Marcos aide, farmer reminisce Marcos years

COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

PAOAY, Ilocos Norte – A security aide of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos had given a peek on the former strongman’s lifestyle.

Contesting reports that the former President suffered from diseases that affected his performance as a leader, his aide Jose E. Talamayan said he personally witnessed the his active and healthy lifestyle.

         Talamayan,  a retired Second Lieutenant of the Philippine Army, served as head of the Malacañang of the North security force when he was assigned at Paoay by General Fabian Ver in the 1980s.

 He noted that everyone who had close interactions with the President knew how he always loved sports and prioritized an active and healthy lifestyle despite being swamped with his duties as the country’s President.

 Earlier reports claimed Marcos had endured kidney, heart, and lung failures. Some even reported that the President suffered from lupus which his personal physicians, doctors Clavel Ramos and Dith Sagala, disputed.

He said the public was bothered by Marcos’s seemingly deteriorating health condition and assumed that his medication had been affecting his performance from 1985 to 1986.

Despite these reports, Talamayan said he never saw Marcos sick, saying, “sa totoo lang, hindi ko nakitang nagkasakit siya noon, si Sir [Marcos) kasi madalas nag-eexercise 'yan.”

When Marcos stayed at Malacañang of the North, Talayaman noted how he would subsequently go water skiing at the legendary Paoay Lake and then go golfing at Barangay Suba in Paoay; finishing off with weightlifting in a gym, which resulted to his broad shoulders.

 “Madalasangginagawanya, jogging, stationary run, kung minsan shadow boxing, iyan ang hilig nya,” he revealed.

 Talamayan said Marcos was always strong because of his active lifestyle, saying, “Malakas siya, madalas nga kapag ako nag-gym noon tapos ginagamit ko yung barbells niya, halos nahihirapan ako.”

 Talamayan added Marcos and his family loved music and it was a heartwarming experience to personally witness Marcos and former First Lady Imelda sing together during an affair at the Malacanang of the North.

 “Ang hilig nilang kumanta kaya alam na alam ko na masaya rint alaga sila,” said Talamayan.

 Asked about his stand on the planned burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Talamayan replied: “Dapat ilibing na siya roon sa Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Narinig naman natin yung sabi ni Presidente Duterte na kahit hindi siya bayani o ano diyan, nagging sundalo naman siya.”

Still in Paoay, Magdalena Sadian reads the dedication of Former President Ferdinand E. Marcos on a photo he personally gave to her in 1969. "Sa aking mga kababayan: Dakilang lahi, dakilang bayan, dakilang mamamayan. Wala tayong ikakahiya sa sinuman at kailanman," said the dedication. 

       Sadian, 80 years old and resident of Barangay Salbang Paoay, was a farmer during the Marcos presidency and fondly recalls "all our products then, we were able to sell at higher prices because he barred foreign counterparts."

This was part of the former president's "Green Revolution," his efforts to strengthen the Philippine economy in light of "worldwide food shortages and energy crises" which elicited the need to "maximize its efforts in science and technology as a measure of national survival."  

She also mentioned how, during his birthdays, he would distribute gifts to the people, particularly medicines for those her age. Sadian was at least 29 years old when Marcos assumed the presidency.

            "Nagbibigay ng rasyon para sa mga batang nag-aaral noon, libre na t-shirt… Tumutulong agad, yung mga kailangan nila sa iskwela," she said when asked about his support to schools and the youth.

 "There were a lot of disturbances, magulo, pero nang umupo na siya, things improved," she said of the effect of the Marcos presidency, particularly his declaration of Martial Law, through which "napatahimik niya ang kapaligiran."

            She said his National Electrification Program (NEP) which earned the Philippines the title of the "Rural Electrification Capital" of developing countries by 1976: "Binigyan niyang ilaw ang buong bansa."

              Through the NEP, in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Former President Marcos was able to establish 36 electric cooperatives throughout different provinces as non-stock and non-profit systems, generally serving five to ten municipalities each.

            Sadian also related how he would pay regular visits to towns and communities around the country, "Tinitignan niya kung ano ang kailangan ng bawat bayan, kasamaang kanyang misis," then-First Lady Imelda R. Marcos.

 On the issue of his upcoming burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, she expressed her thankfulness that the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte is now prioritizing it.

            "Sa pamamagitan ng libing niya, mapapakalinarin an gkanyang kaluluwa, at sana'y makarating ito salangit," she added.

            She vows to be in constant prayer for his soul, and that she would like to sing a solo novena for him during his wake.