THREE INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN PHL

By Philip M. Lustre Jr.

Three women make life quite interesting in  the Philippines - Miriam Defensor Santiago, Kris Aquino and Imelda Marcos. 

Without these three women, this country could have been a virtual Sahara - lifeless, boring, and insignificant. 

They provide the entertainment, although they are not entertainers in the mold of Nanette Inventor, Pokwang, Ai-Ai delas Alas, and many others whose presence is enough to suffocate the free television. 

Imelda, the other half of the Marcos conjugal dictatorship, has been around since the 1960s, when Marcos won the presidency in the 1965 elections, beating Diosdado Macapagal, father of Gloria Arroyo, a former president. 

But she established her presence in the 1970s, when Marcos declared martial law and ruled indefinitely. 

She has been a notable and colorful figure ever since, becoming internationally notorious for her unparalleled extravagance. She is known for her colorful quotes. 

"Some are smarter than the others," she once told an American journalist, when asked about the rise of new cronies under the Marcos dictatorial rule. 

In yet another interview with another American writer, Madame Imelda gave a succinct view of this country: "This is a rich country pretending to be poor." 

In what appeared to be a dig about the country's moneyed elites, once the "Rose of Tacloban," who slept in the entresuelo below the house of her half siblings, said: "They are poor people with money." 

It was Imelda, who tossed the idea almost six years ago that her mediocre son, Ferdinand Jr., would run for president in 2016. He instead ran unsuccessfully for vice president.

When Imelda momentarily faded away because of their exile to Honolulu gamechanging after the EDSA People Power Revolution, Kris took over as the fumbling presidential daughter. 

Kris, one of the country's biggest taxpayers, was easily overshadowed her four shy sisters, who prefer to live in privacy. She had a string of lovers - half-witted married men with storied past. 

Kris is the uncontrollable rascal, a disgrace to her own clan. Since her life is a virtual open book with many salacious chapters, Kris gave too numerous unpalatable quotes, which are not meant to be stored in memory. 

Miriam (who was still alive when I wrote this essay - PL) captured the people's imagination in the 1990s as the castrating virago, who did not hesitate to give undesirable aliens, mostly penniless backpackers, severe tongue lashing in front of the camera before their deportation to some parts unknown. 

She ran, albeit unsuccessfully, for president in 1992 - and still thinks she won it. Her early supporters later rued that it was best for the country that she did not win. 

Otherwise, Miriam, with her pugnacious character, could have triggered a war in East Asia. 

Miriam, who has been described a mental case, as people described her as "nuts," is a gold mine for great but useless quotes. 

In the seemingly abysmal collective neurosis - or ennui - that continues to envelop this country, Miriam could provide the laughter or catharsis. but that's all she could do. 

She is a do-nothing lawmaker, who has not contributed much, when it comes to legislation. In brief, she is all talk. 

These three women are still useful for the country. 

They will have to stay awhile even as new ones are on the rise to take over their place. 

We will remain loquacious and unmindful of our own fate, but these three women will entertain us even they do not really try that much. they are the natural comedians.