Why do men of power seek trophy wives?

How does an alluring Assunta de Rossi end up in the arms of someone like Congressman Jules Ledesma? Gretchen Barretto with Tony Boy Cojuangco? Sexy actress Christina Gonzalez end up marrying a Romualdez scion and politician? Actress Rio Diaz marrying Congressman Charlie Cojuangco of the powerful landlord clan of Nationalist People’s Alliance (NPC) chairman Danding Cojuangco? Actress Dawn Zulueta marrying Anton Floirendo Lagdameo, grandson of the Banana King? Miss Universe winner Margie Moran marrying Congressman Tonyboy Floirendo Jr.? Miss Philippines winner Edith Nakpil marrying Davao politico Francisco Rabat? Sexy and talented singer-actress Vina Morales almost becoming the wife of landlord scion and Congressman Miguel Zubiri, whose own mother is also a beauty who married into power.

Why the alliance between beauty and power? Is beauty marrying power one of the best avenues for social mobility and escape in our semi-feudal and oligarchic jueteng republic, where Marimar-type beauties overcome socio-economic barriers and end up with the power elite like Fernando Joses (but not all the powerful men have his physical looks)? Were these men of power seeking "trophy wives" to display to society, or are their instincts sexually drawn by irresistible physical beauty, or have they really fallen in love? Is power really the true and most effective aphrodisiac for the world’s most beautiful women? Is the tantalizing attraction between beautiful women and powerful men one of the true equalizers and democratizing forces in our socially inequitable nation?

Imelda, Evita Peron, Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, Cleopatra

Controversial but still elegant Imelda Romualdez Marcos is a former beauty queen who became the political "secret weapon" and martial law co-ruler of President Ferdinand Marcos. As a youth, she was already known as the "Rose of Tacloban." Even stern dictators like China’s Mao Zedong, Cuba’s Fidel Castro, Libya’s Muammar Khadaffy and others were charmed by Imelda’s queenly charisma and her diplomatic prowess. Not content with being the beautiful First Lady cutting ribbons or hosting receptions, Imelda became top diplomat, Governor of Metro Manila and Minister of Human Settlements. In Asia, the three famous Soong sisters married China’s Finance Minister and banking tycoon H.H. Kung, revolutionary leader Dr. Sun Yat Sen and Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek. The Chinese people remember the three exceptionally beautiful sisters as one who loved money, another who loved China, and the third who loved power.

Two other women who parlayed their physical beauty, charisma and sex appeal to conquer the hearts and bend the will of powerful men were Evita Duarte of Argentina and Cleopatra of Egypt. Evita became the extraordinary First Lady and co-ruler of dictator Juan Peron. Later after her death, the dictator wed another beauty but who lacked the brains and charisma of Evita. Her name is Isabel and she became perhaps the first woman president in the world but she failed miserably as a leader. Another beauty was Cleopatra, who mesmerized and conquered Roman emperor Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony. She presented herself to the Roman ruler rolled up in a grand carpet, in a theatrical grand and sexy entrance. In 5,000 years of Chinese history, Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty was the only woman to formally take over the Dragon Throne unlike other women who ruled behind the scenes as widow, empress dowager or empress. Empress Wu was only one of many imperial concubines, but she later grabbed total political power. Empress Wu was a remarkably successful leader despite criticisms by some male chauvinist historians. Proving that polygamy is not only a male vice, Empress Wu at the age of 72 in year 697 took two Zhang brothers as her lovers and "indulged their every whim" according to historians. As Oxford-educated female historian wrote of her: "Wu Zetian was an extraordinary woman, attractive, exceptionally gifted, politically astute and an excellent judge of men...Her rise to power was steeped in blood. But her government succeeded in extension of Chinese power abroad, strengthening imperial authority and satisfying popular needs of the masses."

Cinderella Weds Prince Charming, Beauty Meets The Beast

Since time immemorial, people have never failed to swoon over sagas of Cinderella marrying Prince Charming similar to that of American actress Grace Kelly marrying absolute ruler and wealthy Prince Rainier of Monaco. Even minor nobility and schoolteacher Diana Spencer was the beautiful bride who rode a horse-driven carriage to the "Wedding of the Century" with the powerful and moneyed Prince Charles, who unfortunately turned out to be not faithful and as charming as a frog.

A warning to aspiring beauty queens and future Assunta de Rossis. There is a darker side to the Cinderella saga of beauty marrying power in Philippine society: It is that of mestiza actress Maria Teresa Carlson who wed Ilocos Norte political warlord Rudy Fariñas. Her life eventually ended up in tragedy and inexplicable violence. Before Maria Teresa Carlson, the other beauties romantically linked to the powerful Fariñas included sexy actress and now Danielli Spa entrepreneur Vivian Velez who had a horrifying experience of their sex video once being widely circulated. Many people are amazed that showbiz queen Nida Blanca was once married to notorious and powerful landlord Congressman Romy Jalosjos. Few people chronicle dark tragedies, preferring to dwell on fairy tale telenovelas similar to the Pretty Woman film or Marimar TV series of poor beauties being swept off their feet by charming powerful men with hearts of gold.

In our semi-feudal and oligarchic society trying to become an American-style democracy, our equivalent of aspiring royalty are political warlords and landlords who have a long history of courting beauty queens or showbiz personalities. Some of the few women are a combination of beauty and brains but many of the beautiful wives of powerful men have only physical beauty as their asset, thus resulting in the phenomenon of the declining quality of genes of our traditional power elite, and giving great opportunity for new aspiring achievers to amass wealth and authority for themselves as the new power elite.

A young Wharton-trained businessman told Philippine STAR: "I agree fully that many powerful men in Philippine society marrying beautiful women will mean not an improvement of ability and talents, but of appearance for the power elite, an improvement in form, not substance. This diminution of talent will allow room for other new aspiring powerful men and women to rise, making the social, economic and even political authority of the old power elite never permanent. This is a different funny form of democracy, a situation which gives room for others in Philippine society to rise. In a way, this shows that all men and women of talent in Philippine society can still make it despite our many social, political and moral problems."

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We are sorry if we hurt the feelings of presidential daughter Jo Ramos, who protests being included in this column’s roster of "scandalous presidential daughters" as being "unfair and inconsiderate." She stressed that she is "a very straight person who does not even drink and very seldom exposed in the social circle of parties."

Jo Ramos explained that she is not "showbiz, but belongs more to the disciplined (underlined) corner of entertainment for the past 18 years." A Cebu-based doctor wrote that Jackie Ejercito Lopez should have been included on the list of well-behaved presidential daughters, asking if this column had so easily forgotten that Erap was also once president of the republic.

Thanks to Solita Monsod, Oscar Orbos and their staff for using this column’s Aug. 25 topic on philandering politicos as the topic for their popular Debate TV program on GMA-7 last Aug. 29. Despite some delay, all e-mails and letters will be answered. Criticisms, complaints, suggestions, jokes, threats, tsismis and love letters are always welcome. Please send them to wilson_lee_flores@hotmail.com or P.O. Box 14277, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.