MANILA (Reuters – The Philippines votes in the most divisive presidential elections in many decades. The prospect exists of a previously unimaginable return of the Marcos Family to power, just 36 years after their downfall in a “people’s power” revolt.

Leni Robredo, Vice President of the Philippines is up against Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (ex-senator and Congressman), Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s son and nameake. He had been a dictator for 20 years and ended with a revolt in public and his family’s shameful retreat into exile.

According to opinion polls Marcos (also known as Boongbong) is leading her rival by more than 30 percent. He has topped all polls this year. Robredo must win with a low turnout or a late surge if she wants to be president.

Marcos (64) hasn’t presented any policy platform. However, his presidency should provide continuity for Rodrigo Duterte as outgoing leader. Duterte was known for his ruthless strongman approach, which proved popular and allowed him to quickly consolidate power.

Robredo, who is now 57 years old, was a human rights lawyer by trade and a strong liberal. He has pledged, if elected, to help improve education, welfare, fight poverty, and increase market competition.

Open polls at 6 a.m. (2220 GMT Sunday), and close at 7 pm (1100 GMT Monday). A non-official vote count might give an indication about who was the winner just a few hours later.

Marcos enjoys a strong following from younger Filipinos who were born after 1986’s revolution. He launched an enormous social media campaign in a positive and upbeat manner that had undertones historical revisionism.

Social media influencers and his supporters dismissed the narratives about plunder, corruption, and violence under his father’s martial law as lies. They also presented what his critics claim is an alternate version of history. Marcos has not denied that he ran misinformation campaigns.

The Marcos family, even though it was thrown out of grace, returned to the Philippines in the 1990s after exile and is still a strong force in Philippine politics. It has remained influential with its wealth and wide-reaching connections, but they are no longer in good standing.

Marcos can also use the vote to repent his bitter defeat to Robredo during 2016’s vice-presidential election. His narrow loss by just 200k votes was something he tried to overcome but failed to do so.

“VICTORY of UNITY”

On Saturday, masses rallies were held all over Manila as a festival-like conclusion to the campaigns.

Marcos has avoided any debates. Instead, he has campaigned to a message that encourages optimism and unity. On Saturday, Marcos told thousands of Filipino supporters that he envisions a victory for the Philippines.

If elected, Robredo would promise his supporters improved education, health care and public services.

To chants of Leni, Leni, she stated, “It is our right have a future without dignity, and it’s also our duty to fight for it.”

Sara Duterte Carpio (vice presidential running mate), the daughter of incumbent President, could make a big difference in the election. He could also transfer some his enormous support to Marcos. President Trump has yet to endorse any candidate.

A little over 65 million Filipinos have the right to vote in order to choose a successor for Duterte’s six-year tenure.

There are approximately 18,000 open positions, ranging from the seats of Congress and Senate to Mayors, Governors, and Councillors.

Richard Heydarian, author and political analyst, said that the stakes were higher than in any previous election. Marcos is likely to change the constitution in order to consolidate his power, while Robredo will be able to stop a Marcosian hegemony.

In the Philippine Daily Inquirer, he stated that this election was the most significant in Philippine history.