Loren: Ready for change, ready (again) for love?

Sen. Loren Legarda has definitely moved on from her defeat in the vice presidential polls last May. She has her crowning glory to show for it.

“The day after the elections, I called up (Vice President-elect) Jojo Binay and conceded. Four days after, I went to the beauty salon and asked my hairdresser to cut my hair short, then shorter, and then even shorter. There was no looking back. I was ready for change.”

Loren asked stylist Lucy Britannico to trim her hair, then had a staffer take her photo and SMS it to the rest of her staff. They approved, so Lucy thought that was it. Loren surprised them all by saying she wanted her hair cut even shorter.

At a casual dinner with some women in media in her beautiful home in Makati last week, she revealed, “Fifty percent of my friends like my new hairdo, 50 percent don’t. But I like it, so it stays.”

She can be resolute about electoral protests, as she was in 2004 (against the proclamation of Vice President Noli de Castro). And she can be resolute about change.

Would she advise her former colleague Mar Roxas not to pursue his electoral protest? Loren declined to give a categorical answer, but said, “It’s time consuming. It took three years and lots of money. But I had to do it.” She has no regrets.

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A haircut is life-altering.

According to an article in the Allure Daily Beauty Reporter, “women change their hairstyles up to 104 times in their lives and switch the color at least three times. Now, the reasons? Forty-four percent said they did it because they were bored, while 61 percent just wanted to change things up. Another 25 percent went to the salon to ‘re-invent’ themselves, and 38 percent thought a new cut or color would make them feel more confident.”

STAR contributor psychiatrist Angela Halili Jao says a woman gets herself a haircut that changes her appearance drastically for a number of reasons. “Some do it to change body image, to look different, to defy what is conventional. It could also be a passive aggression as a sign of defiance, or just a way of showing she’s different from the ordinary.”

So what now, Loren?

The Loren I saw was more relaxed, gentler, more bubbly. As the rain pitter-pattered, then poured, on the roof of her patio, she engaged us in casual conversation. In the past, she would modulate her voice when the topic turned serious, but that night, she was nothing but conversational, teasing, cajoling, bantering. I can say now the quest for higher office was a burden on her frail frame, and it exacted much from her spirit. There was a public Loren, and a private Loren. But higher office was a quest she had to pursue (she is the only woman to have topped the Senate race twice and the only one to become majority leader) or there would always be that irritating inner voice that would be needling her, and asking, “What if...”

When Loren brought her guests to the front door after dinner, I remarked again that she had a beautiful home. Of white walls, high ceilings, Moroccan doors and lush gardens, it’s stylish but homey.

“It’s very relaxing,” she smiled. “But it’s empty. One day, my sons will leave, too.”

Was that a cry for companionship? Is she hoping for love? She is ready for change. So why not for love?

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The rains were a fitting backdrop for our most pressing topic — climate change. Loren says she has, a public servant and journalist for the last 30 years, devoted much time to ensuring that future generations will live in “enabling environments where our natural resources are used in ways that are sustainable and equitable.”

She recently produced a documentary, “Buhos,” (Downpour) about climate change. Directed by Cannes Best Director awardee Brillante Mendoza, Buhos demystifies global warming by bringing it down to the level of day-to-day living. It offers easy to understand scientific explanations of greenhouse gases and climate change as well as realistic ways of addressing this clear and present danger.

Buhos was launched with the support of SM Cinema and has special screenings in select theaters, schools and universities in the coming months.

AAA Golf Tilt

On Sept. 27, the Assumption Alumnae Association, in partnership with Starbucks, will hold its annual golf tournament at the Sta. Elena Golf Club. Proceeds will help fund scholarships in Assumption mission schools in Baguio City, Iloilo and Kauswagan, Mindanao.

Twelve-year-old Gabrielle Nikhaela Bruce and her younger sister, Samantha Marie Bruce, Assumption grade school students who have won and represented the country in prestigious international golf tournaments such as the USA Callaway Qualifying Junior World, will be the special guests for the ceremonial tee-off. Emceed by Tessa Prieto-Valdes, friends, family and alumnae of the Assumption are encouraged to join this fun tournament that will benefit underprivileged youth.

 Etihad Airways is sponsoring the grand prize, which is a roundtrip ticket to Europe. P200,000 from Lacson and Lacson Insurance Brokers, and another P100,000 from Sevie Oliva await the hole-in-one winners. Other major prizes are from Concepcion Carrier Airconditioning Company, Store Specialists Inc. and American Eye Center for LASIK procedures. Supreme hole sponsor is PLDT Global. Numerous gift certificates and prizes will also be raffled off.

 Tournament fee is P3,000 for members and P2,500 for non-members, inclusive of green fee, golf cart, lunch, raffle ticket and giveaway items. Raffle tickets are also available at P1,500.

(For more details, please contact Maggie or Everly at the Assumption Alumnae Office at 894-3561 or 0917-8081880.)

(You may e-mail me at [email protected])