Imee Marcos
Maria Imelda Josefa Romualdez Marcos, most widely known as Imee Marcos, is a Filipino politician. She served three terms as representative of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte in the Philippine House of Representatives, from 1998 to 2007. She belongs to the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan or KBL political party, the same party supporting her father, the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos. She is the sister of Ilocos Norte Congressman Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. (2007-present), who replaced her as the Representative for the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte.
She is the eldest daughter of Ferdinand Edralin Marcos, former president of the Philippines (1965 – 1986), and former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, both parents ruling the Philippines together for twenty years. She was born on November 12, 1955 in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. Her other siblings are Ferdinand "Bong-Bong" Marcos, Jr., currently the Governor of the province of Ilocos Norte, Irene Marcos-Araneta (a socialite), and an adopted daughter Aimee Marcos (entrepreneur and musician),
Marcos, who turned 10 the day after her father was elected president in 1965, grew up as a young child at Malacañang Palace, the official residence of the president of Republic of the Philippines. In an interview with Filipinas Magazine in 1999, she admitted that she was not comfortable living at the Palace because it was too confining, very formal and fixed. She also added that it is not necessarily the most appropriate place to bring up a kid but it was quite nice.
While living at the Place, Marcos attended regular schools in Manila, then was tutored at the Palace because they found it difficult to go out because of protest rallies outside Malacañang. This she found the most boring thing that happened, to learn without classmates.
Marcos’ first stint in politics was as Cabinet representative of the youth sector from 1979 to 1986, being the national chairman of the Kabataang Barangay or youth organization. Then, she became assemblywoman, being member of the Batasang Pambansa or National Assembly from 1984 to 1986. She was first elected to Congress as representative of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte in 1998, and was re-elected in both the 2001 and 2004 national elections. Marcos, describing herself as a reluctant candidate for congress in 1998, now describes herself as a reluctant politician. She claims to feel strongly duty-bound to do something for her father’s bailiwick in Ilocos Norte.
In 2007, along with some industry luminaries, Imee Marcos established the Creative Media and Film Society of the Philippines (CREAM). A year after CREAM evolved into CREAM Content Distribution, Inc., a production company that specializes in animation, game and film production. She is currently the president of CREAM.
Former Congresswoman Marcos was once married to businessman Tommy Manotoc, an avid golfer and former Professional Basketball Coach. They have three sons: Fernando Martin ("Borgy"), a commercial model and a DJ; Michael, a student at New York University; and Matthew Joseph, a student at Claremont McKenna College. Marcos and Manotoc are now separated.
In 2010, she is running for Governor on the Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Region under Nacionalista Party.
Other Information
- Born : Maria Imelda Josefa Romualdez Marcos
- Birth date : November 12, 1955
- Birth place : Mandaluyong City, Philippines
- Spouse : Tommy Manotoc (separated)
- Political Party : KBL (1998 to date)
- Representative, 2nd District of Ilocos Norte : 1998–2007
- Assemblywoman, District of Ilocos Norte : 1984–1986
- Secretary/Minister of the Kabataang Barangay : 1975–1984
- Philippine Presidential Daughter : 1965–1986
