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Imelda extols ‘greatness’ of husband during Marcos Day
BY TEDDY MOLINA

LAOAG CITY – Former First Lady Imelda Marcos extolled the “greatness” of her late husband Ferdinand Marcos during the celebration of Marcos Day here on Sept. 11 saying her huband remains unsurpassed.

Marcos Day is a yearly affair, which coincides with the birth anniversary of the late president who would have turned 90 last Sept. 11.

Sept. 11 is usually a provincial holiday, with the center of celebration traditionally held in this capital city of Ilocos Norte.

Unlike in the past years, however, Malacanang did not declare Sept. 11 a local holiday this year.
The Marcos children were not around either, leaving Ms Marcos alone to lead the celebration.

The absence of Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong”Marcos-Araneta did not dampen the former first lady’s spirit.

Bongbong is reportedly in England where his two sons are studying, while Imee is in Singapore, and Irene has a busy schedule in Metro Manila.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Mike Keon, a nephew of Marcos, delivered the opening address while Vice Gov. Wendell Chua delivered the closing remarks.

High school and college students presented a tableau of Marcos’ life from his birth to his career in public service to his exile in Hawaii.

Earlier in the morning Mrs. Marcos attended a thanksgiving Mass at the Immaculate Conception Church in Batac town where Marcos remains are preserved in a mausoleum.

After the mass, parish priest Msgr. Policarpio Albano presided over a prayer offering and blessing rites before Marcos’ body in the mausoleum.

The former first lady later motored with her guests and local officials to the planned Maharlika eco-tourism park in Barangay Bengyan, Batac, site of the planed burial site for the late president.

The park leads to a hilltop where Marcos will be interred in the future. The hilltop is overlooking the China Sea and some towns of the province.