Memories of Monet

My fondest memory of Monet Barrica de Villa remains the image of her one mid-morning, coming out of a kitchen where she was obviously conducting her usual chores, to say hello to Mario Taguiwalo and me as we stood at an anteroom waiting for her husband.

Thing was, she came out of that kitchen with a gleaming chopping blade in her hand. Mario and I simultaneously took a step back, and spontaneously pretended that we were on the verge of being physically attacked. One of us said something like "O, Ma’m, mag-hunos-dili po kayo, at wala naman kaming ginagawang masama. (Ma’m, kindly keep your cool, as we’re not up to any mischief.)"

It took her the briefest while to realize the sight she had presented, with that chopper raised high. Then she burst into rollicking laughter, acknowledging the quip.

Such was the warm and jovial personality of this lady whom we cherished, that so much more than a nodding acquaintance had been forged with her, even if we were only occasional consultants on a seasonal palaver with the man of the house, Gen. Renato de Villa.

Her soldier, the steadfast hero who thwarted all the coup attempts against Tita Cory, we knew to be an honorable man. Could he have married other than a perfect choice for a lady? We doubted not.

When we first met him in the late ’80s, we already knew him to be a soldier’s soldier. It turned out that he was also Monet’s soldier, a family man with decent kids. And when their home in Camp Aguinaldo was blasted by putchists’ fire from above, friends of all stripes quickly rendered support, as it was known that all the De Villas had owned went with that house.

Eventually, he was ensconced with family at what might be called a ritzy, gated village in Quezon City. But everyone knew that it was practically a gift from a landed family that knew how to reward a retired general who had abided by his country with all the honesty and sterling conduct he had learned, and taught, at the Philippine Military Academy.

Meanwhile, his beloved and loving wife had to undergo an extended crisis. For long years she battled the Big C. Again, friends in high, official places pitched in for support, so that Monet could receive treatment abroad. I recall my dad-in-law, then President Aquino’s Executive Secretary, recounting how Tita Cory had personally instructed him to make sure that Cabinet member De Villa’s wife would have no trouble going to Houston for medical treatment.

Yet through all those years Monet remained cheery and warm, ever seeing to her husband’s growing circle of friends and admirers: former military men like him, the Couples for Christ brethren like them, technocrats and wealthy men who saw in Rene de Villa a potential leader not only of soldiers or the bureaucrats in the Defense department, but of a people that craved for honesty in government.

By the mid-’90s, deeply in cahoots with a small group of media advisory "experts" rendering professional if friendly service, I was assigned to Sec. Rene de Villa. I loved it. Here was a guy I truly respected, and believed to be one shining hope for the fatherland.

Frequent meetings at the De Villa place meant breakfast, lunch and dinner being served by Monet, who could trade jokes and easy banter with all of "the boys." We got to learn of her ties with Dipolog in Mindanao, and of her favorite beach in Batangas, which was the yet unsung and ruggedly beautiful Laiya. We went with their family to San Juan, Rene’s hometown, where again we saw how local folk were thick in adulation for the straight guy, Mr. Clean, who always came home with his equally adored wife.

A year before the presidential tussle of 1998, I had the privilege of joining then recently retired Defense Sec. Rene de Villa, his family, and a small group of organizers on a multi-purpose foray through several American cities.

We were met by cheering throngs of expatriate Batangueños and other Fil-Ams in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Diego. Ceremonial dinners were organized in capacious hotel ballrooms, so they could listen to him on this speaking tour. Once more the general showed how true to form he was, adamantly pre-empting any fund-raising campaign for a run at the presidency, since it wasn’t yet the season, official or otherwise.

What I valued most during that trip was our stay in Houston, while Monet went through her usual rounds at a hospital. When she could join us, we would drive to a roadside Tex-Mex restaurant, just the family and a few of the touring crew. And Monet would still be her cheery self, teasing and laughing, and solicitously offering us an extra burrito.

At San Juan de Capistrano on the California coast, Monet and Rene walked into a small chapel, knelt at a pew and prayed, for minutes on end. I couldn’t defer the temptation; against better judgment favoring privacy, I still took a picture of the couple together, in intimate communion as they were, with Christ.

The presidential campaign was equally memorable. Days and nights were packed with exciting activities, from the official HQ to the De Villas’ home, where the lanai was often crowded with all sorts of Reporma faithful. There was a big difference, however, from other political campaigns I had experienced to some degree or other in the past. This one featured very decent men and women with whom one shook hands and didn’t have to run to the washroom for Lysol.

One knew, too, that it was because of the standard bearer that this was so. And that his dutiful wife, ever in the shadows except when it came to seeing that everyone availed of a meal, would not have it otherwise.

Last month, Monet joined her Lord, after a brave struggle that lasted for over a decade and a half, and through which her devoted spouse often cast aside whatever other concerns vied for his patriotic attention, so that he could be with her facing the wind at Laiya, strolling by similar surf in Dipolog, accompanying her time and again to Houston, or simply to be at her bedside.

At the Santuario de San Antonio, all the old friends, even those who had fallen away owing to political differences, streamed in day and night to bid farewell to Monet, and condole with Rene, Patrick, Icee, Miko and Jenny. Tita Cory was one of those who came daily, attesting to her abiding gratitude for her friendship with Rene and Monet.

Last Thursday marked the 40th day after Monet’s demise. Again the old boys’ club and the gracious ladies of Couples for Christ gathered to join hands, hear Mass, and break bread with the De Villa family.

Recently back from their usual time-of-the-year travels abroad, Jaime and Bea Zobel sat with Rene at one of the tables, together with P.L. Lim. The Salud clan from Batangas was amply represented. The dapper Rene Valencia was all smiles, seeing all the old "conspiratorial" faces once again. Gen. Rey Velasco voiced out his determination to gain someone’s essential support for a congressional seat in Pangasinan. We all pledged to make him Speaker soon after May. And who knows, maybe Prime Minister not too long after. Arben Santos came late and missed out on that particular source of fun, games and laughter, but I’m sure he contributed generously to a new thread of camaraderie after I said my goodbyes.

It wasn’t quite the same without her, without Monet. That lanai was where she had governed with much grace. Now on a wall was a grouping of five large photos of her, the central one showing her in a bright-red gown, with a pair of pearl strands, and a bouquet of yellow roses before her. Another was in black-and-white, of her in early days of courtship, garbed in a PAL stewardess’ uniform, sipping a Coke. Yet another had her wearing a jaunty cap while obviously on a seaside holiday, seawater behind her.

In all the photos, she is beaming, looking very happy, very radiant, evidently thankful to be living, to have lived, with a wonderful man. Close by, past the corner of the wall, hung a plaque with verses dedicated to the "Soldier."

Monet’s soldier was still close by; they will never be parted. It is one more reason why we pay tribute to her – for her having made this honorable Filipino soldier happy and contented throughout their life together.