THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON “IMELDA” TAUGHT ME



Probably by now you may have watch Ramona Diaz’s Documentary Film “Imelda”, or if not, you may have read quite a number of film reviews about her work, so I live the review of the film to the legitimate film critics. There are only three words I can say about “Imelda”, it’s funny, entertaining and informative (not necessarily in that order).

I watched “Imelda” twice over the weekend, first was on Saturday evening and the second time was with my Aunt Anamy on Sunday afternoon. The film features interesting interviews that the Diaz did on Imelda Marcos on the different aspect of her life. Imelda talked about her childhood, meeting and marrying Ferdinand Marcos after 11 days of whirlwind courtship, becoming the First Lady, Martial Law, the People Power, her shoes and her diamonds, her ternoes, her parties, her theories of the Good, the Truth and the Beautiful, among others. Watching the film gave you a deeper look on what’s in the mind of Imelda and how until today she is denial of any wrongs she committed to the Filipino people. Listening to her make you ponder on your life as well.

And this is what I learned - - you need “real friends”. Friends who will not just say good things about you, but who will also be kind enough to tell you your wrong and your idea sucks.

This is the trouble with Imelda, she was surrounded by people who are all trying to please her that even if her idea is the most stupid of all, they still praised her telling her how marvelous her ideas were. You just have to watched her explain her so called “Seven Portals of Peace and Order” to know what I mean. Since it seems to her that everybody was praising her for her ideas, she concluded that her idea is really great! Remember the story of the “Emperor and his New Clothes”? Imelda is very much like the Emperor. Imelda believed that her theories and ideas are great that she even wrote a book for which she said that she “presumptuously write”. The book was entitled “Circles of Life”. (If your wondering why it didn’t make it to the bestsellers list, you already know the reason)

That is why you need friends, friends who would let you go back and think of the reality, friends who help you plant your feet firmly on the ground now matter how successful and how rich you have become. Mga Kaibigang handang-handa sapakin ka para lang magising ka sa kahibangan mo. (I couldn’t say it much better but in Filipino)

And I thank God I have those friends, thank you guys and I love you!

For more about the film, click here