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Meet the First Family: Here's what you should know about the wife and kids of President Marcos Jr.

Published Jul 01, 2022 5:55 pm

With President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. returning to the Malacañang Palace, he'll be bringing his wife and children into the spotlight as the Philippines' First Family.

Unlike the rest of the household, Marcos Jr. has been a familiar figure in the country since his father, the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr., became president in 1965. And like his dad, he has made a name for himself in the political arena.

Now that Marcos Jr. has officially made his Malacañang comeback, the public is sure to keep a close eye also on the new first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and presidential sons Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro," Joseph Simon, and William Vincent "Vinny."

Let's get to know the members of this powerful and influential family.

Liza Araneta-Marcos

Louise "Liza" Araneta-Marcos is a lawyer and teacher who taught at various schools, including the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Far Eastern University, Northwestern University, Mariano Marcos State University, and Saint Louis University. 

Liza met Marcos Jr. in New York in 1989 after the latter's family was exiled from the Philippines after the People Power Revolution in 1986. They married in Italy in1993.

In April 2022, her online resume became a hot topic as it indicated she was a member of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA). It was later debunked by VERA Files that the organization has no records of her being a member.

In an interview with Boy Abunda, the first lady said she liked her anonymity. She shunned the public spotlight and rarely gave media interviews. However, the 62-year-old lawyer will play a key role in the Marcos Jr. presidency as his number one adviser.

Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro" Marcos

Marcos Jr.'s eldest son is one of the more known members of the first family. Also named after his late grandfather, Sandro has also entered the political field and has been elected as Ilocos Norte's first district representative.

Born and raised in Laoag City, the 28-year-old studied International Politics at the University of London and earned a master's degree in developmental studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Before running for office, Sandro was a member of the legislative staff of his father's cousin Martin Romualdez.

Sandro first gained popularity when he first joined his father's vice-presidential campaign in 2016. He even trended after he mistakenly shaded two circles for president during that year's election.

Joseph Simon Marcos

The middle child, Joseph Simon also spent his early childhood in Ilocos Norte. He then followed the footsteps of his older brother and studied in the United Kingdom, earning a degree in Business Administration and Management from Oxford Brookes University.

This more reserved Marcos shares photos of his dogs and family trips on his Instagram.

William Vincent "Vinny" Marcos

Marcos Jr.'s youngest child Vinny is now 25 years old and is working as a software engineer in Singapore. Like his brothers, Vinny studied in the UK, graduating from Oxford Brookes University.

In family vlogs, Vinny describes himself as "kulit" and is regarded by his family as a "heartbreaker."

The youngest Marcos has shown interest in skateboarding and playing the guitar. He even performed at UniTeam rallies during his father's presidential campaign.

According to Marcos Jr.'s second cousin, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Babe Romualdez, the first family will be staying at Bahay ng Pangarap, the same house that served as a home to former presidents Rodrigo Duterte and the late Noynoy Aquino.