My fabulous friendship with Imelda Marcos — the first lady of the Philippines
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — called 'Bongbong' — just met with Trump, America's president. Trumps I know. Marcoses I've known.
1971, I met the Philippines' then first lady. We were guests of Iran's shah. It was a three-day celebration attended by 60 heads of state to celebrate the 2,500th birthday of his country's birth city Persepolis.
I was then assistant to the Miss Universe president and brought the pageant to Manila. Not to be stopped, she built an entire new theater for it.
Later, in Imelda's East 60s townhouse here in New York, she'd sit alongside a trunk of jewels playing with pearls. Preparing a party she wanted to give, I ordered food from Samir who had an East Side Asian restaurant. She told guests some king had sent it.
Then, it was living in the Waldorf's huge General MacArthur Suite, she turned its living room into a church. Inviting guests like George Hamilton, Gloria Vanderbilt — plus pianist Van Cliburn — she'd stay up all night singing her favorite, 'Yellow Rose of Texas.' New York City spoke of her. Hotelier Leona Helmsley — en route to jail — once asked me how much money Imelda had. Said Leona: 'Makes no difference, I have more.' That interchange remains on my Ron Howard documentary.
Early days, I remember Imelda shopping for caviar in Hong Kong. But that was then. Came exile, in Hawaii. Indictment. Imelda told me then: 'First I cried. Then I gardened because it was therapy. Even a star in the sky has a low point for every high point. I now receive visitors. I will survive.
'When we had no clothes supporters brought us money. Some only $1. One afternoon they raised $15,000. I kept a list. I'll pay everyone back someday. Legal bills, 22 cases against us, came to half a million dollars a month. The US government doesn't allow us to earn money. Nor travel. Hopes were pinned on our wonderful son, Bongbong.'
Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. with his mother Imelda Marcos after taking the oath to become the president of the Philippines on June 30, 2022.
Photo byVolunteers staffed their Hawaii house. Their announcement became: 'The first lady will receive you shortly.' She appeared in pearl earrings, pearl ring, simple sheath. I remembered bringing her privately — years before — to designer Pauline Trigère. This then first lady standing in bra and panty girdle tried on. For hours. Weeks later Trigère called me: 'She hasn't paid. Took 10 outfits. Sent no money.' I called Imelda. Within an hour came a messenger with an envelope. Thirty thousand dollars. Trigère became more cheerful.
Time came when she had to pay $5 million bail. She claimed she didn't have it. Her friend from Hawaii, Doris Duke, came to Imelda's Waldorf suite one day accompanied by two lawyers. They handed her that money. How do I know?
Because Imelda and I — friends — were told they were en route but that the money had to be a secret. Duke and her lawyers arrived. I was stashed in the living room's locked bathroom. Could they see me? No. But I heard every word.
Imelda and I have spoken recently on the phone. She has her own home in Manila. She is well. She is thrilled for her son.
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New York Post
23-07-2025
- New York Post
My fabulous friendship with Imelda Marcos — the first lady of the Philippines
Close viewing of dynasty Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — called 'Bongbong' — just met with Trump, America's president. Trumps I know. Marcoses I've known. 1971, I met the Philippines' then first lady. We were guests of Iran's shah. It was a three-day celebration attended by 60 heads of state to celebrate the 2,500th birthday of his country's birth city Persepolis. I was then assistant to the Miss Universe president and brought the pageant to Manila. Not to be stopped, she built an entire new theater for it. Later, in Imelda's East 60s townhouse here in New York, she'd sit alongside a trunk of jewels playing with pearls. Preparing a party she wanted to give, I ordered food from Samir who had an East Side Asian restaurant. She told guests some king had sent it. Then, it was living in the Waldorf's huge General MacArthur Suite, she turned its living room into a church. Inviting guests like George Hamilton, Gloria Vanderbilt — plus pianist Van Cliburn — she'd stay up all night singing her favorite, 'Yellow Rose of Texas.' New York City spoke of her. Hotelier Leona Helmsley — en route to jail — once asked me how much money Imelda had. Said Leona: 'Makes no difference, I have more.' That interchange remains on my Ron Howard documentary. Early days, I remember Imelda shopping for caviar in Hong Kong. But that was then. Came exile, in Hawaii. Indictment. Imelda told me then: 'First I cried. Then I gardened because it was therapy. Even a star in the sky has a low point for every high point. I now receive visitors. I will survive. 'When we had no clothes supporters brought us money. Some only $1. One afternoon they raised $15,000. I kept a list. I'll pay everyone back someday. Legal bills, 22 cases against us, came to half a million dollars a month. The US government doesn't allow us to earn money. Nor travel. Hopes were pinned on our wonderful son, Bongbong.' Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. with his mother Imelda Marcos after taking the oath to become the president of the Philippines on June 30, 2022. Photo byVolunteers staffed their Hawaii house. Their announcement became: 'The first lady will receive you shortly.' She appeared in pearl earrings, pearl ring, simple sheath. I remembered bringing her privately — years before — to designer Pauline Trigère. This then first lady standing in bra and panty girdle tried on. For hours. Weeks later Trigère called me: 'She hasn't paid. Took 10 outfits. Sent no money.' I called Imelda. Within an hour came a messenger with an envelope. Thirty thousand dollars. Trigère became more cheerful. Time came when she had to pay $5 million bail. She claimed she didn't have it. Her friend from Hawaii, Doris Duke, came to Imelda's Waldorf suite one day accompanied by two lawyers. They handed her that money. How do I know? Because Imelda and I — friends — were told they were en route but that the money had to be a secret. Duke and her lawyers arrived. I was stashed in the living room's locked bathroom. Could they see me? No. But I heard every word. Imelda and I have spoken recently on the phone. She has her own home in Manila. She is well. She is thrilled for her son.
CBS News
22-07-2025
- CBS News
Trump says U.S., Philippines have trade deal after "beautiful visit" with Philippine president
The U.S. and the Philippines have reached a trade deal, President Trump said Tuesday after his Oval Office meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. Mr. Trump announced the outlines of a deal on Truth Social, saying the new tariff rate on products imported from the Philippines would be 19%. The president also said the Philippines would lift all tariffs on U.S. goods. The Philippines has not yet confirmed the the agreement or any details. "It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs," Mr. Trump wrote. "The Philippines will pay a 19% Tariff. In addition, we will work together Militarily. It was a Great Honor to be with the President. He is Highly Respected in his Country, as he should be. He is also a very good, and tough, negotiator. We extend our warmest regards to the wonderful people of The Philippines!" The 19% tariff rate is just shy of the 20% tariff rate the Trump administration was set to impose on the Philippines. And it's also higher than the so-called reciprocal tariff of 17% on Philippine imports the administration announced in April. In his Oval Office meeting with Marcos on Tuesday, Mr. Trump said the U.S. and the Philippines were "very close" to reaching a deal, calling Marcos a tough negotiator. "We're very close to finishing a trade deal, big trade deal, actually, Mr. Trump said Tuesday, seated alongside Marcos. "And we do a lot of business with you, so a lot of — a lot of income coming in for both groups." August 1 is the Trump administration's current deadline for countries to reach trade agreements with the U.S. or face higher tariff rates on goods sent to the U.S.
CNN
22-07-2025
- CNN
‘How's Imelda?': Trump's connection to Philippine leader may be through his mother
Like most foreign leaders coming to visit President Donald Trump, the Philippines' Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will look to make a personal connection with his American counterpart on Tuesday as he seeks a new trade deal. For Marcos, the connection may be his mother. 'How's Imelda?' Trump asked the Philippine leader when they first spoke in November, according to an official familiar with the call, sending his regards to the onetime first lady of the Philippines and a fellow cultural figurehead of the 1980s and 90s. Trump has long placed a premium on family ties and genetics as a measure of people's value, including for foreign leaders and members of his staff. He appeared to be impressed in the lead-up to Tuesday's meeting with Marcos Jr.'s connections to an infamous period in Philippine history, according to a person familiar with the matter. Trump and Imelda Marcos first crossed paths decades ago as members of the international jet set — he as a New York businessman and she as the wife of strongman leader Ferdinand Marcos, famous for her extravagant taste financed by public funds and amassing a massive collection of shoes while her husband imposed martial law. The two attended parties together in New York, including during the period when Imelda Marcos and her husband were forced into exile in Hawaii after being unseated by a popular uprising. They fled the country with crates of gold and pesos. Images show Trump seated alongside his second wife Marla Maples and the glamorous Imelda Marcos at a birthday party in New York in 1991 — ten months before she returned to the Philippines after six years to face graft charges. She went on to have a successful political career herself, elected four times to the House of Representatives for the Philippines, and saw her family name restored to power when her son — known universally by his nickname Bongbong — was elected president in 2022. It wasn't until 2018 that Imelda Marcos was finally convicted on graft charges and sentenced to 42 years in prison; she has remained free in her advanced age (she is 96). For her son, the familial connection may prove useful as he seeks to avoid tariffs and deepen longstanding US-Philippines defense agreements. He will be the first southeast Asian leader to meet Trump since his second term began. Marcos hopes to leverage deep historic ties with the Philippines — the oldest US alliance in the Pacific and a key counterweight to China — for an advantageous trade deal that would avoid the 20% tariff Trump has threatened. Ahead of Tuesday's visit, Philippine officials voiced hope the family ties would translate into a positive meeting. 'That connection, that personal connection obviously is significant in the sense that we all know President Trump is very personal in his relationships with world leaders. And I think that that connection tells you how he values friendship and it is an advantage obviously for the Philippines that President Marcos has that personal connection with President Trump,' Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel 'Babe' Romualdez said. The White House said Trump is looking forward to Marcos' visit, 'where they will discuss cooperation in various areas such as our shared commitment to upholding a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific and advancing shared economic prosperity,' according to a White House official. 'The friendship between the United States and the Philippines is rooted in our long history, marked this year by the 80th anniversary of the shared sacrifice that led to victory in World War II.' Marcos' accommodation for his stay in Washington will be the presidential guest quarters at Blair House, where his father and mother stayed during a visit to Ronald Reagan decades ago.
