Pep talk with Loren

THEN: Aug. 17, 1988, 22 years ago.

Loren Legarda, slim and exuberant, was treating media friends to lunch at L’Oarangerie. What was rather a refreshing change was the fact that it was not a presscon but simply a gesture of getting together among friends.

“It’s not my birthday or anniversary. I’m not pregnant and so there’s no announcement on this. It’s just my way of spending time with you and express my appreciation for your support. I feel that this way we will be more relaxed and get to enjoy the excellent cuisine.”

The cuisine was really great. The best beef recipe and the superb mango jubilee dessert completed the delicious lunch. But what was more enervating was the bubbly talk and the teasing and a little harmless gossip. Loren went through it all like a good sport. Even her loving husband, former Gov. Tony Leviste helped make everyone enjoy. Tony turned out to be an excellent raconteur and a great one for some witticism.

Nestor Cuartero of Tempo, Ricky Lo of The Philippine STAR, Ronald Constantino and myself got Loren into a corner table and kidded her no end about her relationship with Tina Monzon-Palma. Millet Mananquil of The STAR joined the fray and we had a grand time. Some samples: One referred to Tina as a colleague and Loren unabashed said that Tina belong to older group which was way ahead of her professionally. Then Millet mentioned: The headline should be “Loren says Tina is old!” Loren was aghast. “No, no. I just meant she is ahead of me in the profession!” And we all laughed because we really knew what she meant.

Ricky said: “That’s how a feud starts. The headline will scream, “May feud si Loren at si Tina.” Ronald and Nestor, meanwhile, were having the time of their lives coming up with new screaming headlines.

During that luncheon with friends in media, it was revealed that Loren works very hard for her show. Her schedule, which she gave to some friends, is just so hectic that it can easily break one not inclined to hard work.

“We thought you were going to do a Jackie Lou and announce that you are pregnant,” someone kidded Loren.

“I wish that were true. I’d love to have children and Tony, too. But I don’t have the time. I usually come home around midnight and by time I’m so tired already.”

It was Loren’s husband, Tony, who brought the house down.

“I would like to say a few words,” he said. “Being an old politician and seeing a microphone and noting the audience, the situation is simply hard to pass up.” And forthwith the ex-governor cracked jokes that brought laughter all around. But it was what he said about Loren that touched us.

“I saw Loren on TV and fell in love with her. When she came to interview me I was smitten some more. I met her mother Bessie Legarda one night with Nini Ramos Licaros. And you know what they say about mothers. If you like to know how your loved one will look once they are older, look at her mother. When I saw how pretty Bessie Legarda is, I married Loren right away.”

The irrepressible Joe Guevarra said aloud to Tony: “You should have married the mother!”

Loren herself said a few words later. Among other things she mentioned about some of the things she can thankful for is the fact that “Peptalk garnered five awards this year.” “That includes me!” Tony said in an aside.

NOW: July 23, 2010

Loren left a very successful broadcasting career to join politics. She ran for vice president twice and lost. But she is still a senator riding high on her environment projects. Loren and Tony have two adorable sons. Bessie, who also became a friend, died of cancer a few years back. Tony and Loren are no longer together but Tony has been a colorful and gentlemanly personality through the years I knew him. It was a big shock to all his friends when he was brought to prison for a crime still with the courts. I tried to visit twice but it was always the wrong time. Joe Guevarra, dead for several years now, left a void in journalism with his kind of reportage on political shenanigans with humor that cuts deeply.