Laoag City Mayor Michael Marcos Keon, now on his second term, undoubtedly has politics in his blood. After all, he hails from the Marcos clan, which continues to prove its prowess in the Philippines’ political landscape.
He was born on Sept. 22, 1954, to the late Australian journalist Michael James Keon and former Ilocos Norte Governor Elizabeth Marcos Keon, who served from 1971 to 1983. Keon spent his formative years overseas, including Italy, Australia, and Thailand. He credits this upbringing as the influence behind his leadership and management style.
The Laoag Mayor sees himself as tough but fair and hardworking. And although he’s careful about his decisions, he always takes responsibility and accountability for his actions.
Yet besides heeding his call as a public leader, he also has a deep-seated passion for sports, which he discovered in his youth when Keon participated and won in track and swim meets in the schools he attended.
By the time he was pursuing his college education at the University of the Philippines Diliman, he competed in the 41st season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), winning in the 5,000-meter middle distance and setting a new record of 16 minutes and three seconds.
When Keon was 25, his uncle, the late former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., appointed him as the Executive Director of the Gintong Alay Project, the government’s national sports program. Keon had firsthand experience as a public leader, eventually becoming aware that he could do more for his fellow Filipinos.
Under Keon’s leadership, the program established a fortified foundation in the Philippines’ sports industry and had an overwhelming impact on the country’s culture and international profile, producing athletes like Lydia de Vega and Isidro del Prado and making new records in various international games. Fortunately, it wasn’t the only opportunity Keon had to prove himself.
In 2007, he became the Ilocos Norte Governor and focused on healthcare, education, agriculture, and tourism, emphasizing preserving the province’s natural environment and cultural heritage. But in 2018, when Sen. Imee R. Marcos appointed Keon as city councilor of Laoag, he saw the city’s numerous issues and challenges that needed addressing.
He heeded the call for a dire change in leadership and ran during the 2019 elections, eventually taking on the mantle of mayor. With his appointment came a promise for progressive change, along with numerous individuals who shared the same goal of transforming Laoag into an even more prosperous city.
One of his notable achievements is paying off Laoag’s loans during his first year as mayor.
As mayor, Keon is always putting his best foot forward to meet the city’s vision of shaping a “BARO A LAOAG (Bagong Laoag/New Laoag),” which empowers its people through inclusive governance to sustain economic growth and its vibrant culture, while promoting environmental preservation and adapting resiliency.
Keon also takes public opinion seriously to determine how to serve his constituents better.
With him at the helm, he expects to leave a legacy of a new Laoag thriving and bustling with investments across various sectors.