Squiz Today – Friday, 6 May

THE SQUIZ
There are 65 million Filipinos who will go to the polls on Monday, and a bit is going on, so let’s get ready for it… Ferdinand Marcos Jr is in line for victory – his nickname is Bongbong, and he is the namesake and only son of the country’s late dictator. If the polls are correct, the 64yo will replace populist President Rodrigo Duterte and return a political dynasty associated with corruption, greed and human rights abuses to the top of the nation’s government. A wave of online disinformation has lionised the Marcos era, and his campaign slogan is “together we will rise again”.

GIVE ME THE MARCOS FAMILY CHEATSHEET…
Marcos Jr was 28yo when his father was toppled by the 1986 People Power Revolution. Ferdinand Sr had been president for more than 20 years, and to give you a sense of the guy, he ruled under martial law from 1972-81 under a form of government he branded (while channelling his inner Orwell…) ‘constitutional authoritarianism’. One of the most controversial leaders of the era, he was corrupt and brutal – and was accused of ordering the murder of opposition leader Benigno Aquino. When they were turfed out, the family fled and went into exile in Hawaii, taking gold, jewellery, and crates of cash with them. They left behind 1,200 pairs of first lady Imelda’s shoes… And they left documents which outlined monthly ‘donations’ from those who benefitted from Ferdinand Sr’s rule. Marcos Jr has downplayed/denied abuses committed by his father and developed a significant social media presence that’s rebranded the family. Imelda, now 92yo and living in Manila, has described the presidency as her son’s “destiny”.

AND THIS PRESIDENTIAL RACE?
The president and vice president are elected separately and often come from different political parties. Marcos Jr is running against Leni Robredo, who is currently the veep and a human rights lawyer who’s targeted Marcos’s ill-gotten wealth during the campaign. “If the son benefits from the father’s sin, he is also guilty,” she said in February. Robredo is an outspoken critic of outgoing ‘strongman’ President Rodrigo Duterte, whose “war on drugs” has been characterised as the extrajudicial killing of 12,000 Filipinos. Marcos Jr has appeared at mass rallies on the campaign trail with his vice-presidential running mate Sara Duterte-Carpio – Duterte’s daughter. Also running is Manny Pacquiao, a world champion boxer and national hero who became a senator in 2016.

Pushin’ and shovin’ in the campaign

Reports this morning say Labor leader Anthony Albanese’s colleagues have told him to “get across the detail” of his policies after another stumble on the campaign trail. He couldn’t remember the 6 points of the Labor’s NDIS policy – he attempted to deflect the question several times before getting a copy of the policy from his advisers. He then found the page and delivered the lines. Totes awks, his internal critics say. Last night on ABC TV’s Q&A, Albanese said he was frustrated that the campaign is focused on “soundbites rather than philosophies and values”. Meanwhile, PM Scott Morrison has told the Financial Review (paywall) that he can win the election despite the polls saying otherwise. ”People have not made up their mind, and they’re looking to determine what is going to drive their choice. We’re not at push comes to shove, yet.” Pre-poll voting opens on Monday.

A ceasefire for Mariupol

Russia says a 3-day ceasefire in its attack on the Ukrainian city will allow the remaining estimated 200 remaining civilians to flee the Azovstal steelworks. According to officials, it has been the site of “difficult, bloody battles”, and 101 people escaped the site earlier this week. President Volodymyr Zelensky says it’s a complex operation because people will need to be dug out of the underground bunkers by hand, and the United Nations says it stands ready to help. Previous ceasefires in the war have seen mixed results, with Ukraine accusing Russian forces of breaking agreements. The European Commission has proposed to step up its efforts to punish Russia for this invasion with a total ban on oil imports by the end of the year – but not everyone’s on board… Hungary has rejected the idea, with one official saying it would wreck the nation’s economy. Czech PM Petr Fiala said he wants a 2-3 year transition period to lock down new energy sources. Last year, Russia supplied Europe with 25% of its oil.

The WHO says double it

The death toll from the COVID pandemic is 14.9 million – more than twice the official number, according to the World Health Organization. And in India, there were 4.7 million COVID deaths, the WHO says – 10 times the official figure and almost a third of COVID deaths globally. Indian officials say they have “concerns” about how that number was reached, but other studies have come to similar conclusions. The measure used by the WHO is called ‘excess deaths’ – how many more people died than would usually be expected before the pandemic hit. And one thing to note: it also considers deaths that were not directly because of COVID but because they were unable to access hospitals for the care they needed, for example. But the conclusion is the majority of excess deaths were because of a COVID infection. “If we don’t count the dead, we will miss the opportunity to be better prepared for the next time,” said WHO statistician Dr Samira Asma. Australia’s death toll from COVID is 7,423 – globally, it’s 6.2 million.

Tassie jackjumps towards NBL glory

Ants aren’t usually our thing, but we’re jumping on the Tassie JackJumpers’ bandwagon… The team is looking to claim this year’s National Basketball League title – in their first season. They face off against the Sydney Kings tonight in the first game of the best-of-5 series. The team entered the competition as the underdogs but have punched well above their weight. After a bad start, rookie American coach Scott Roth changed the team’s strategy mid-season, and they have well and truly bounced back, beating reigning champions Melbourne United in the semi-finals. But the Kings won’t be letting their opponents off lightly as they eye their first NBL title in 17 years. “All of Australia is going to be barracking for Tassie outside of Sydney,” former Kings great Shane Heal quipped. For those unfamiliar with a Jack Jumper, it’s venomous and (surprise…) it can jump. So there you go.

Dolly rock n rolls into the Hall of Fame

Country music icon Dolly Parton will be among a handful of artists including Eminem, Lionel Ritchie, Duran Duran, Pat Benatar, Eurythmics, and Carly Simon to be inducted into the 2022 Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame later this year. “This diverse group of inductees each had a profound impact on the sound of youth culture and helped change the course of rock ‘n roll,” chairman John Sykes said. Confused about Parton’s inclusion after saying in March that she was pulling out of contention because she hadn’t “earned the right” as a non-rock artist? The organisers kept her 50-year-plus contribution to music under review. Last week, Parton backtracked, saying she now understands there’s more to the honour than being a rock ‘n roll star and would “accept gracefully” if chosen. Whatever’s happened, she and the others are all megastars.

Speaking of Imelda Marcos, it reminded us of her close friend Doris Duke – the American heiress who put her up in Hawaii. Duke’s Oahu home Shangri-la and its incredible collection of Islamic art is open to the public and well worth a look if you’re ever there. And look, she might have got away with murder in the 1960s, but that’s how she rolled…

Comedian Jimmy Rees has found his post-COVID groove, and his city guides are bang on. Here you go, Canberra, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and the Goldie.

A longtime Squizer passed on this recipe a couple of weeks ago, we made it last weekend, and yum. It’s Ottolenghi, it’s easy and… it’s a blueberry, almond and lemon cake. The recipe says it’s still great after 3 days, but who has the willpower… Get into it.

11.30am (AEST) – The Reserve Bank of Australia makes a statement on monetary policy

7.30pm (AEST) – Basketball – NBL Grand Final Game 1 – Sydney Kings v Tasmania JackJumpers – Sydney

National Memorial Service is held for fire and emergency service personnel – Canberra

A judgment is handed down on Tony Mokbel’s appeal over his drug trafficking convictions he claims were tainted by Nicola Gobbo ‘Lawyer X’ scandal – Melbourne

Company Results – Macquarie Group

International No Diet Day

Sauvignon Blanc Day

Birthdays for former UK PM Tony Blair (1953), actor/filmmaker George Clooney (1961) and Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor (2019)

Anniversary of:
• George V being made King of Great Britain after the death of his father Edward VII (1910)
• Michael Jackson and the Bee Gees being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1997)
• the founding of SpaceX by entrepreneur Elon Musk (2002)