Mikey and Angela: A post-Valentine love story

Korina Sanchez, Madame Scoopera herself, has done it again – that is, beat everybody to an exclusive interview with First Son Mikey Macapagal Arroyo and his fiancee, Angela Montenegro (Mikey’s second cousin), who are getting married on June 24.

Last Thurday night, right on Valentine’s Day, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and First Gentleman Mikey Arroyo formally asked Angela’s hand in marriage for their son during the traditional pamanhikan at the Montenegros’ Forbes Park (Makati) home.

The exclusive interview was actually pre-arranged during the celebration of Chinese New year last Feb. 12 at the President Restaurant in Ongpin St., Binondo, Manila, where GMA was the special guest. Korina was there with her TV Patrol team to cover the event. That’s where she arranged the interview with Mikey and Angela who remembered Korina from years ago when Korina, then a business reporter for Channel 4, interviewed Angela’s father, Herman Montenegro, who was then the president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Before the interview, while waiting for Mikey to arrive at the Montenegro home, Angela showed Korina an album she herself made tracing her and Mikey’s love story from the time they met to the present, spanning less than a year (the couple saw and fell in love with each other in March, 2001). Korina observed that, in person, Angela is shy, although very articulate and quite vivacious, turning momentarily tongue-tied when the cameras began rolling.

"The Montenegro girls are goodlooking," said Korina. "Angela’s sisters, Emily Yupangco and Rose (youngest in the family and still single), are pretty, too. Their brother, Greg, recently married actress Ana Roces."

It’s the first time that an incumbent President (and her husband) are giving away a First Son. In the past, it was always a First Daughter given away – Irene Marcos (now Mrs. Greggy Araneta), Joe Ramos (estranged from husband Lloyd Samartino) and Jackie Ejercito (now Mrs. Beaver Lopez).

Here’s Korina sharing her exclusive interview with Funfare readers:

Korina Sanchez (KS): Was it love at first sight for both of you?

Angela (Smiles, giggles): What was it for you, Honey?

KS: Umamin ka na, Mikey.

Mikey: Noong una, hindi ko inaamin. Siempre, nakakahiya naman. Pero oo, ngayon aaminin ko na for the first time na it was love at first sight.

Angela: For me, it wasn’t kasi… Well, I attended this Arroyo family reunion and met Mikey there for the first time. I was schooled in London and only met Luli (Mikey’s sister) before, never Mikey. I just saw him as a cousin.

KS: So, paano ka lumigaw, Mikey?

Mikey: I was certainly attracted to her, especially her eyes. I wanted to get to know her better so I invited her to join our campaign in Pampanga when I was running for Vice Governor. Sabi ko, kung makakapasa ito sa hirap ng kampanya ay puwede na nga siya. Eh, napakagaling niyang makisama. Siempre, dahan-dahan ako dahil siya nag-aral pa sa London at taga-Forbes pa. Ako naman public service at showbiz. Malayo ’di ba?

KS: What was the reaction of your mother, the President?

Mikey: Sabi ko sa kanya I was going out with Angela and she said, "A, go ahead, she’s your cousin, so it’s alright." Then I said, "No, I’m taking her out as more than just a cousin." Her only reservations were about how serious I was about it. She didn’t want bad blood between relatives and our families.

KS: So this issue about you being cousins…

Angela: Yeah. Well, at first I was also apprehensive because both Mikey and I weren’t sure if it was all right. But we consulted lawyers and priests and it is actually allowed by both the laws of society and of the Church.

Mikey: Mayroong iba na yung negative ang gustong i-emphasize. Pero sinigurado namin na tanggap kami ng lipunan at ng Simbahan.

KS: Naku, what if it weren’t allowed?

Mikey: Yun na siguro ang magiging parusa ko sa lahat ng kasalanan ko sa mundong ibabaw! Biro mo, ngayon lang ako mahuhulog nang ganito hindi pa puwede?

Angela: In one party, he held my hand under the table and it felt right. It was okay. He told me about how serious he was and he looked sincere naman. He even followed me to Baltimore to show me how serious he was.

KS: So when did he propose and how?

Angela: Wala lang. We were walking in Malacañang and he asked me, "Hons, will you grow old with me?" And I said, "Yes, I am ready to grow old with you." Then we exchanged "I love you’s!"

KS: What’s with the four-carat (engagement ring)? Can we see the ring?

Angela (Shows ring proudly): It’s actually 3.99 carats. (The number) 99 is very suwerte for the Chinese.

Mikey: It didn’t cost us anything. It is a family heirloom and Angela is the fourth generation to wear it from my family. Kaya inunahan ko na si Dato (younger brother); baka siya pa ang makakuha! (Laughs) Kasi there are some groups already making a fuss out of the cost of the wedding. Naku, hindi nga namin alam paano pa mapapatipid ang gastos. Although there will be a wedding in Pampanga and a reception both there and in Malacañang, cocktails lang kami. Kaya puwede mag-imbita ng marami-rami. Wala nang sit-down o buffet dinner. Menos gastos.

KS: Why Joe Salazar for you, Angela, and Pitoy Moreno for you, Mikey?

Angela: Well, they’re the best!

Mikey: Ah, kasi sila ang nagbigay nang malaki-laking discount! (Laughs)

KS: Motif? Colors?

Angela: Patrick Rosas will do my make-up and my sisters and I figured peach and celadon (mint green) would be nice colors for the motif. It will be Filipiniana with piña for the fabric of my gown and with a pañuelo.

KS: Is it a must for presidential weddings to be Filipiniana in concept?

Mikey: Wala namang batas na ganoon pero maganda na rin siguro na showcase kami ng kultura ng bayan natin. I guess mapapanood din kami sa ibang bansa via the Filipino Channel, halimbawa, di ba? Maganda na ring makita nila ang kultura natin.

KS: Sasakay ka ba, Angela, sa karetela?

Angela (Grins): We don’t know yet.

Mikey: Hindi pa nga plantsado lahat ng plano, e. Marami pang hindi nadedesisyunan.

KS: During the pamanhikan, how was your Mom, Mikey?

Mikey: Oh, she was very relaxed and happy. She stayed till past 10 p.m. I brought flowers and wine for the family.

KS: Ano ang naging kwentuhan sa pamanhikan?

Mikey: Well, my Mom said this might be the last time she can join in planning for the wedding because she is very busy.

KS: Ano ang bilin niya sa preparations?

Mikey: She was worried lang about how to keep the flies away. Baka daw langawin ang pagkain at guests. Pero malayo naman sa poultry ang wedding at reception, e.

KS (Laughs): That’s very interesting. How detailed your Mom really is, huh?

Angela: That’s one thing good about being relatives. We all know each other. No more background checking. The pamanhikan was like a family reunion!

KS: Angela, how do you handle intrigues which have already come your way?

Angela: I know! Word came out that I was pregnant and living-in with Mikey.

KS: What was the worst gossip?

Angela: That I have a child na with Mikey, can you believe it?

KS: So what do you say to Angela about these things, Mikey?

Mikey: Sabi ko lang sa kanya huwag pansinin; ganon talaga ang mundo namin. Sabi ko nga sa kanya itutuloy ko pa rin ang showbiz ko at pamumulitika. Payag naman siya. Sabi ko lang bawal pumunta sa shooting. (Laughs)

KS: At bakit naman? Because of the kissing scenes?

Angela: Oo nga, e. I don’t know why!

KS: You have to know why!

Mikey: Mahirap na. Basta sabi ko sa kanya siguradong may lalabas na mga tsismis tungkol sa mga makakatambal ko. Natural lang yon.

KS: Will you have a honeymoon?

Angela: We plan to go to Europe. I love Europe. It’s so romantic.

Mikey: Pero, kailangan maganda at matipid na package din ’yan! And I won’t be gone for more than two weeks. Kasi, mahal!

KS: Will you live in Malacañang?

Mikey: Marami kaming titirhan. I am an elected official of Pampanga kaya madalas din ako doon. Angela’s parents have offered that we can stay here sometimes, too.

KS: Are you ready to be provincial, Angela?

Angela: Well, I’ll be working, too. I plan to continue working for the family.

Mikey: Malapit lang ang Pampanga. It’s like driving to Makati. Uuwi din kami sa Manila araw-araw siguro.

KS: How many kids do you want to have? And right away?

Angela: We agreed on three. Sana the eldest is a boy.

Mikey: At saka hindi siguro kaagad. Siguro, after three or four years pa.

Angela (Looks at Mikey surprised): That’s so long naman…

Mikey: Mabuti na rin iyong we enjoy each other first and we concentrate on our work. Pagkatapos na lang ng 2004.

KS: Are you ready to be a political wife? And wife of the President’s son at that?

Angela: I don’t see him as that naman, e. I see Mikey as someone good to me and who makes me happy. I will be very supportive of his careers.

KS: What is it about married life with Angela you look forward to most?

Mikey: Angela is beautiful, supportive and very caring. I will finally have someone to have forever who I will love with all my heart.

Angela: Mikey is super cariñoso, very sweet and demonstrative. He’s always hugging and kissing me.

KS: Even in public?

Angela: Oh, yes!

KS: That’s nice. But it doesn’t seem like the Mikey we see in public.

Angela: Oh, he’s very good to me and kahit kanino marunong makisama. Best of all is that he always makes me see the brighter and better side of things. That makes him special.

KS: What would you like to tell the public?

Mikey: Well, I am presenting my wife-to-be, Angela, to the public. I just want everyone to know that she is a good woman and we will both be serving the public to the best of our abilities. And I will love her forever as she deserves to be. And I hope you will all fall in love with her the way I feel for her, too.

(Note: The first part of the interview will be aired on TV Patrol tonight, 6 to 7 o’clock, and the second part on Isyu also tonight at 11, after Headlines, on ABS-CBN.)

It’s a boy for Karen Davila!

Karen Davila gave birth (normal delivery) to a 7.9-pound boy at 6 o’clock yesterday morning at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan, Metro Manila. It’s Karen and fellow ABS-CBN staffer David June Sta. Ana’s first child, to be named David Joshua. Karen’s attending physician was Dr. Greg Pastorfide. Karen and DJ were married middle of last year in Hong Kong .