Norman Mangusin (born September 29, 1979), who is more known as Francis Leo Marcos or FLM, is a Filipino internet personality who falsely claimed to be a son of former President Ferdinand Marcos.[3] He is known for popularizing the "Mayaman Challenge" which encouraged people to donate to people affected by COVID-19 pandemic-related quarantines. He ran for the 2022 Philippine Senate election.
Francis Leo Marcos | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | September 29, 1979 Philippines | ||||||
| Occupations |
| ||||||
| Known for | Mayaman Challenge; 2022 Senate election bid | ||||||
| Spouse | Mayu Murakami | ||||||
YouTube information | |||||||
| Channel | |||||||
| Years active | 2020[a]–present | ||||||
| Genre | Vlog | ||||||
| Subscribers | 121 thousand[1] | ||||||
| |||||||
Last updated: 13 June 2022 | |||||||
Background
According to his own account, Marcos started his philanthropy in 2007 and for a long time did not benefit from social media publicity. He runs the Optimum Eye Care Program, which aims to provide eyeglasses to people unable to afford them.[4]
Marcos came to wider public attention when he started a trend on Facebook called the "Mayaman Challenge" urging the rich to make a donation to people affected by the enhanced community quarantine imposed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Marcos posted a video about the challenge on Facebook which garnered 9 million views before it was taken down. He then created his own YouTube channel for the challenge.[4]
Legal issues
Marcos is facing multiple charges against him. He has maintained that he is innocent and the charges against him are motivated by people who took offense to his Mayaman Challenge.[5]
In 2020, Marcos was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for violating Revised Optometry Law of 1995 by distributing eyeglasses for his eyecare program allegedly without the sanction of the Philippine Association of Optometry.[6] Marcos believes that the action made against him constitutes persecution, he also denied the child trafficking charges filed against him by the NBI in 2006 for recruiting children.[7]
Political career
Marcos attempted to run for Senator in the 2013 elections but his candidacy was rejected since he was two years short of fulfilling the 35 years of age requirement to run for the position.[8]
He ran again in the 2022 elections. This is despite a petition to declare him as a nuisance candidate. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) ruled that his candidacy is valid due and that he is capable of launching a campaign given the size of social media following he has already garnered at the time.[9] However, he lost with only over 4.5 million votes, placing 27th and short of the 12 seats up for election.
He would run once again for senator in the 2025 elections. Likewise a petition to declare him as a nuisance candidate was filed again.[10]
Personal life
Marcos was born on September 29, 1979. There are conflicting information regarding his birthplace. He is reportedly born in Baguio, in Bulakan, Bulacan, or in Tarangnan, Samar[11][12][13] He goes by the full name of Francis Leo Antonio Marcos.[11] He claims to be associated with the Marcos political family which had President Ferdinand Marcos as its member.[11]
Marcos accounts that his mother revealed to him that he is related to the Marcoses at age 17.[4] Imelda Marcos, the former First Lady, refuted the claim in 2020 stating that Francis Leo Marcos is not connected in any way to her family.[14] According to the NBI, his real name is Norman Mangusin.[11]
He is married to Mayu Murakami.[11]
Notes
- ^ 2022 for current channel
References
- ^ "About FLM COMEBACK". YouTube.
- ^ "WORK HARD IN SILENCE. LET SUCCESS MAKE THE NOISE!!! I FLM LANG MALAKAS. FLM Comeback (Livestream) (in Filipino). May 4, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Malasig, Jeline (May 20, 2020). "The case of Francis Leo Marcos: Issues linked to the internet personality also known as 'Norman Mangusin'". Interaksyon. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Who is Francis Leo Marcos?". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. April 10, 2020. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ del Rosario, Katherine (May 20, 2020). "Online personality na si Francis Leo Marcos, nanindigang walang kasalanan" [Online personality Francis Leo Marcos insists he is not at fault]. RMN Networks (in Filipino). Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ Marquez, Consuelo (May 19, 2020). "Francis Leo Marcos nabbed over violation of optometry law – NBI". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ "Internet personality Francis Leo Marcos claims persecution after arrest". GMA News. May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ Dinglasan, Rouchelle (November 3, 2012). "Comelec weeds out 50 senatorial aspirants, approves five bids". GMA News. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ "'Hindi nuisance': Comelec payag sa 2022 Senate bid ni viral personality Francis Leo Marcos" ['Not a nuisance': Comelec approves the 2022 Senate bid of viral personality Francis Leo Marcos]. Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Filipino). Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 16, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ "14 Senate nuisance candidates file for reconsideration". Manila Standard. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Senatorial Candidate: 44. Marcos, Francis Leo". Vote Pilipinas. ImpactHub PH Inc. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ Tabangcura-Domenden, Jocelyn (May 22, 2020). "Iniuugnay ang sarili sa pamilya Marcos: Imelda, dati nang pinaimbestigahan ang isang FLM - NBI" [Person associating himself with the Marcos family: Imelda, already have someone named FLM investigated - NBI]. Remate (in Filipino). Remate News Central. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ "Certificate of Candidacy for Senator - Marcos, Francis Leo Antonio" (PDF). Commission on Election. October 5, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- ^ Escol, Joel Calamba (April 9, 2020). "Imelda Marcos clarifies she is not in anyway related to Francis Leo Marcos". Mindanao Daily News. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2022.