Marcos recalls exile in Honolulu, thanks Pinoys who 'kept them alive'

HONOLULU - President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Sunday shared his gratitude to the Filipino comunity in Hawaii who helped his family during their exile in the US state.

Upon landing at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport past 7 p.m. in Hawaii, Marcos' first itinerary was to meet the Filipinos and Filipino-Americans who, he said, have a special place in his heart. 

Marcos said when his family arrived in Hawaii back in 1986, they had nothing and it was the Filipino community who provided their needs. 

"We landed here in Honolulu with nothing, with nothing... my family was flown from Malacañang Palace to Hickam (Air Force) Base and when we finally moved to Makiki Heights, kayong lahat nakikita ko kayo, nandoon kayong lahat. They were always there, we have nothing with us," Marcos said. 

"They kept everything to inspect everything. These are the people who kept body and soul together of the Marcos family. Ultimo... when I tell the story, people do not quite not believe me... but I tell them you do not realize how close we became and how kind and how generous the Filipino-Americans in Hawaii were," he added.

Marcos said all of their needs were provided by Filipinos, noting that the Marcoses could be gone if not for the assistance they received from concerned kababayans. 

"Ultimo damit namin sila nagbigay, nagpapakain sa amin, pati appliance sa Makiki sila nagdadala, pagka kami nalulungkot, sila nagpapasaya sa amin. Kung hindi sa inyo, palagay ko wala na 'yung pamilyang Marcos at hindi ko makakalimutan," Marcos said. 

According to Marcos, his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, told him to express gratitude to all Filipinos who helped them and kept them alive during their exile. 

The President vowed to carry in his heart all the things the Filipinos did for them.

"On behalf of my entire family, wala na 'yung aking ama, but when my mother found out I was coming to Honolulu, she said, you make sure you go back to all those people who went out of their way to keep us comfortable, to keep us alive, literally alive. That is something that I will carry in my heart, that the Marcos family will carry in our hearts, we'll tell our children about this and how wonderful you all were to us in that time," Marcos said.

"We could not have survived that very difficult period if not for you. That's why when I went to San Francisco, I insist we must pass by Hawaii because even if I thank you everyday for 1,000 years, it is ot enough for all the things you did to us," he added.

Meanwhile, there were protest actions conducted outside the venue of Marcos' event.

After the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986, Marcos, together with his father, the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., his mother, and his siblings, fled to Honolulu on US Air Force aircraft.

Marcos earlier called the years when his family was in exile "dark days" for the Marcoses and even for the Philippines. 

This was Marcos' first public return to Hawaii since the family returned to Manila in 1991. 

In her book "The Marcoses and the Missing Filipino Millions," journalist Caroline Kennedy looked into the contents of the list of what the Marcos family brought with them from the Philippines, which she said "reads like pure fantasy."

The household effects of listed by the Marcos family included 22 crates of cash valued at $717 million, 300 crates of assorted jewelry with undetermined value, $4 million worth of unset precious gems contained in Pampers diapers boxes, $7.7 million worth of jewelry, including a gold crown encrusted with diamonds, three tiaras, and 65 Seiko and Cartier watches. 

Also included were a box full of real pearls, a 3-foot gold statue covered in diamonds and other precious stones, $200,000 in gold bullion and nearly $1 million in Philippine pesos, and deposit slips to banks in the US, Switzerland, and Cayman Islands worth $124 million. —RF, GMA Integrated News