The city of San Juan has been off on a tourism kick lately, announcing the reopening of their underrated El Deposito museum with intriguing new attractions for August. While that announcement was met with quite a bit of excitement, Mayor Francis Zamora’s latest announcement for yet another tourism attraction has met with decidedly mixed results.
Posting a photo of himself posing with members of the Marcos family—including Senator Imee Marcos, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, Irene Marcos, and Imelda Marcos—on different social media platforms, Zamora announced that the San Juan house will become part of the city’s tourist trail.
“Keri, my mom and I with Sen. Bongbong, Sen. Imee and Tita Irene as they take us around their residence in San Juan during First Lady Imelda Marcos’ 92nd birthday dinner. This Marcos ancestral home where President Ferdinand Marcos lived will be part of our city’s historical trail which we will be launching this year to help promote San Juan as a tourist destination,” Zamora posted.
Keri, my mom and I with Sen. Bongbong, Sen. Imee and Tita Irene as they take us around their residence in San Juan during First Lady Imelda Marcos’ 92nd birthday dinner. pic.twitter.com/H0BZKnbR6v
— Mayor Francis Zamora (@franciszamora30) July 5, 2021
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Also read: Mysterious Hispanic-era tunnels underneath San Juan to be opened to the public
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While responses on Instagram and Facebook were somewhat more sedate, Twitter really went to town. “So you mean, you’re promoting a dictator’s home as a museum? Why would tourists even go there?” one Twitter user said.
“Juuuuust when people needed reminding you’re the son of one of the architects of the Marcos administration,” another commented.
Journalist Raissa Robles asked, “Is it because your father was close to the Marcoses and you were, too? And the Marcoses remain political allies?”
In the meantime, amateur historian and blogger Kristoffer Pasion (@indiohistorian) suggested this historical marker:
Your “historical trail” should include the following information. Nakakahiya naman sa Museo ng Katipunan at sa Museo El Deposito, Mayor.
And a short note: What’s wrong with you? https://t.co/0oc0aeo4iB pic.twitter.com/F4Hxsov7Be
— Kristoffer Pasion (@indiohistorian) July 6, 2021
