After many years
of hopelessness, finally, Malacañang will be illuminated, not by the new
president. No. I wasn’t concerned about the presidency at all. I was talking
about the “Office of the First Lady”. Yes, the country has urgent need of a
First Lady, and by God’s grace, He granted us Davao’s mayor, the
beautiful and kick-ass woman, Ms. Sarah Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio.
We sometimes
disregard the importance of the role of the veiled power-player behind the
throne. In the past, First Ladies were just the presidential consorts and
principal hostess of the Palace. But that was not the case when Imelda Marcos
assumed the role which she totally revolutionized after becoming an influential
power-player herself. She wasn’t only the Palace’s hostess, but she was also
the late dictator’s alter ego, and at times, one of the many political rivals.
Imelda proved herself as an important political weapon when she became First
Lady- she was a public charmer, humanitarian, and the president’s envoy.
Enough about
Imelda. My point is, since Imelda, the First Lady’s role has changed and
evolved in many ways.
After Imelda,
there was Mrs. Ming Ramos who was very active in her role as the presidential
spouse, advocating issues for the environment, going around the country
promoting and helping charities and many other foundations, even sports events
that promote her sport badminton.
And then we had the Martyr First Lady, former
senator Loi Ejercito-Estrada who renovated the Palace and making it the grand
splendour of Manila (I presume).
Of course, First
Ladies wouldn’t be interesting without their antitheses, the First Queridas.
I wouldn’t
discuss Imelda’s rivals here. That’s another entry. Believe me, I can write a
book about it. I just need the right sources and do some more research.
As for the Ramos
Administration, there was The Hidden First Lady who was allegedly the hostess
of a powerful political group who “counselled” President Ramos and was said to
have an overwhelming influence on the President’s policies. This socialite had
a very peculiar relationship with FVR. I won’t say anything further. I might
end up committing another presumed cyber-crime, or worse, assassinated for
being too chismoso.
On the other
hand, the Martyr First Lady Loi Ejercito-Estrada, well she had to share the
President with other 12 Unofficial First Ladies, allegedly; each living in her
own splendid palace in the capital, allegedly.
The last decade
we had Presidential Spouses who are too glamorous, too scandalous, or too
irritating.
The fall of
Estrada paved the way for the Gloria days, who gave us the first ever First
Gentleman, Mike Arroyo- a huge pig, ugly, and perhaps guilty in all levels of
corruption and plunder. He represented the Philippines in various
business meetings, perhaps with the Chinese, and many other dark lords of
corruption.
And then we had
Kris Aquino, the lady whom I fondly called STD First Lady. She
graced the Philippines with her super
white skin, wide mouth, annoying accent and laugh, tactless bitchy manner, and
her STD. I hated every moment of
it, of having Kris Aquino as First Lady. I really don’t know what she has
achieved and I really don’t care.
But now we have
Sarah Duterte-Carpio, The Kickass First Lady. I will never forget that punch
she gave to their local sheriff in Davao. And her
compelling campaign to push her father to run for the presidency. And of
course, the fact that she bears the name Carpio makes it imperative for me to
raise up my banner and support her.
Obviously, of
the two de facto First Ladies, I choose the First Lady with balls over
the First Lady with crabs.
