President Marcos is named as one of TIME’s list of “100 Most Influential People of 2024,” citing his role in the post-pandemic recovery of the country’s economy and his stance against Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (Photo by Thierry Monasse, Getty Images via Time website)
In an article written by TIME correspondent Charlie Campbell, the President was noted for reshaping the country’s history and future.
“He brought technocrats back into government, steadied the post-pandemic economy, and elevated the Philippines on the world stage,” he wrote.
The author took note of Marcos’ policy against China in the disputed West Philippine Sea, and underscored his decision to reinvigorate the Philippines’ ties with the United States.
“Bongbong has stood steadfast against Chinese aggression in the disputed South China Sea and bolstered his nation’s alliance with the U.S. in the face of ‘rising tensions in our region and the world,’ as he said last May,” the article read.
But while “many problems persist,” such as the extrajudicial and journalist killings, Campbell said the President also has the power to change the country’s future.
“But by trying to repair his family name, Bongbong may reshape his country too,” he wrote.
The list, which was first published in 1999, has five categories—Pioneers, Artists, Leaders, Titans, and Icons.
Marcos is listed under the Leaders category, along with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, incoming Taiwanese President William Lai, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, among others.
Marcos is the only Filipino in this year’s list.
In 2017, staunch rivals former president Rodrigo Duterte and former senator Leila de Lima were included in the list. The late former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III was also named in its 2013 list, which cited his “brave stance” in taking China to court.
Maria Ressa was also named in TIME’s 2019 list.