CCP’s tribute to Imelda Marcos met with protests

Protesters braved heavy rains to stage a rally on Friday during the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)’s gala tribute for former First Lady Imelda Marcos. Members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) criticized the CCP’s tribute for Mrs. Marcos, whom they called “the surviving member of a conjugal dictatorship." “Mali ang parangalan si Imelda. Mali ang parangalan ang diktaduryang Marcos (It is wrong to honor Imelda. It is wrong to honor the Marcos dictatorship)," ACT national chairperson Antonio Tinio said. Tinio said that paying tribute to Mrs. Marcos, the wife of former strongman Ferdinand Marcos who imposed martial law in 1972, is inappropriate because of the various human rights violations the Marcoses committed. Marcos’s birth date falls on Sept. 11. “Tama na linawin natin sa mga kabataan ang papel ng mga Marcos sa kasaysayan. Si Imelda ay bahagi ng conjugal dictatorship noong panahon ng kanyang asawa (It’s only right to explain to the youth the role of the Marcoses in history. Imelda was part of a conjugal dictatorship during her husband’s time)," he said. “Ang dapat sa kanya, ikulong at pagbayarin (She deserves to be imprisoned and made to pay)," he added. ACT earlier criticized the CCP for using government funds to honor Mrs. Marcos, who is currently facing 10 graft charges on allegations that she held financial interests in secret foundations and private enterprises that proliferated during her husband’s long years in power. ‘The good and right’ Replying to criticisms about the tribute dedicated to her, Mrs. Marcos said there is nothing wrong with the event since it is only a celebration of “the good and right." “It is the right time to glorify what is good and right. This is like glorifying God, because God has made good things," said Mrs. Marcos, who wore a plum red gown for the invitational event. She claimed that government funds were never involved in building the CCP. “This (the CCP) was started in 1965 and we had no land. There is not a cent of government funds here," she said. But when asked about the source of funds that built the CCP, the former first lady said she “does not know." Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee" Marcos, Mrs. Marcos’ eldest daughter, said her mother deserves the tribute because of her contributions to the development of the arts in the country. “Makabuluhan talaga ang kanyang role dito sa Pilipinas dahil hanggang ngayon ito pa rin ang sentro ng sining at ng talento na likas sa mga Pilipino (Her role in the Philippines is really meaningful because until now, the CCP is still the center of the arts and of talent that’s inherent among Filipinos)," she said. Imee also said that the criticisms hurled at her mother “have no connection" to Mrs. Marcos’ role as founding chairperson of the CCP. “Parang wala namang koneksyon ‘yun, sapagkat wala naman nagdududa na siya ang nagpatayo nito. So, tama lang na kilalanin ang nagawa ng nakalipas (That seems to have no connection since no one doubts that it was my mother who founded the CCP. So, it’s only right to recognize her past achievements)," she said. No comment on Noynoy Asked to comment about Senator Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III’s decision to run for president in 2010, both Mrs. Marcos and her daughter refused to comment. “Let’s just talk about the good and the beautiful," Mrs. Marcos said. The Marcoses and Aquinos have been at odds since the 1970s. When then President Marcos declared martial rule in 1972, among the first group of people he ordered arrested was his arch-critic, then Senator Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino Jr., Noynoy’s father and the late former President Corazon Aquino’s husband. A military tribunal sentenced Ninoy to death for sedition, but Marcos yielded to political pressure and allowed Ninoy and his family to go into U.S. exile in 1980. Upon his return three years later, however, Ninoy was assassinated at the Manila International Airport (now named after him), fuelling a massive protest movement that eventually ousted the Marcoses and swept Mrs. Aquino to power in 1986. Nevertheless, during the wake of former President Aquino last month, Imee and her younger brother, Ilocos Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong" Marcos Jr., visited and chatted cordially with Mrs. Aquino’s daughter and grandchildren. [See: Bongbong, Imee Marcos visit Cory Aquino's wake ] - GMANews.TV