Since the American Commonwealth time:
Manuel L. Quezon (1935-1944; died in exile in the US)
Occupation government (2nd Republic – Japanese caretaker government):
Jose P. Laurel (1943 – 1945)
Sergio P. Osmeña (1944 – 1946)
The 3rd Republic – a truly independent Philippines:
Manuel Roxas (1946 – 1948)
Elpidio Quirino (1948 – 1953)
Ramon Magsaysay (1953 – 1957)
Carlos P. Garcia (1957 – 1961)
Diosdado Macapagal (1961 – 1965)
Ferdinand Marcos (1965 – 1986; expelled February 26, 1986)
Corazon Aquino (1986 – 1992)
Fidel V. Ramos (1992 – 1998)
Joseph E. Estrada (1998 – 2001; impeached in 2001)
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2001 – 2010)
Benigno Aquino, III (2010 – 2016)
(12th president? to be filled in May/June 2016)
Similar Government Infrastructures
Because many of the events narrated here, especially much litigation, took place both in the Philippines and the United States, and because I wrote this book with that dual audience in mind, I have tried to differentiate where certain events transpired (especially, say, in rendering of certain legal decisions—whether it’s in the Philippine or American or New York State Supreme Courts). This is to present a clear narrative of many events since the government infrastructures of both countries are alike, and the Philippine version is based on the US model—although many of the court rulings, especially in the chapter on Recovering the Stolen Loot, will be seemingly contradictory to each other. Where I have failed to state the differences, I beg the reader’s indulgence.
Filipino Nicknames
For readers who aren’t familiar with Filipino terminology, we tend to mix affectionate nicknames with the more formal, given Christian first names. You may have Cory (for Corazon), Ninoy for the assassinated husband of Cory and senator, Benigno Aquino, Jr. or II; Noynoy, the current president, going out in 2016. There are Bongbong Marcos (Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.); Meldy (for Imelda), Kokoy (for her younger brother, Benjamin), etc. Its interchangeable use is ingrained in us, and indeed there are nuances of affection or disaffection intended in each particular use.
Other uniquely Philippine terms or concepts pertinent to this book:
-Bangko Sentral Pilipinas (BSP) – Central Bank of the Philippines
-February 1986 – the period referred to in the expulsion of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos from power, being “booted out of power,” “sent packing,” “sent to exile”. . . or such similar terms.
-“Juan de la Cruz” is the allegorical embodiment of the Filipino, much the same was as Uncle Sam or “Columbia” is for the US, John Bull for Great Britain, or “Marianne” for France.
-“Malacañang” is the presidential residence in Manila (so the equivalent of the White House or the combined Buckingham Palace/Ten Downing Street of the Philippines).
-The PCGG is the Presidential Commission for Good Govern-ment; a specially created government body tasked with pursuing and returning the ill-gotten wealth the Marcoses, their families and friends acquired while in power. The PCGG was created by one of the first Presidential Executive acts of Cory Aquino after she quickly took over from Marcos.
-PhP for the Philippine peso, the currency of the Philippines.
-Phil., abbreviation for “Philippines” which I may use sometimes.
-Sandiganbayan (which roughly means “People’s Advocate”) is a special anti-graft court meant to try graft and “plunder” cases. Strangely enough, it was first established in 1973, a year after Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. Like the proverbial boomerang karma, the post-Marcos years’ Sandiganbayan pursued and tried many Marcos conspirators and co-plunderers.
-terno, Filipino term for the butterfly-sleeved, lady’s native dress that Imelda Marcos popularized and became identified with.
Acknowledgements
This book would not have been possible without the encouragement and moral support of friends Susan Po Rufino and Mila de Guzman. Thanks must also go to certain parties who shared very intimate stories about the Marcoses but would prefer to remain anonymous. Special mention is made of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training for allowing me to reprint the article which constitutes Chapter III. Much appreciation to digital artist Jennifer Valdez for her supreme patience in helping execute the cover concepts and ideas; and finally to Darwin Patnode, my editor, for his expertise and eagle-eye for detail, in bringing the manuscript to a truly professional level.
References and Bibliography
Because no book today exists without its electronic version, this book will depart from the standard practice of having detailed footnotes and references at the end of the book. Unfortunately, until such time the traditional book format becomes available for eBook versions, I will place references at the end of each chapter. This is an expedient way to overcome the limitations of electronic book versions even though the footnoting format will be done away with. Because of the preponderance of material issued on the Internet, and why should I be any different in not availing of the ease of the internet in writing this book, a lot of material here comes from the Internet. As such, where it feels reasonable and does not appear to clutter the environment, I will quote the URL address. But after a certain time, a whole series of random letters and /s and seeming gibberish might NOT really make any sense and would appear to be just that—gibberish.
Finally, I am hoping to get this book published well in advance of the May, 2016, elections in the Philippines. There was so much more I could have covered, but in the interests of space and logistics, I had to stay under 200 pages. Even after this book goes to press, there will certainly be more revelations and answers to many questions. So if you read this in time and you liked it, here’s hoping you can pass it along to those you care.
| MAG | March, 2016 |
I – The Oldie-garchs v. the Crony-garchs
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave
When first we practice to deceive."
– Sir Walter Scott, Marmion
In their twenty-year rule, Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos tried to destroy some of the old families who blocked their ambitions of absolute power, and in the process, install their own cabal who would be beholden to them. To a certain degree, they succeeded, but on another level, they also failed. We are seeing this manipulated shuffle of the deck at work in Russia today—in the Vladimir Putin years. In the wake of the collapse of the old Soviet Union, well-connected (with the Putin apparatus) entrepreneurs picked up a lot of the state industries that had been sold off and privatized.
As the rest of the world has also now seen so often, if a newly minted Russian billionaire steps out of line, he is very crudely dealt with. He is picked up, thrown into jail, or, if beyond the easy reach of the Kremlin, assassinated in the streets of London or Brussels. In a way, it’s as if the Communist Party never really left Russia – except that Putin and his gang, of course, levy “protection money” from Russia’s new rich—which is why they are the outer shell that Western sanctions hope to crack first in order to have the inner layer of Putin and his Kremlin co-thugs be breached.
Someday, when the whole Machiavellian world of post-communist Russia’s story is truthfully told, we will learn