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In flood-hit Philippines, ‘out of touch’ Marcos slammed for private birthday serenade

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s birthday serenade for his wife might have been a private gesture, but as floodwaters overwhelmed much of Luzon – the…

By Samantha Johnson / August 31, 2026
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s birthday serenade for his wife might have been a private gesture, but as floodwaters overwhelmed much of Luzon – the country’s largest and most populous island and home to the capital Manila – a viral clip of him singing became a public-relations crisis.

Observers told This Week in Asia that Marcos’ celebration of his wife, Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, on her 67th birthday struck the wrong chord with a public already angered by deadly floods, the government’s handling of disaster relief and long-running allegations of corruption in flood-control projects.

By August 26, when Marcos quietly staged his wife’s party with a live band attended by family, close friends and political allies, Manila was almost at a standstill after days of heavy rain.

Online responses sarcastically thanked the president and government for the scandal-hit flood-control projects under his watch.

Two days later, a video of Marcos crooning “You” and “I Love Her” to his wife, taken by one of the party guests, Vigan City Mayor Bonito Singson, surfaced on social media.

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