Marcos unveils ambition, controversial past

Marcos unveils ambition, controversial past

By Ed Marso

MANILA (UPI): Imelda Marcos continues to be the weeping widow
of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos as she battles her way to the
Philippines' House of Representatives.

The 65-year-old widow talks to UPI about her political
ambition, her husband, and her controversial past. Following are
excerpts of the interview:

Q: Do you see this Congress bid as a vindication of the Marcos
name?

A: Oh, definitely. It's really not only a vindication. Truth
has prevailed. The voice of the people is the voice of God. But
more than anything, I really would like to do something for the
people of Leyte.

Q: Is this a prelude to a higher position in the years to
come?

A: I am not (aiming) for the position. This is not for
ambition but for compassion.

Q: But do you see yourself running again in 1998?

A: I don't know. I can't see the future. I just try to make
the best of what can be done today. I don't even know if I will
be here tomorrow.

Q: If your husband could see you now, what would he be
thinking?

A: I'm sure he'd be smiling, happy. Initially, when we were
married, I was very allergic to politics. Now I'm like a fish
thrown into water. I feel it is my responsibility to continue
the legacy and the commitment of my husband that this nation will
be great again.

Q: What is the most important thing your husband ever told
you?

A: Oh, there were so many important things, he was such a wise
man. Like me, he was a great romanticist. And I think he taught
me courage -- a lot of courage to reach out for my dreams and my
visions for my country.

Q: How much of Imelda has been influenced by Ferdinand Marcos?

A: Oh, Imelda Marcos now is an influence of many things ----
of people, of the country and the world.

Q: What is the greatest compliment you have ever received?

A: The greatest compliment given to me ever was from Chairman
Mao: "We like Mrs. Marcos because she's so natural." And that
means perfection. Come to think of it, is there anything
imperfect in nature?

I try to beautify the country, they call it extravagance,
frivolity. They laugh at me and call me Imeldific, meaning
extravagant, frivolous and excessive. But when you love, you give
it all. I'm always misunderstood because of what they call
frivolity, extravagance and selfishness. But I'm selfless, and
that's really true. It's even my philosophy that the only thing
you keep in life are those you give away.

In my years of exile in a foreign country and I was alone,
widowed and orphaned from my country, somehow blessings, support
and love would come from everywhere. Indeed, what you plant, you
reap. Karma. I'm a believer of that.

I may be an idiot and crazy and all of that, but my life has
been so blessed. How can I not be a romanticist, an optimist?
more

Q: You say you've been widowed and orphaned. Do you feel alone
now?

A: No. The spirit of Ferdinand is with me and the love of my
friends is with me. I carry them with me all the time. If I make
a decision, I feel safe. If Ferdinand were here, how would he do
it? So now I start to learn how to think and be more rational.
Also, I carry the love of my parents. It teaches me how to take
care of my children, because the love that they give me is total
and selfless. It's a great thing to emulate because children need
selfless love and total love. Again, it has been a beautiful life
in a beautiful world.

Q: Can you quantify your happiness?

A: I can never quantify happiness. First of all, I'm so happy
that there's a God that keeps this world intact, in order, in
love and beautiful.

Q: Are you satisfied with the way you've lived your life or do
you have any regrets?

A: I'm really funny because I have no regrets. Maybe I should
have been smarter, but then again, if I were smarter I'd be a bit
cynical and I don't want to be cynical. I want to be pure and
not lose the child-like attitude towards everything. The child in
you must never leave you, otherwise, you'll get old soon and
angry with the world.

Q: At what point in your life were you most down?

A: The point in my life when I was most down was when I was
abroad. Not only that I lost my husband, not only that we were
deprived of so many things. But for me, to be deprived of country
is the worst thing that can happen to you. I felt like a tree
that had been uprooted.... It's like a slow death.

Q: Can you recall any embarrassing moments?

A: Oh I have many embarrassing moments. One even got me into
real trouble and created a great opponent of my husband. One day
in Congress, I saw this lady and I thought she was on the family
way, and my usual trying to be caring and trying to be sensitive
to the condition, I said, "Madam, oh, when are you going to give
birth?" Only to find out that she was not going to give birth and
she was just fat! She was angry at me. She never forgave me, and
for that matter they went all out against my husband. That really
got me into trouble.

Q: What about the cases filed against you in court, aren't you
embarrassed by them?

A: I think it's a joke. I don't think it's an embarrassment
because I know the truth. It will not inflict you if you are at
peace, and I'm at peace.