Marcos Jr. makes TIME’s ‘100 Most Influential People of 2024’

MANILA, Philippines —  President Marcos is among this year’s 100 most influential people of Time magazine, which depicted him as someone who rewrote history but who has “elevated the Philippines on the world stage.”

Time’s description of Marcos, the only Filipino in this year’s list, was not flattering. It called the President’s late father and namesake a dictator and attributed his 2022 electoral victory to the “whitewashing” of his family legacy and “clever” social media manipulation.

However, Time also cited his efforts to stabilize the post-pandemic economy, enhance the Philippines’ image and stand up to China, which has sparked fears and tensions because of its aggressive actions in the South China Sea.

“For Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos to make history, he first needed to rewrite his nation’s. His dictator father plundered billions of dollars from state coffers and stood accused of grievous human-rights violations until his ouster in 1986,” an article written by Time correspondent Charlie Campbell read.

“Yet Bongbong’s desire to rehabilitate the Marcos name has resulted in other shifts. He brought technocrats back into government, steadied the post-­pandemic economy, and elevated the Philippines on the world stage,” it added.
According to Time, Marcos has “stood steadfast” against China’s aggression in the South China Sea and bolstered the Philippines alliance with the US in the face of rising regional and global tensions.

“Many problems persist, including extra­judicial killings and journalists routinely attacked. But by trying to repair his family name, Bongbong may reshape his country too,” the article read.

Malacañang said Marcos’ inclusion in the Time 100 list “reflects his brand of leadership that puts the national interest and the welfare of every Filipino above all else.”

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the Philippines under Marcos experienced “robust” economic growth and recovery, exceeding expectations and instilling confidence in the country’s economic outlook.

“Despite geopolitical tensions and the hurdles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, President Marcos has elevated the Philippines on the world stage and contributed to regional stability, notably in the Indo-Pacific region,” the PCO said.

“The President continues to steer the country towards peace and prosperity towards his vision of a Bagong Pilipinas (new Philippines),” it added.

Marcos was included in the leaders category, along with Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny; Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi; Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk; incoming Taiwan president William Lai, Texas Governor Greg Abbott; Brazil environment minister Marina Silva; Central Intelligence Agency director William Burns; American journalist E. Jean Carroll; Singapore ambassador for oceans and law of the sea issues Rena Lee; Argentinian President Javier Milei; Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, US lawmaker Elise Stefanik, Ecuador attorney-general Diana Salazar Mendez; US Special Counsel Jack Smith; Rachel Goldberg-Polin, mother of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin; World Bank president Ajay Banga; California Governor Gavin Newsom; Kenya President William Ruto; Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni; Chinese Premier Li Qiang; Jigar Shah, head of the US energy department loan programs office; Lauren Blauvelt, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio; and Andriy Yermak, head of the office of Ukraine’s president.

Other Filipinos who were part of previous Time 100 lists include the late president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, former president Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Leila de Lima and Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa.