Palace defends Marcos singing at First Lady's birthday

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos meet the Filipino community in Melbourne, Australia on March 4, 2024.

PPA pool photos by Noel Pabalate

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has drawn flak over online videos showing him singing during the birthday celebration of First Lady Liza Marcos while some areas were inundated by floods caused by the southwest monsoon.

A backdrop of the stage where Marcos delivered song numbers showed that the event took place on Aug. 26 and carried the theme “Liza and the Chocolate Factory.”

The First Lady turned 67 on Aug. 21.

Palace press officer Claire Castro, however, said the government’s operations did not stop even if the President spent some time with his family.

 “The President is the President wherever he is. His spending of some time with his family did not mean that the performance of his mandate or the operations of the government stopped,” Castro said in a text message.

In one of the videos, the President was seen belting out “You,” a ballad popularized by Filipino music icon Basil Valdez. In another video, Marcos was shown singing “And I Love Her” by British pop band The Beatles.

The videos were posted online by Vigan City Mayor Jose Singson Jr. on Aug. 28 and have since been reposted by various news organizations and social media users.

Marcos’ critics have accused him of being insensitive, saying he was partying while people in flooded areas were suffering. Some social media users have also questioned the President’s quality of leadership, claiming he was out of touch with the experiences of ordinary Filipinos, especially those in flood-hit areas.

Castro also responded to former presidential spokesman Harry Roque’s statement that the President was having a concert while Pampanga and Bulacan were submerged in floods.

“Let us not forget that the President prioritized the site visits and inspections in Pampanga and Bulacan to improve the plight of our countrymen and to deliver assistance to the affected. Members of the media witnessed this last Monday,” she said.

“The little time and one night the President spent with his wife, his family and other people close to him to thank God for the gift of life given to his spouse does not mean he abandoned his obligation to the nation. It did not happen during the height of the cyclone last Friday or Saturday,” she said.

Castro reiterated that the President remains focused and has asked agencies to act swiftly on the effect of the monsoon rains.

“In conditions like this, he chose to remain in the Philippines to continue his monitoring,” the Palace press officer added.

About eight million people in 10 regions have been affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng, according to latest government data.