MANILA, Philippines — Termites, storms and neglect have damaged part of a former Philippine first lady's legendary collection of shoes and other possessions left behind after she and her husband were driven into exile by a 1986 revolt.
Hundreds of pieces of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos' clothing have also begun to gather mold and fray after being stored for years without protection at the presidential palace and later at Manila's National Museum, officials told the Associated Press on Sunday.
Ferdinand Marcos died in exile in Hawaii in 1989 and his widow and children returned home years later.
They left behind staggering amounts of personal belongings, clothes and art objects at the palace, including at least 1,220 pairs of Imelda Marcos' shoes.
More than 150 cartons of the family's clothes, dress accessories and shoes were transferred to the National Museum for safekeeping two years ago after termites, humidity and mold threatened the apparel at the riverside palace.
They deteriorated further at the museum after the fragile boxes were abandoned in a padlocked hall that couldn't protect the items and was inundated by tropical rains last month from a leak in the ceiling, museum officials said.
Imelda Marcos, now a member of the House of Representatives, was not available for comment.
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