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The Rise and Fall of Imelda Marcos
In 1966, Imelda Marcos was "rich, young, and beautiful, an Asian Jacqueline Kennedy"; Years later, Benigno Aquino would call her "another Evita Peron" referring to her ruthless ambition and seemingly insatiable desire for wealth and power.
By 1986, she was in exile in Hawaii, having been driven from the country she and her husband had led for over twenty years.
In Imelda Marcos, Filipino journalist Carmen Navarro Pedrosa tells the full story of Imelda's life: her tragically poor childhood and her subsequent drive to succeed socially, financially, and politically. A naive young woman from the provinces, Imelda garnered attention in 1953 as the winner of the Miss Manila contest and caught the eye of a rising young congressman, Ferdinand E. Marcos. After a courtship of eleven days, they were married. Under Ferdinand's stern tutelage, Imelda would emerge as his most important political asset and, later, as one of the wealthiest, most powerful women in the world.
Based on years of research and in-depth interviews with both friends and foes of the Marcoses, this biography traces Imelda's life from her poverty-stricken origins to her present state of exile, providing insight not only into her character but also into the demise of the Marcos regime and the current turbulent political situation in the Philippines.
By 1986, she was in exile in Hawaii, having been driven from the country she and her husband had led for over twenty years.
In Imelda Marcos, Filipino journalist Carmen Navarro Pedrosa tells the full story of Imelda's life: her tragically poor childhood and her subsequent drive to succeed socially, financially, and politically. A naive young woman from the provinces, Imelda garnered attention in 1953 as the winner of the Miss Manila contest and caught the eye of a rising young congressman, Ferdinand E. Marcos. After a courtship of eleven days, they were married. Under Ferdinand's stern tutelage, Imelda would emerge as his most important political asset and, later, as one of the wealthiest, most powerful women in the world.
Based on years of research and in-depth interviews with both friends and foes of the Marcoses, this biography traces Imelda's life from her poverty-stricken origins to her present state of exile, providing insight not only into her character but also into the demise of the Marcos regime and the current turbulent political situation in the Philippines.
230 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 10, 2008
I found this book very eye opening not just with seeing the exorbitance of the Marcos regime but also to the deceptions of the US government in the international scene. The US government flaunts it's affairs overseas as fighting for democracy and yet they support and encourage dictators in other countries for the benefit of capitalism. I've read other books with this same theme but this one adds to the list of countries in which the US has done this. I think Americans generally love democracy but the rich and powerful of America are influencing our government in foreign policy in a very negative way I'm learning. Guess it's because we always elect the rich and powerful to the office of President so its our own fault.
On the other hand, this book is definitely written from one viewpoint. If you talked with someone in the US government or even one of Marcos's kids, they would probably tell you a very different story.
On the other hand, this book is definitely written from one viewpoint. If you talked with someone in the US government or even one of Marcos's kids, they would probably tell you a very different story.
September 4, 2022
More illuminating than Maid in Malacañang will ever be.
Much has been said about Imelda Marcos (Greenfield’s The Kingmaker, Diaz’s Imelda), but I think they mostly honed in on the “post” era of her life. Pedrosa’s portrait of the infamous former first lady of the Philippines feels complete, an in-depth profile, from Imelda’s concealed upbringing in poverty to her rise in excess and power as a Marcos. It’s also just a well-written biographical work.
Much has been said about Imelda Marcos (Greenfield’s The Kingmaker, Diaz’s Imelda), but I think they mostly honed in on the “post” era of her life. Pedrosa’s portrait of the infamous former first lady of the Philippines feels complete, an in-depth profile, from Imelda’s concealed upbringing in poverty to her rise in excess and power as a Marcos. It’s also just a well-written biographical work.
June 26, 2010
I read this book back in college, and it was a good book. It made me see Mrs.Marcos in a different light, made me understand the woman she is today.
June 27, 2017
Interestingly beautiful. I could barely put the book down. The story depicts hunger for wealth and power.
November 9, 2021
It was a perfect continuation of the first book, The Untold Story of Imelda Marcos. This gave more detailed account of what happened from the roots of Imelda, (a short summary was given), to the continuation of the drama after the first book was published, to her rise to power, showing too much corruption and her political influence specially in the diplomatic affairs, up to the final days of their twenty-one years of stay in power in Malacanang. The book has unbiasedly showed the truth of who was Imelda Romualdez and what she had become as Mrs. Imelda Marcos. She became the perfect match of a powerful and ambitious man that shaped her of what she is. The Verdict, the book three of the tale of Imelda Marcos, is a must-read.
August 28, 2025
How tiring it is to strive for freedom in a land inevitably cursed to repeat its history, never knowing its past.
How sorrowful it is to live in a nation where the people do not realize that salvation cannot be found in a symbol of someone's face who never worked in order to flee their home.
How disappointing it is to live in a Marcos-led Philippines.
How disheartening it is to live in a Philippines that is created not for the Filipino people.
How sorrowful it is to live in a nation where the people do not realize that salvation cannot be found in a symbol of someone's face who never worked in order to flee their home.
How disappointing it is to live in a Marcos-led Philippines.
How disheartening it is to live in a Philippines that is created not for the Filipino people.
January 27, 2010
Imelda Marcos is such a character you wouldn't know what to think or feel about her! You'll love and hate her at the same time! She'll remind you of that Billy Joel song.
February 25, 2022
From a poor, small town girl to a queenly First Lady of the Philippines dipped in gold, refinery and the blood of her people, Imelda Marcos never ceases to amaze me with her strong chokehold and ironclad will to get what she wants, no matter the deaths and with ostentatious means. She also happens to be a prime example of how anyone can get away with anything due to her flowering beauty and charm, also known as 'pretty privilege.'
I had gone down a rabbit hole of 'hate-reading' about the lives of one of the worst rulers of my country, married off to a Romualdez, not out of love, but for a political partnership that would place them on the center stage of Philippine politics albeit an imperial dictatorship from 1965 to 1984. I wanted to know why they behaved the way that they did and how they systematically plundered the entire Philippine economy to satisfy their lusts for money, riches, jewelry and rubbing elbows with old monied personalities and leaders of the world, hence all the trappings of how the 'new-rich' would behave.
I can see why this book was banned at the time; for all its pointedness and truth, firsthand accounts by Estrella, Loreto Romualdez and Adoracion Reyes those who have raised Imelda out of love and pity because of her family situation, this was the part of Imelda that tried so hard to hide a past that highly contradicted the spendthrift, pretentious, flighty and ambitious whims of a would-be 'queen of the world'.
Riveting, enraging, astounding with the victory of the Filipino people, I highly recommend this book to those who may not know much of our history, due to denialism and disinformation, most especially during the era where fake news is seen as 'fact.' Nothing can even trump the truth of so many of those who lived, fought and died for our freedom and those who lived, continue to tell the tales of one of the darkest periods of our history.
I had gone down a rabbit hole of 'hate-reading' about the lives of one of the worst rulers of my country, married off to a Romualdez, not out of love, but for a political partnership that would place them on the center stage of Philippine politics albeit an imperial dictatorship from 1965 to 1984. I wanted to know why they behaved the way that they did and how they systematically plundered the entire Philippine economy to satisfy their lusts for money, riches, jewelry and rubbing elbows with old monied personalities and leaders of the world, hence all the trappings of how the 'new-rich' would behave.
I can see why this book was banned at the time; for all its pointedness and truth, firsthand accounts by Estrella, Loreto Romualdez and Adoracion Reyes those who have raised Imelda out of love and pity because of her family situation, this was the part of Imelda that tried so hard to hide a past that highly contradicted the spendthrift, pretentious, flighty and ambitious whims of a would-be 'queen of the world'.
Riveting, enraging, astounding with the victory of the Filipino people, I highly recommend this book to those who may not know much of our history, due to denialism and disinformation, most especially during the era where fake news is seen as 'fact.' Nothing can even trump the truth of so many of those who lived, fought and died for our freedom and those who lived, continue to tell the tales of one of the darkest periods of our history.
August 13, 2023
After watching Here Lies Love the musical, I wanted to read a book about Imelda Marcos. I chose this one, because it is written by a Filipina reporter who wrote a critical, unauthorized biography of Imelda while her husband was still in power.
I learned a great deal about Imelda's difficult childhood which likely drove her to thirst for fame & fortune. To learn how she is the great-granddaughter of a parish priest, and how she used religious power is dis-heartening. But I am glad that I read it.
I learned a great deal about Imelda's difficult childhood which likely drove her to thirst for fame & fortune. To learn how she is the great-granddaughter of a parish priest, and how she used religious power is dis-heartening. But I am glad that I read it.
October 19, 2024
It was written by an authority in things Imelda, and the way she described the right hand of the dictator is accurate, surprisingly, even to this day. Mrs. Marcos’ indifference to the wrongs and evils she and her family inflicted the Philippines during the dictatorship and even to this day is still apparent, with her support and promotion of Marcos Jr.’s administration.
February 24, 2024
Nothing but repugnance for the Marcoses’ egotism and greed.
Yung pinahuli libu-libong tutubi para may design yung puno to killing innocent lives to stay in power and feel accepted? Guuuuuurl? Gigil mo ko beh!
Yung pinahuli libu-libong tutubi para may design yung puno to killing innocent lives to stay in power and feel accepted? Guuuuuurl? Gigil mo ko beh!
September 17, 2019
Rated it..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 12, 2020i like
July 19, 2026
Highly entertaining but also an incredible reminder of how vile Imelda’s opulence was.
August 1, 2017
Comprehensive look at Imelda Marcos's life. I'm not entirely sure I agree with the entire thesis of the book (Imelda was driven primarily by an impoverished childhood and had she accepted her past, she might not have been the rapacious co-dictator she was), but it's certainly useful and interesting.
August 28, 2012
Riveting! Makes one understand Imelda Marcos better. However, that's still not an excuse to what she did to the Filipinos..
October 7, 2014
I think, this book is the perfect source for my research paper.
November 13, 2014
Read this before I saw the musical "Here lies love" about her. Fascinating woman.
March 8, 2016
A good read. I found it very informative about the real truth of the Marcos regime when I was growing up in the Philippines.
Read
May 6, 2016This reveals the secrets of Imelda Marcos. Much better if the Untold Story was the first one to be read before this book.
November 18, 2016
Eye opening.
This book will tell you a different story about Imelda Marcos.
This book will tell you a different story about Imelda Marcos.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews