Ilocos Norte | Marcos Museum (Remains, Romance, History), Paoay Church and Malacañang Ti Amianan

young Ferdinand Marcos

I used to admire President Marcos when I was a student. All the books and reading materials on social studies published during my elementary years talked about all the good deeds and heroism Marcos did before and during that time. And then the EDSA revolution happened which led to the fall of the Marcoses. I don't understand it then, don't even know what a revolution is. All I remember now is that of Ninoy's slogan (the Filipino is worth dying for) because I saw it on shirts and caps worn by lots of people during those times, even in the province where I live.

Fast forward 2013 when I was able to visit Ilocos Norte for the first time of which part of the tour is the visit to Batac and Paoay. In Batac, we checked out the Marcos Museum and Mausoleum where lots of Marcos' memorabilia are displayed/stored. It is also the resting place (until the government allowed his remains to be interred in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Marcos' family's demand) of then President Ferdinand Marcos. His said to be remains encased in a glass coffin is displayed in the guarded mausoleum. The mausoleum is quite creepy. It is dim-lighted and there's a low somber piped-in music being played inside. It felt like entering a haunted house, slowly and quietly, on alert as if something unexpected will show up. It made me skittish, gave me an eerie feeling. I was glad I was with several visitors/tourists during that time, otherwise, I think I won't be able to enter the mausoleum and stay there even for a second.

Marcos Museum and Mausoleum

Marcos Museum - Batac, Ilocos Norte

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