Senator Imee Marcos is at it again, releasing yet another sketch on her social media page informing Filipinos where they can migrate — a video that netizens believe is a jab at supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo, who lost in the May presidential election to Marcos’ brother, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., that said they would leave the country if Robredo lost.
The video depicts the senator in their family home, dressed in pink — Robredo’s campaign color — as she sits between portraits of her parents, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and former First Lady Imelda Marcos while sipping coffee.
“Ikaw ba ay pagod na? Nawalan na ng pag-asa? Natalo? (Are you tired? Have you lost hope? Did you lose?),” Marcos asks, pausing for a beat before adding, “sa pag-ibig (in love).”
“Parang gusto mong mamasyal, makalimot, o magpakalayu-layo, magkaroon ng bagong buhay sa ibang bansa (Perhaps you want to entertain yourself, to forget, or to travel far, and find a new life in another country,” she added.
“Let me educate you sa top five countries kung saan pwede kang mag-migrate (on the top five countries where you can migrate),” Marcos said, seemingly in reference to a spliced video that alleged VP Robredo’s daughter, Jillian, had berated a Marcos supporter by saying “Let me educate you” while campaigning in Baguio City (an accusation that has been proven false).
Marcos listed France, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, and Canada as the best places for Filipinos to move, along with providing the most affordable fares to each country.
Before ending the video, Marcos urged Filipinos to choose to stay in their country eventually, saying, “No hate, huwag ka nang mag-migrate (don’t migrate anymore), retiring in the Philippines is oh so great.”
“Haha! Sarcasm at its best,” one follower said.
“This is a very sarcastic message from manang (elder sister) Imee for all the journalists who murdered them. They are all the (laughingstock),” another supporter commented.
Meanwhile, other netizens criticized the video, citing it as evidence that the Marcos camp’s call for unity, which had been their main message throughout the campaign trail, was insincere.
The video was directed by Darryl Yap, who, along with comedienne Ai-Ai de las Alas, was recently declared personae non gratae by the Quezon City government for defacing the city’s seal in one of their parody videos.
The video comes after the senator made an off-the-cuff remark during an interview with ANC Headstart’s Karen Davila in which she had goaded the journalist about moving abroad.
“It’s nice to see you’re still here in the Philippines. I thought you were going to migrate if a Marcos wins,” the senator had teased on the air, as Davila coolly replied, “Hoping always for the best for the country.”
In fact, Davila has never expressed that she would move abroad if Bongbong won the election.
While the broadcast journalist clarified that she was not insulted by their on-air interaction, adding that Marcos had sent her an apology through text message after the show, the anchor tweeted, “In victory, resist the temptation to gloat. Graciousness is a class act.”
