Show The Herald JouroalCaehe Sunday March 30 1986—9 Imelda Marcos ruled even her guests scribed as “these times unmitigated adversity” By Marilyn Beck Mrs Marcos spoke of her recent refugee camps her orphanages revelations of the opulent her for the poor programs of at the lifestyle palace' The president told me of the Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos brought to mind my own expe- educational strides he was of his riences in their “home" several making for his people his to efforts out of pull country years ago I was in the Philippines to the worldwide recession of his cover the Second Annual Manila work to find a new market for Film Festival and while I was the Philippines’ ailing sugar a guest of that government I industry by developing a had not expected to be courted biodegradable detergent made of sugar and coconut oiL by the Marcoses A voice within me screamed were and husband I My I won’t give you what “Stop! at the three by airport greeted I will not allow my want you society matrons who informed us they were to be our personal column to be used as a proescorts throughout our Philip- paganda tooL I’m here to report pines stay (This treatment was on a film festival" He asked me to help compose accorded all those Mrs Marcos the toast he would make to the to had deemed be special crowd of several hundred guests) We were told we were to be filmmakeers in the ballroom I among the guests at dinner at suggested they be reminded of the palace that evening and I their power to sway public was whisked off to be fitted for thinking with their cinematic a gown to wear to a gala the statements and be encouraged to use that power wisely His following evening HOLLYWOOD the Marcoses “Be careful what you say Have the radio going when you talk in your hotel room in a limo or in a taxi” The society ladies were charming guides and they kept of — The up a steady flow of “information" about the Philippines and themselves One husband owned the banks another the shipyards the occupation of the third escapes me They chattered on about the Marcoses’ educational programs and their charities We visited the home of one of our hostesses it was situated on a street protected by soldiers Marilyn Beck presidential limousine The driver covered the license plates before we roared out of the palace gates but it seemed an ineffective bit of camouflage as the car sped through the streets of Manila — its polished body gleaming and presidential flags whipping from their fender-- stanchions Several hundred people were smile faded his voice grew cold post The to next he and made reference the day I was teased by in one of gathered for cocktails the palace’s grand saloons when American press — and how it a US film exhibitor that I was Mrs Marcos made her misused its power His angry fortunate I was file writer in the whom Mrs Marcos entrance resplendent in response triggered a vivid family to wanted of the memory impress rather than diamonds and emeralds and a husband He told me his stories had chronicled Us that my featured that taffeta ballgown wife and many other wives her favored “butterfly sleeves” visit to the United States I asked about some of the had found themselves abanSoon she was standing next to me offering the sort of warm most memorable world leaders doned for much of the trip Mrs effusive meting one usually he had known He mentioned Marcos it seems had the habit reserves for a close friend We Churchill and several others I of sending women guests back asked why Roosevelt wasn’t to their hotels after palace had never met informed included on his list and he galas while she kept their An me that my husband and I were responded that Roosevelt had husbands with her for to have an audience with Presi- practically ruined America by parties in her palace disco I dent Marcos We were escorted trying to give it away to the asked “Why in the world would the men agree?" I was told to a room where Marcos was people was “One does not say ’no’ to Mrs the When formal meal of a for court group holding some 20 guests including pro- completed he asked me to join Marcos while in her country" “Ridiculous" I though I ducer David Brown and pro- him in the first dance Then at the same thing when I were we husband’s that thought plea ducer Sherry Lansing I was my was warned Mrs from still by others not to suffering lag jet introduced to the president who smiled and said “I know you Marcos had us escorted to the make negative remarks about well You appear in many papers" The Marcoses had d taken the time to be anti-Marc- os with machine guns Asked why such security was necessary she said it was for protection from the people who poured in from the villages She said the poor were regularly rounded up and returned to the country where they were left with government-supplied seeds to till the lands But inevitably they would return to Manila to beg to live in cardboard huts — or to take over mansions when owners vacated the premises As we toured the approved sites of Manila one of our hostesses would occasionally request “Please tell Mrs Marcos what a nice time we are showing you” The morning after a presidental party I would be asked “Did you tell her — Mrs Marcos — that you are having a wonderful time?” At a gala at historic Fort Santiago at which Mrs Marcos was guest of honor I mentioned to the young woman who escorted me to the restroom that my hostesses were nice she murmured exep-tional- ly “They'd better be husbands’ careers it” Their depend on Manila Night at Fort Santiago saw a gathering of the creme of Manila society and a display of gowns and jewels surpassing any I had ever seen among the wealthy of Texas New York or Hundreds were Hollywood mingling on the lawn when Mrs Marcos arrived with an entourage that included George Hamilton My husband and I were told we were to join the first lady in a promenade around the grounds One of my hostesses gently pushed against my arm and whispered “Hurry she is waiting for you” The walk ended at a tented dining area reserved for Madame Marcos and her party where tables were heaped high with delicacies Later a row of chairs was set up for us before an outdoor stage where local couturier J “Pitoy” Moreno presented a fashion show of his latest creations I had nightmares that night masses banging against a wooden gate begging for food while Mrs Marcos and her party sat within and applauded 19M Tribune Media Services Inc aide-de-ca- all-nig- ht Another presidential took me aside and aide-de-ca- said I was to be the president’s dinner companion and my was to be Mrs Marcos’ Even at my best — without the effects of jet lag — it would have been a challenge with a to make dinner chit-chhead of state I rued the fact I husband at was so about political events there were just vague shadows in my mind of the protests when Marcos had visited America the year before Mrs Marcos changed from one couturier gown to another several times during the evening Her people were childlike she told me with a happy smile They loved to see her dress up she dressed so beautifully “for them” Earlier that day Marcos appeared on television preaching restraint to the masses during what- he de- -- RANGES t’s k well-cue- program you'll ever need The the all new all natural way to lose weight and keep FANTASTIC FIBER DIET is it off! 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