If the shoe fits . . . Marcos’s extravagant collection ‘has no historical significance’

The shoes and other luxurious possessions left behind by former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos and her dictator husband when they were kicked out in a 1986 “people power” revolt have acquired legendary status. But they have no historical significance, except for some Philippine-made gowns, according to the country’s government.

Communications under-secretary Manolo Quezon issued the statement after the National Museum acknowledged the collection of clothes and shoes had been neglected for more than two decades and that some had been damaged in a monsoon storm last month.

Museum officials said termites, storms and neglect had damaged part of Mrs Marcos’s collection of at least 1,220 pairs of shoes and other items while they were stored between 1986 and 2010 at the Malacanang presidential palace and later at the National Museum in Manila.

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More than 150 boxes of clothes, dress accessories and shoes were transferred to the museum for safe-keeping two years ago. But they deteriorated further after the boxes were stored in a padlocked room that was inundated by heavy rains last month because of a leak in the ceiling.

Mr Quezon said the contents of the boxes had “no historical significance except some of the clothes” made by prominent Philippine couturiers. Museum officials said the Philippine-made gowns might be displayed in public, but they were wary because of the “politically sensitive nature of their provenance”.

A Philippine historian, Michael Xiao Chua, said the items were important and should have been displayed to remind current and future generations of Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorial rule and encourage them to safeguard the country’s democracy.

The damaged items include native see-through barong shirts, which Mr Marcos often wore in public ceremonies during his tyrannical 20-year rule. One barong shirt with a presidential seal was seen on top of a box of 100 shirts – it had reddish stains and a sleeve that was nearly torn off.

A tattered box at the museum had damaged and soiled leather bags and designer shoes bulging out. Termites had damaged the heel and sole of a white Pierre Cardin shoe. Other shoes had been warped out of shape or ruined by stains.

Mr and Mrs Marcos fled the Philippines at the climax of an army-backed “people power” revolt which became a harbinger of change in authoritarian regimes worldwide. They left staggering amounts of personal belongings, clothes and art at the palace, including Mrs Marcos’ shoes, which came to symbolise her extravagance amid crushing poverty in the nation.

Mr Marcos died in exile in 
Hawaii in 1989 and his widow and children returned home years later.

His successor, democracy icon Corazon Aquino, accused him of stealing billions of dollars during his rule and ordered many of his assets seized.

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Mrs Aquino had the shoes displayed at the presidential palace. They were removed from public view and stored in the palace basement when she stepped down in 1992. About 800 pairs were loaned in 2001 to a shoe museum, which has since become a tourist attraction.