Marcos Jr. reflects on father's influence as he marks late leader's 109th birthday

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. commemorated his father's 109th birthday in Batac, Ilocos Norte, on Tuesday, reflecting on the profound influence the late former President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr. exerted on his leadership style.

"Spending time with him – and I never knew it – but he was already teaching me. He was already training me," the President said during the observance in San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur, according to reports.

The remarks underscore the personal dimension of Marcos Jr.'s relationship with his father, suggesting that much of his early preparation for high office occurred through informal mentorship rather than formal instruction. The President has previously emphasized the significant role his family's history played in shaping his political outlook.

Former President Marcos Sr. died in 1989 at age 72, having served as Philippine leader for two decades before his ouster in the 1986 People Power Revolution. His legacy remains a complex and contested aspect of Philippine history, marked by significant economic and infrastructural achievements as well as documented human rights violations during his administration.

The birthday commemoration reflects the Marcos family's continued prominence in Philippine politics, with the President seeking to contextualize his own approach to governance through his father's example.