Famous People By

Imelda Marcos

Nick Name: Imelda R. Marcos

Also Known As: Imelda Remedios Visitación Romuáldez

Nationality: Filipino

religion: Roman Catholicism

political ideology: Nacionalista (1965-1978; 2009–present), Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (1978–present)

Born on: 02 July 1929 AD Famous 2nd July Birthdays

Zodiac Sign: Cancer Famous Cancerians

Born in: Manila

father: icente Orestes Romuáldez

mother: Remedios Trinidad

siblings: Benjamin Trinidad Romualdez, Concepcion Trinidad Romualdez, Alita Trinidad Romualdez, Armando Trinidad Romualdez, Alfredo Trinidad Romualdez

Spouse: Ferdinand Marcos

children: Imee Marcos, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Irene Marcos-Araneta, Aimee Marcos

education: St. Paul University-Manila

Imelda Marcos

Imelda Marcos is a Filipino politician and widow of former President of the Philippines. Known for her flamboyant lifestyle, she took an active role in the political life of her husband, Ferdinand Marcos. The Marcos used their political supremacy to accrue private wealth by corruptly tapping external aid, loans and the profits of private companies into their bank accounts. She, along with her husband, fled to Hawaii after a coupe in 1986. Her husband Ferdinand Marcos died in exile in 1989 and Imelda returned to the Philippines contested for presidency in 1992. Predictably, she won a very small percentage of the vote. During her time as the first lady, she journeyed around the world, spent extravagantly and was elected to the national congress. She became infamous for her wasteful ways and came to be known for her large and ostentatious collection of jewelery, property, shoes, clothes and other luxurious items. While millions of countrymen suffered in poverty, the Marcos' lived a hedonistic, over-the-top life, which not only affected their public image but also led to various corruption-related charges.

Childhood & Early Life

Imelda Remedios Visitacion Romualdez was born in Manila, the capital of the Philippines and is the oldest daughter of Vicente Orestes Romualdez, a lawyer and Remedios T. Romualdez, a former boarder at a convent in Manila.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

0 Person Likes this

Young Imelda spent her childhood at the Malacanang Palace. After her mother passed away in 1938, she attended an all-girls school, Holy Infant Academy in Tacloban, where she studied English among other subjects. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from St. Paul’s College.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

1 Person Likes this

From a very young age, she was fascinated by beauty pageants and dreamt of living an extremely extravagant lifestyle. She soon entered a number of beauty pageants and was crowned, ‘Rose of Tacloban’ at the age of 18. She also earned the title of ‘Miss Philippines’.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

2 People Like this

PUBLISH

Later Life

In 1950, she moved to Manila and worked in music stores and began taking voice lessons at the University of Santo Tomas. She became popular with the students and the crowds as she was believed to be an extremely gifted singer.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

0 Person Likes this

In 1953, sShe appeared on a number of magazine covers and her popularity increased. She was also named the ‘Muse of Manila’ by the mayor of Philippines. In the same year, she met Ferdinand E. Marcos and after eleven day courtship, they got married in the month of May at the San Miguel Pro-Cathedral on General Solano street, San Miguel, Manila.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

1 Person Likes this

From 1960 to 1965, she travelled around the country in a bid to meet and acquaint herself with the politicians, who could help her husband, Ferdinand, rise to power. In 1966, Ferdinand Marcos became the 10th President of the Philippines.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

0 Person Likes this

As the first lady, Imelda met a number of world leaders, from the U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson to Cuban leader, Fidel Castro. She sought parliamentary opportunities for herself in addition to supporting her spouse with his duties.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

0 Person Likes this

In the mid-1970s, Marcos served as the governor of the metro Manila area. She systematized many costly remodeling and development projects and later, served in the provisional national assembly as the minister of human settlements.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

1 Person Likes this

In 1972, Ferdinand declared martial law, making himself the country’s dictator. This move allowed him to impede growing bitterness among the people and to prevent the opponents from deposing him from power. His government dealt with tyranny and brutality to suppress any opposition.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

2 People Like this

She orchestrated lavish public events using millions of dollars from public funds to eulogize her husband’s government and to lift her public image. She also got the Miss Universe 1974 pageant organised in Manila in a large auditorium with a capacity of 10,000, which was constructed in less than 3 months at her behest.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

0 Person Likes this

She backed a number of social programs in the country including the short-lived national family-planning program and established the Manila Film Center, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Heart Center.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

0 Person Likes this

During the 1986 presidential elections, she supported her husband in his bid to be re-elected, but the failing support of the public and the non-violent People Power revolt at EDSA drove the Marcos’ out of their own country and they fled to Hawaii.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

0 Person Likes this

Despite the legal problems in Hawaii, the couple lived a comfortable life in their new abode, but the happiness was very short-lived as Ferdinand Marcos passed away in 1989.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

0 Person Likes this

She was convicted of racketeering in America by an American court. She was also charged with embezzlement of $200 million by the Philippines government. However, she was acquitted in this case and she returned to the Philippines in 1991.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

1 Person Likes this

Despite the low support, she contested the 1992 Presidential election but lost to Fidel V. Ramos. She found herself in another court battle and was convicted of corruption charges in 1993. She was to serve a lengthy prison sentence, but the case was shelved. She eventually lost her title, the ‘First Lady’.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

1 Person Likes this

She won her first election in the mid-1990s as a member of the House of Representatives - a position she held for several years. Although she is a successful politician in her own right, she still continues to face a number of legal charges.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

1 Person Likes this

PUBLISH

Personal Life & Legacy

As her husband scaled the political ladder, Imelda Marcos’ lifestyle started being compared to that of another famous and fashionable first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

0 Person Likes this

The couple have three children together, two of whom are now politicians. They are Imee, Irene and Ferdinand Jr., who is also fondly known as ‘Bongbong’.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

1 Person Likes this

While many Filipinos lived in scarcity and poverty, she became notorious for her extravagant spending, which often included expenses up to 5 million dollars or more in one go. She travelled to New York and other fancy destinations around the world to splurge on property and fashion.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

2 People Like this

PUBLISH

Trivia

When this famous First Lady from the Philippines fled to Hawaii, she left behind a treasure’s chest containing jewelry worth millions, innumerable pairs of branded shoes, dresses and expensive paintings.
EDIT • LIKE Something Wrong? Help Us Clean It Up. Tell Us About It.

0 Person Likes this

PUBLISH

See the life and event of Imelda Marcos in Chronological Order

Pictures of Imelda Marcos