm Live Global Talk News Radio (GTNR) sa Facebook at sa Talk News TV sa You Tube; at tuwing Linggo 8 to 10am sa RP1 738khz AM sa radyo).