Imelda Marcos: Former Manila First Lady and Shoe Fashionista

Imelda Remedios Visitacion Romualdez born on July 2, 1929 in Manila Philippines. Daughter of Vicente Orestes Romualdez, a law professor at Saint Paul’s College, and Remedios T. Romualdez.

Marcos spent her childhood in the shadow of the Malacañang Palace in San Miguel District in Manila but when her mother passed in 1938 her family moved to Leyte. After Marcos earned a bachelor’s degree in education in Tacloban’s St. Paul’s College She became a beauty queen and at the age of 18; she was crowned the “Rose of Tacloban.” She later became “Miss Leyte” and later “Miss Philippines.”

During her early years in Manila she was introduced to the machinations of political life. In 1953 she married Norte Congressman Ferdinand E. Marcos and had four children: Maria Imelda “Imee” Marcos, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., Irene Marcos, and Aimee Marcos, who was adopted from within the Romualdezes.

The Marcos regime

During her reign as First Lady, the concept of beauty was very important to her. She always presented herself in such formal attire, complete with the teased up-do and flawless makeup.

She was the first lady of the Philippines when in December 1965 Ferdinand E. Marcos became the 10^th president. He was the first Philippine president to be re-elected to a second term.

During this period she was most criticized for carelessly spending government money that could be spent towards the increasing problem of poverty in the country. Because of her extremely lavish and materialistic desires, she became a fashion icon not only in the Philippines but in America.

By 1981, Imelda’s personal popularity was at an all-time high. She jetsetted around the globe, shopping and hobnobbing with celebrities such as the perennially-tanned American actor George Hamilton.

Exile

On February 25, 1986, Ferdinand Marcos and his family fled to Hawaii after his regime was toppled by the four-day People Power Revolution. Also, the place where her shoes and jewelry were being kept was destroyed, the contents stolen. Even a painting of Imelda was destroyed outside the Malacañan Palace.

“There is a little Imelda in all of us”

Imelda glamorized corruption in the Philippine government through consumerism. Everyone likes to believe she was just being a woman who was living the life of the rich and famous. Imelda herself once claimed that she saw an ad in front of a New York boutique that read, “There’s a little Imelda in all of us.” Do you think this might be somewhat true??

Shoe Museum!!