“I don’t have an answer for why we allow Imelda to even open her mouth,” said May Rodriguez, a human rights activist and Martial Law survivor who shared her story in the film.
And opened her mouth Imelda Marcos did in Lauren Greenfield’s 101-minute documentary.
It was about the controversial political career and acumen of Imelda, the former first lady of the Philippines, and purported by the film as the kingmaker of the former dictator (her husband) in their heydays and of her son today in the family’s bid to return to Malacañang Palace.
January 29 screenings in the Cultural Center of the Philippines and in the UP Cine Adarna were sold out. This is the Philippine premiere of the much-talked about film that has been screened at the Venice Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, TIFFDocs, and Toronto International Film Festival.
Below are some of the most imeldific quotes from the documentary.
For the uninitiated, the definition of imeldific coined by and after Imelda:
[Ed: And yes, our team took notes the whole screening and we would love to hear and include your additions to this list of quotes from the film and please tell us if there was something we missed.]
I miss the clout of being a first lady. I do not miss the Palace, it was not very comfortable. I miss the clout of being the first lady wherein you can do so much.
– while passing by Malacañang Palace
My dream for the country is a paradise, I don’t just dream it, I want to give birth to it.
– part of a later reference to how she brought animals from Kenya to Calauit, displacing 254 families to build her ‘paradise’
I had no problems in married life.
It was so painful because Marcos just won, we won by 1 million
– she said of that time they were booted out of Malacañang PALACE
There was a big reception and I had to wear jewelry, and we were told to get into the helicopter. So I put diamonds in diapers. It saved us later on to pay the lawyers.
It is not true we flee our country. We were kidnapped. They said we will be taken to Paoay, we were taken to Hawaii instead.
– on leaving the country during the EDSA People Power
Problem with media is the gun can kill you only up to the grave. Media can kill you beyond the grave.
They sequestered everything. Even the Manila house is being auctioned. I cannot even go around the world. I have 170 bank accounts but I cannot have them.
– on PCGG pursuing their ill-gotten wealth
When you lose your money, I mean mom…
– a slip of the tongue? in an interview supposedly talking again about losing her mother at 8
Beauty is the extravagance of love.
– on the ‘Bridge of Love,’ the San Juanico bridge
You need a mother in the government, because a mother makes everything home.
In case I do say I own the painting, will it be given back to me?
– former PCGG Chair quoting Imelda when they asked her if she owns the Monet painting a former secretary of the Marcoses sold for US $ 32 million in a private deal
Losing your country after being her mother, I feel like an orphan again.
I was mother to the world.
I gave birth to what I dreamt of and I always get my way.
Nobody can stop me.
