Margot opens up on life, career, advocacies

Cebu City Councilor Margarita Osmeña says she takes each day as it comes. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

(CONCLUSION)

Was there ever a point that you thought of quitting?

No, because I made an oath. Sometimes, but it goes away. Sometimes you can think, as long as you don’t do it. Like how many times ba magsulti ko (would I say), “if I can only kill that person.”

Can you imagine if every time you said that, you did it? You’re going to be in jail and you’re going to be in hell.

Control is not controlling your thoughts but controlling your actions and what you say. Because your thoughts, they just come.

You just have to stop them.

Who is/are your inspiration/s?

Now that I have a granddaughter. When I see other babies. At this point, she’s blessed. Whatever she needs we can provide for. I can identify more with them and wonder what will happen to them if they grow up? But I do know that I pray a lot. Their babies are as much loved.

What’s a typical day for Margot Osmeña?

As much more often than not, I would go to church every morning. In a week maybe there’s one day I can’t go.
But most of the time I go. On a typical, non-political day, I start with Mass and go to the gym. And now, my gym when I go campaigning and walking around.

When I don’t go to Mass, parang it’s kulang (it’s lacking). I need it to start the day. When I go to Mass sometimes my body is there and my mind is wandering everywhere. But I think even if only my body is there, I know God is there.

For the rest of the day, it would depend on my schedule. I wake up very early. Morning masses, to me, they’re more peaceful and quiet. You can really reflect. I usually wake up before 5 a.m. If I can sleep up to 6 a.m. I’m grateful. I am an early riser even when I was younger.

What are your hobbies and other interests outside of City Hall?

Reading and going to the movies.

I like to read. I read a lot. Any kind of books that I can get my hands on. From ridiculous books, to heavy spiritual books, thinking books, inspirational books and also biographies.

I read in the car when travelling. Sometimes I read three books at the same time.

I like to go to the movies. I like the whole process of going to the movies: buying tickets, buying popcorn and snacks, even lining up.

It’s very enjoyable to me and I’ve always done that even before when Tommy and I were dating. Even now, when I have a two-hour break in my schedule, I would still sneak in a movie theater.

I like movies that make me happy. I don’t like to go out to the movies feeling depressed or puzzled.

What’s you beauty secret? Do you go to the gym?

None. Don’t try too hard. Don’t change too much. Just be happy with what you have. I guess I am lucky and blessed to have good genes from both my parents.

My mother was a beautiful woman but it was nothing she got obsessed about. My father is also very handsome.

In the gym, aside from exercising my mouth because I’m with my friend, I do whatever I see at the moment. We do zumba or weights. I think it has helped me a lot.

So far, now at my age, when my past is much longer than my future, I don’t have any maintenance. I’m 66, I’m going to turn 67 this year.

My blood pressure is fine, my sugar is fine, my heart is okay. I can still walk fast and in heels!  Sometimes, I feel something but not to the point that I’m suffering. Nothing serious. I have also learned to listen to my body. If I pretend there’s nothing wrong, I feel worse the next day. If I need to rest, I rest.

How do you balance family, politics and your social life?

You just balance it. It also depends on the circumstances. But family will always, always come first. There are times admittedly that there’s something urgent at the moment at work, and my family would understand that.
My husband will understand because he does the same thing as I do in the past years.

People can’t help but notice your classy fashion sense especially when you’re in the council session. Do you have a personal stylist? How do you pick your clothes?

I’ve always been kikay. I enjoy being a girl. And even when I was young, I saved money to buy red shoes when nobody had red shoes. I am called Ms. Matching Matching, everything has to match.

I don’t go out if I don’t like what I see. I don’t go out of the house with my hair wet. Because somehow you just don’t go out with your hair wet. I don’t go out in tsinelas (slippers). It’s always just to dress properly and appropriately.

I can’t dress like a 30-year-old. I can’t go around in shorts. I don’t have any stylist. I take care of myself. When I see something I like, it doesn’t mean you have to copy it. But sometimes you can adapt it.

I read magazines. Maybe guidelines. Sometime I can say it looks nice on her. And it can’t look appropriate with me. I don’t want to look like, basta I don’t like to look naman like I’ve given up on life. I like to be happy with what I see. I tend not to get obsessed about it.

Do you cook? What’s your favorite food?

Of course not, I don’t cook. Why will I cook? My husband cooks. And he cooks well. I’m a very basic person, di man ko ganahan kanang mga ngalan sa pagkaon nga wala ta kasabot (I’m not interested in food with names that I don’t understand).

Like when I see the vendors like that, that’s what I like. I will buy the porkchop. Everybody who knows me knows that I always eat pork. Di gyud ko kakaon kung wala koy baboy. And I think that you can cook baboy any way and it’s always lami. Unsay dili lami sa baboy? Tanan lami.

For how long do you see yourself as a politician?

As short as can be (laughs).

What are your future plans?

You know what? My future’s shorter than my past. Syempre 66 na ko. I’m not gonna live another 70 years, God forbid. Kakapoy ana.

Where will you be five, 10 years from now?
My granddaughter will dance the Sinulog. And I will be on a wheelchair watching her. I dunno. I don’t plan too far ahead. I take each day as it comes. There’s so much going on.