The Ferdinand E. Marcos Presidential Center is housed in what was once the ancestral home of the Marcos family. The center is more than just a museum; it’s a walk-through of a highly influential—and controversial—chapter in Philippine history. As I stepped inside, I was welcomed by portraits, personal memorabilia, awards, documents, and even handwritten notes that offered a closer look at Marcos’ rise from a topnotch student and decorated World War II soldier to becoming the 10th President of the Philippines.