Marcos’ ‘shameless’ F1 fun in Singapore shows his confidence in Philippine poll position: critics

Opponents call Marcos ‘shamelessly entitled’ and ‘callous’ for having fun in Singapore barely two weeks after Typhoon Noru left death and destruction on Luzon island

His attendance of grand events, including four lavish birthday parties, in just four months of taking office, indicates his outsize confidence in his mandate, critics say

Reading Time:4 minutes

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (far right) meets VIPs at the F1 race in Singapore on October 3, 2022. Photo: Facebook

Published: 8:30am, 5 Oct 2022Updated: 11:42pm, 5 Oct 2022

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr may have pitched his surprise attendance at the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix as a necessity to meet potential high-key investors, but the trip has instead shone a spotlight on what some critics say is his penchant for a “jet-setting lifestyle” and neglect of urgent tasks.

Critics such as the left-wing political alliance Bayan say Marcos Jnr was “shamelessly entitled” and “callous” for attending the race weekend while the country’s economy remained in turmoil and in the aftermath of destruction caused by Super Typhoon Noru across the main island of Luzon.

The annual event – held for the first time since 2019 following a pandemic-enforced interruption – has since its inception in 2008 served as a platform for global investors and world leaders to converge for a weekend of deal-making on the sidelines.

Ahead of this year’s race, several high-key business conferences were held in Singapore, including the Milken Institute Asia Summit.

Marcos Jnr was not the only world leader at the grand prix. Among the dignitaries in Singapore over the weekend were Rwanda President Paul Kagame, Palau’s president Surangel Whipps Jnr, Malaysia’s Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Saudi royal court adviser Fahad Toonsi.