MANILA, Philippines — Diktador or kargador? While on vacation in Australia, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was seen doing something unexpected of a presumptive president – carrying a box of meat from the market.
A video by Marcos’ wife and incoming first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos which went viral on social media showed the incoming president carrying a styrofoam box said to contain lamb while walking through an alley at a market in Melbourne.
In the video, Araneta-Marcos was heard saying: “Andito si Bongbong Marcos, ang diktador (Here comes Bongbong Marcos, the dictator).”
Marcos could be heard in the background saying: “Diktador ba? Kunin mo ’to (Dictator huh? Carry this).”
The term kargador refers to dock or market workers who manually carry boxes of goods.
Also captured in the video was their youngest son William Vincent or Vinny, who celebrated his 25th birthday during their vacation, carrying a bigger box.
The presumptive first family returned to the country last Thursday after what was said to be their last private time together before Marcos’ assumption into office on June 30.
During their vacation, some Filipino supporters mobbed Marcos and his family when they chanced upon him in the streets of Melbourne.
Netizens remarked that Marcos gamely posed for photos with Filipino and foreign supporters.
In one of the videos posted by netizen Jasmin @kfinew on Twitter, Marcos thanked his supporters saying, “Hindi ako nanalo kung hindi sa inyo (I would have not won were it not for you).”
It was in stark contrast to the rage and fury during a protest rally staged by members of militant group Anakbayan in Melbourne outside the apartment complex where Marcos was said to be staying.
His spokesman Vic Rodriguez slammed the protest as “embarrassing” and “uncharacteristic of Filipinos.”