First Lady

In the early 1950s, Marcos moved to Manila to live with a cousin who was also
a politician. There, she met another politician on the rise named Ferdinand
Marcos. In 1954, only 11 days after meeting each other, Imelda and
Ferdinand married in a small civil ceremony. The couple then threw
themselves an elaborate bash for friends and family a month later.

As her husband climbed the country's political ladder, Imelda Marcos cared for
the couple's growing family. They eventually had three children: Imee,
Ferdinand Jr., also known as "Bongbong," and Irene. Ferdinand was elected
president in 1965, and Imelda, with her beauty and poise, soon drew
comparisons to another famous first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy.

In her role as first lady, Marcos met a diverse mix of world leaders, from U.S.
President Lyndon B. Johnson and Cuban leader Fidel Castro, to Libyan
dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi. She sought out political opportunities for herself
in addition to supporting her spouse. In the mid-1970s, Marcos served as
governor of the metro Manila area, spearheading many costly beautification
and development projects. Marcos later served in the interim national
assembly and as the minister of human settlements.

Lavish Spending

While many Filipinos lived in poverty, Imelda Marcos became known for her
lavish spending. She traveled to New York City and other destinations to buy
expensive fashions, high-end jewelry and other luxury items. Marcos had to
have the finest of everything for the presidential residence — the Malacañang
Palace. But all of this splendor was gained at the cost of the Filipino people. It
is believed that the Marcos family and their cronies took billions from the
country's coffers.

In addition to theft and corruption, the Marcos regime was also known for its
oppressive rule. Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in September 1972,
basically making himself the country's dictator. This move allowed him to
crush growing resentment among the people and prevent his adversaries from
unseating him from power. The Marcos government could be brutal to those
who opposed it. Thousands were tortured and others executed without trial.
With the assassination of vocal Marcos opponent Benigno Aquino in 1983, the
Marcos government began to lose its hold over the Filipino people. Imelda
ended up fleeing the country with her husband after he was forced from office
by the People Power movement in 1986. In the rush to leave, she left many
items behind at the presidential palace. Her impressive collection of roughly
1,200 pairs of designer shoes made headlines. These fancy pieces of
footwear became an international symbol of the former ruling couple's
flamboyant spending habits and wealth.