RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shook hands with members of the Burgos Ilocos Norte Association of Hawaii at Kapiolani Park yesterday. The gathering was staged to celebrate the newly signed Sister State-Province relationship between Hawaii and Ilocos Norte, of which Marcos is governor.

‘Bong Bong’ gets
warm reception here

Hundreds greet him, with some
suggesting that he run for president

If Ferdinand "Bong Bong" Marcos Jr. ever runs for president of the Philippines, he can count on a lot of support from Hawaii's Filipino community, a crowd of hundreds made clear yesterday at Kapiolani Park.

At a gathering to celebrate the newly signed Sister State-Province relationship between Hawaii and Ilocos Norte, local Filipinos expressed their admiration for the son of the late, former Philippines dictator President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

"I'm very sure he'd make a good president, with his educational background and political experience -- and name recognition," said Gene Albano, who, like many of Hawaii's Filipinos, comes from the Ilocos Norte province, where Marcos is governor.

"Yes, I would vote for him," said Ellen Orsino, an Ilocano who moved to Hawaii in 1986 and still has siblings in the Philippines. "He has the potential, all the abilities and he has a humble heart, a good heart."

Marcos, 47, downplayed the talk of him running for president, saying that it was probably meant as a show of support for his family. But, he added, "in politics, never say never."

He wore jeans, black athletic shoes and a short-sleeved, pale yellow shirt, over which admirers placed several bright leis. Though he wiped his brow of sweat as he posed for dozens of photos with admirers and Gov. Linda Lingle, he remained fresh and attentive.

Lingle said she would be making her first trip to the Philippines, including Ilocos Norte, in 2006, the 100th anniversary of the first Filipinos coming to Hawaii.

The elder Marcos was accused of human rights violations during his rule and of siphoning millions from government coffers into his personal bank accounts.

But there are still many supporters here among immigrants from Marcos' home province. The elder Marcos spent his remaining years at a house in Makiki after being ousted from office in the People Power revolution in 1986.

Orsino said she doesn't believe the Marcos family took any money from the people of the Philippines, "because they have their own money."

People sought Bong Bong Marcos' autograph on T-shirts with his image on them. He was encouraged to sample Hawaii-made Filipino delicacies such as lichon roast pork and pinacbet vegetables. Love songs were sung to him.

At one point Marcos took a few minutes away from photo opportunities to read an appeals court ruling on the class action lawsuit against his father's estate by human rights victims of his father's regime. But he declined to comment on the ruling.

Marcos is to appear here tomorrow before a federal judge who was overseeing the distribution of assets to thousands of Filipinos who won a $2 billion judgment against the Marcos estate in a 1995 Honolulu jury trial.

But a U.S. Appeals Court panel ruled Friday in San Francisco that the 9,500 plaintiffs have no right to recover $683 million in Marcos assets that were transferred from a Swiss account to the Philippine government, which claims ownership of the money.