President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos were photographed at a quiet restaurant dinner last Saturday, offering a rare personal glimpse into the couple’s life at a time when unverified claims about the President’s health have dominated social media.
The First Lady shared photos of their outing at Finestra restaurant in Solaire Resort on April 11, just days before their 33rd wedding anniversary. “Sometimes it’s just nice to slow down and enjoy each other’s company. No noise. Just us,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
The dinner came as unfounded claims — many pushed by supporters of the Duterte family — alleged that Marcos is in a coma or suffering from stage four colon cancer. The Presidential Communications Office has described the surge in such posts as “sudden” and “coordinated,” and the administration has said it is preparing to file charges against those responsible.
The health rumors have also drawn the Malacañang Press Corps into the fray. Online posts accused MPC members of each receiving P50,000 from the First Lady to suppress the truth about the President’s condition — allegations the press corps flatly denied.
“The Malacañang Press Corps strongly rejects the allegations that our members are allowing themselves to be used by Malacañang and are being paid to cover up the true state of the President’s health,” the group said in a statement Sunday.
The MPC, whose members cover Malacañang for newspapers, broadcasters, and news websites, cited its own published reports and briefing footage as evidence that it has consistently pressed government officials on Marcos’ condition. The group said its stories are based on interviews, firsthand reporting, and verification — and drew a pointed contrast with online content creators.
“We condemn the callous attempts to tarnish the credibility of journalists and to mislead our countrymen to pursue the interest of a few,” it said.
The controversy has unfolded against a broader backdrop of strain for the Marcos administration, which has been working to contain the economic ripple effects of the Middle East conflict, including fuel price surges and supply chain disruptions affecting overseas Filipino workers.
