A ‘very simple merienda,’ Imee Marcos says on mom’s birthday bash in Malacañang

A scene during the 93rd birthday celebration of former First Lady Imelda Marcos at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of the Malacañan Palace. Her birthday is on July 2. The Marcos matriarch’s son. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was inaugurated as the 17th President of the country just days before this party, on June 30, 2022. | Photo by Rep. Michael Manotoc

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos on Monday dispelled any insinuations that government money was spent during a “simple” and “small” birthday celebration for her mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, in the Malacañan Palace.

Some photos of the said gathering at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall were posted on social media on Sunday by the senator’s son, Michael Manotoc. The Marcos matriarch’s birthday is on July 2.

“We had a simple family and friends get together, just a small get together and her musical and arts scholars performed a small recital for her and she was very, very pleased,” she said in an interview at the Senate.

Pressed to confirm if a birthday party was held inside the Malacañan Palace, the senator answered yes but stressed that  it was just a “very  simple merienda (snacks).”

“Well nag-merienda, nag-merienda lang. Syempre ‘yung nanay ko 93 na, ang tatanda na nun. ‘Pag sinabing party, parang yugyugan, hindi ganun kasi they are also ancient,” she said.

(We had a merienda, a simple merienda. Of course, my mom is already 93, and it was an old group of guests. When you say party, there’s dancing, but that’s not the case because they are also ancient)

“But yes, we had a get-together, very simple merienda with a small recital of old friends and scholars,” the senator added.

She also said she highly doubts that government resources had been used for her mother’s birthday celebration.

“I don’t think that is the case,” she said. “I’m sure. Everyone brought food, as a matter of fact, that was quite funny,” the senator claimed.

“At saka libre naman lahat nung mga tumugtog. Bawal ba ‘yun? Hindi ko alam kasi nagbi-birthday party rin ako nung bata ako dun eh, bawal ba yun?” she asked.

(And all the performers were free. Is that not allowed? I don’t know because I was also holding birthday parties there when I was a child, is that not allowed?)

The senator described the gathering as a “very, very happy occasion” as her mom turned 93.

“Sabi nya: ‘I’m the happiest person in the world. Ako na ang naging nanay ng isang  presidente, na dating asawa ng isang presidente at buhay pa ako.’  Kaya nakakatuwa s’ya,”  she said of  the former First  Lady.

(She said: ‘I’m the happiest person in the world. I’m the mother of the President, and  also the wife of a former president and yet I’m still alive.’ She’s amusing.)

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