BATAC, Ilocos Norte (The Adobo Chronicles) – The Adobo Chronicles crew members were treated to a special private tour of the Ferdinand Marcos Presidential Center which houses the late president’s refrigerated crypt. The center is located in Marcos’ hometown of Batac, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines.

The visiting public is prohibited from taking photos or videos of the crypt, and so were we.

We learned from one of the center’s docents that the world-famous Madam Tussauds wax museum has been negotiating with the Marcos family to replicate the crypt for display at its London site. Madame Tussauds is a wax museum in London with branches in a number of major cities. It was founded by wax sculptor Marie Tussauds. It is a major tourist attraction in London, displaying waxworks of historical and royal figures, film stars, sports stars and infamous murderers.

Marcos’ widow, Imelda, has reportedly refused to grant permission to Madam Tussauds to, in her words, “waxate” the crypt until after the Aquino government has allowed her husband’s burial in the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani (National Heroes’ Cemetery).

Mrs. Marcos also reportedly wants Madam Tussauds to donate an undisclosed percentage of the daily proceeds from the London museum — effective when the wax Marcos crypt is installed — to the poor people of the Philippines.

Already, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares has her eyes set on the potential donation from the Madam Tussauds. Always vigilant, this taxwoman!