80-year-old Imelda extends hand of reconciliation

MANILA, Philippines - Former first lady Imelda Marcos, who turned 80 yesterday, has extended a hand of reconciliation to her previous loyal supporters who “disengaged” from her in 2002.

Mrs. Marcos’ former spokeswoman Cherry Cobarrubias told The STAR that the former first lady had invited her, Rita Gaddi-Baltazar, Anthony Violago, and Mrs. Marcos’ nephew Nonoy Escolin to attend the celebration of her 80th birthday at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.

Cobarrubias said Mrs. Marcos sent her invitation through her senior staff Edwin Lamarca.

“I was touched. Edwin told me that Mrs. Marcos is inviting us to attend her birthday celebration. He said Mrs. Marcos ordered him to tell us that she loves us and she wants us to be with her on her 80th birthday,” Cobarrubias said.

Cobarrubias, Baltazar, Violago and Escolin were among the loyal supporters of Mrs. Marcos who disengaged from the latter in 2002 for undisclosed reasons.

“I became nostalgic and all the difficult and sensitive missions that I made for Mrs. Marcos and the late President Marcos have flashed back, including the time that I had to go to Sierra Leone in Africa. At that time, Mrs. Marcos and the late President Marcos could not send their aides because their movements were limited,” Cobarrubias said.

Cobarrubias said that since 1986, she has undertaken some missions for the Marcos couple, including convincing former Vice President Salvador “Doy” Laurel to go to Hawaii for a special meeting with the Marcoses.

“Her friends in Malacañang were no longer calling her at that time (1986). When I heard Edwin tell me that Mrs. Marcos is inviting us to come to her birthday, I already saw that she is trying to reach out. First, she is already old now. The humility (that she showed) is so admirable. We disengaged from her in 2002 because some people surrounding her are sycophants. It includes some of her relatives and friends whom we did not see when she was still in her trying times. They just appeared like mushrooms. It’s a very long story,” Cobarrubias said.

Cobarrubias said Baltazar was among those who were with Mrs. Marcos during the trials of the Marcoses in a court in New York.

“I raised funds for her (Mrs. Marcos) candidacy in 1992, but she lost to FVR (Fidel Valdez Ramos). We are her most loyal supporters. Nonoy Escolin is one of Mrs. Marcos’ nephews. Violago was the one who used to provide vehicles for Mrs. Marcos when she had nothing to use upon her return to the country. Violago’s family spent P1 million during Mrs. Marcos’ birthday held at the Intercon (Intercontinental Hotel in Makati). I became nostalgic when I received her invitation because since 1986, during her downfall, I spent my own money for them,” Cobarrubias said.

Cobarrubias said the humility that was shown by Mrs. Marcos is not “very Imelda.”

“This is not very Imelda. There is no more Imeldific. She is showing humility. We wish her peace of mind and may she have more birthdays to come. I immediately said I am coming. When she lost a case in court, she had company who also cried with her. She said some people are demanding money from her. I asked her what she wanted us to do. We conducted a rally and hunger strike. Those were the things I did to show my love for her, more than a daughter. We cannot depend on others because her so-called cronies and friends are no longer there,” Cobarrubias said.