Imelda made my day

The commemoration of EDSA People Power I last Monday was bland and forgettable, so much like the 80th Academy Awards in Hollywood. Between these two events though, I guess many Pinoys had more fun laughing at Jon Stewart’s antics on stage than seeing former president Cory Aquino attending Mass (which she perpetually does) in yellow dress (which she perpetually wears).

So while the heroes of EDSA have become dull, predictable characters, their only living ’villain’— Imelda Marcos—remains interesting, engaging, and yes, hilarious. Google her name and you’ll have a list of articles, interviews, and websites talking about (others mocking) the former first lady and the life she lived and the character that she still is.

In some of these accounts, I found myself laughing and wanting for more write-ups about her, discovering new information along the way with every different article or interview. I remember watching Ramona Diaz’s ”Imelda” documentary and feeling the same thing— I knew it was made to be a serious documentary, but for the most part it was a comedy of epic proportions. Imelda was so effortless as a comedienne she should have won an Oscar.

My fancy for Imelda Marcos on this particular day was triggered by some pictures of the former first lady, which my officemates and I discovered from our company archives. I don’t know who took the pictures (thus I couldn’t give the proper credit), the event when they were taken (thus I couldn’t explain the context to better appreciate the photos), and whether or not I am violating the company’s code of conduct by using the photos for my personal blog (but I’m posting the photos anyway, hahaha!). Of course, I’m putting in my own short captions for these never-before-published photos of Imelda Marcos.

Imelda’s baptism

Even with eyes closed Imelda still looks regal, small wonder why Ferdinand Marcos was smitten by her Visayan beauty when he first saw her as a young girl from a provincial backwater.  Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Imelda was “swept off her feet in an 11-day whirlwind romance by the young war hero Marcos.” 

Her famous line on beauty:

“People say I’m extravagant because I want to be surrounded by beauty. But tell me, who wants to be surrounded by garbage? Beauty is love made real and the spirit of love is God. Only a crazy man wants to be surrounded by garbage, and I’m not crazy just yet.”

and this:

“They call me corrupt, frivolous. I am not at all privileged. Maybe the only privileged thing is my face. And corrupt? God! I would not look like this if I am corrupt. Some ugliness would settle down on my system.” — cited in Beatriz Romualdez Francia’s Imelda: A Story of the Philippines

 Imelda up close

Indeed, there’s more to Imelda than her beauty. When she didn’t win in a Ms. Manila pageant, she reportedly complained bitterly to the city mayor who offered her an alternative award, dubbing her the ”Muse of Manila.” This must have been one reason why Time magazine described her as “a cunning child with a remarkable gift of self-delusion and self-preservation.” 

Imelda walks in beauty

As first lady, Imelda Marcos earned the reputation as steel butterfly and was heavily criticized for her extravagance deemed grossly inappropriate in a third-world country. Who didn’t hear about her extensive collection of shoes, designer gowns, bullet-proof bras, and gallons of perfumes found in her closet? She was even reputed to be the world’s largest collector of gems. Her art collection is simply impressive, 175 of which were seized, including the Michaelangelos, Botticellis, and Canalettos; her Picasso still hangs on the wall of her posh Makati apartment today. UK’s The Independent reported that in 1980, Imelda went to shopping in US for New York real estate. She allegedly bought the Crown Building for $51-M and the Herald Centre for $60-M, while rejecting the Empire State Building which then was going for $750-M. Whew!

 

Imelda with her beloved masses

But she dismissed all criticisms on extravagance, asserting she had to do it for the masses. Her famous line:

“It is terribly important to do certain things, such as wear overembroidered dresses. After all, the mass follows class. Class never follows mass.” — cited in Ang Katipunan, October 1980

and this:

“When I became First Lady and I would be meeting kings and queens, it would take me an hour to dress up. But when I went to the provinces, it would take me an hour and a half or two. Double the time! Because they need a standard. They need a role model. They need a star, especially in the dark of night …” –cited in Time Magazine, July 2004

and this is my favorite:

“When they see me holding fish, they can see that I am comfortable with kings as well as with paupers.” — quoted in Today, April 1998

Imelda behind bars

Her critics may have been successful at assassinating her character, but they failed in putting her behind bars. About 901 cases were filed against her family here and abroad, but none is successful. To the corruption charges, here are her famous replies:

“I’m like Robin Hood. I rob the rich to make these projects come alive… not really rob. It’s done with a smile.” — in Fortune, 1979

 and this:

“Bakit mayroong mga Pilipino na naninira kay Presidente at kay First Lady?  Hindi ba nila alam na kami ang Tatay at Nanay ng Bayang Pilipino? Kung kamote ang Tatay at kung kamote ang Nanay, kamote ang Pilipino! Ang kamote ay hindi nag-aanak ng kamatis.” — at the Le Baron Hotel in San Jose, California, 1985

And to the accusation that she’s the evil woman behind the rise and fall of Ferdinand Marcos, she replies:

“As we were coming down Malacanang, Ferdinand held my hand and said, ‘Imelda, this is your fault.’ In shock, I asked, ‘Why, Ferdinand?’ He answered, ‘Because you gave me a heart.’” – quoted in Special Edition.

Just last year, when asked if she would have changed anything, she said:

“Yes, I would have changed the country’s name. Why should this country carry the name of a Spanish king who died of syphilis?”– quoted in Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2007.

See? Isn’t she hilarious? Laugh more with more wit and wisdom of Imelda here. And watch this Imelda Marcos spoof titled “Our Maid Imelda.”

 

Boy, oh boy, Imelda Marcos just made my day today. Hahaha!