Mama Marcos shines on son
Bong Bong. President of the Philippines. given name? Ferdinand Marcos. father? The late President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos. Mother – who had her own headlines – Imelda Marcos.
He and I met, before whatsname invented the lightbulb. The Shah of Iran invited friends to celebrate His Majesty’s 2,000-year-old city of Persepolis. Guests such as Princess Grace, Haile Selassie, Spiro Agnew, Imelda. This week – Imelda in Manila, me in New York – traded phone calls. Years come, accidents happen, but friendship lasts for half a century.
When the Kaiser-Roth Corporation owned Miss Universe I, the assistant to the president brought in celebrity judges and arranged for it to be broadcast worldwide from Manila in 1974. For the first time outside the United States. Estimated audience 500,000. Imelda made us a special theater. There was a warning of a terrible storm. Our crew numbered in the hundreds. Calmly, the First Lady sent her air force to the “Seeds of the Clouds”. Who knew what it meant. I know what it did. Dark clouds have removed from Luzon Island. The day cleared. The show was shown on TV. The next day that storm shook us for three days. I was there, I know.
The country is 12 hours ahead. On a visit there the then President Marcos organized a ceremony in my honor. Gowns, jewelry, music, magic, photographers, TVs, flashbulbs. main photo? I am sleeping on the President’s shoulder. Hey, it’s a long flight.
So, yes, of course I know the mother of the new President of the Philippines.
On the phone we remembered his New York trial. Life then was her East Side townhouse and General Douglas MacArthur’s Waldorf Suite, where one day, her friend Doris Duke, the richest woman in the USA, two lawyers, and Imelda needed millions in bail. Nobody knew. I’m already there, I locked in a john where I could hear it all.
His “only son” became president on June 30. She says: “At the age when his father was alive, he always wanted to be a politician. The school was in England. He spent 20 years studying there. And then fled to our province. Became governor, senator and – with my will and prayer – president. I’ll be standing there wearing my best Filipino outfit. I still keep my old clothes but my daughter is making a special gown.
“I know what the hardship is. I remember the days when I faced prison and I was alone. Fighting alone. Returning to Manila I had cases against me. I thought I would never come back. Sarkar was against me. I faced it alone and people prayed to help me. I was in such a sad state.”
We set him up to face the NY judge. We remembered his fall and taken him to the hospital. We remembered a priest conducting mass in his living room. We reviewed the St. Patrick’s Cathedral aisle walking on her knees.
“Now I live alone. Big apartment. Many take care of me. My kids live nearby. July 2 I’ll be 93.
new grandson for chuck
Life changes on both sides of the world. To address the graduation, Sen. Chuck Schumer got word that daughter Jessica was in labor. He and his wife Iris ran overnight to the hospital and in the morning welcomed their first granddaughter.
His eldest son-in-law Mike Shapiro and younger son Noah welcomed Eleanor Alice Schumer-Shapiro at NYU’s Tisch Hospital on June 3. She is named Eleanor Roosevelt with a hat tip. Ellie’s 6 pound, 12 ounce, 20 in. How’s that for Congressional records?
The second flash announcement is that Gramps Schumer didn’t get that news on his Ancient Relic flip phone.
Mazel Tov.
Babies have no hair; The old head is completely bare. between the cradle and the grave; Has a hairstyle, even a beard.
Only from Cindy Wadsworth Longfellow, baby, only from Cindy Wadsworth Longfellow.
