‘I’m not red, yellow or red-white-and-blue’
Okay, she was supposed to tell all, that she was going to give a first-hand account of what was rumored to be her connections with the ousted Marcos regime.
She was surprised that we were surprised that she was not telling all, because, as she said, there was nothing to all the rumors which she has not even read about. Not being familiar with her usual ways with the press, we thought her rather belligerent about the direction the interview was taking in the beginning. The Marcoses’ hidden wealth, their dummies, fronts and conduits — these were what we came for. Also because she is Amalia Fuentes — noted movie actress, wife of businessman Joey Stevens who is an American citizen but is on the hold order list of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and whose bank accounts have been frozen.
Amalia never runs out, not only of movies and projects (she is known to be a very good businesswoman), but also of ideas and opinions that debunk people’s “artista lang ang mga ‘yan” (in Amalia’s words) view of movie idols as silver screen shadows wit nothing behind their make-up. Amalia had a lot of things to say, some of them sometimes conflicting, but when taken separately from each other, make sense.
On May 6, we again talked with Ms. Fuentes regarding published reports that charges of sedition and rebellion are going to be filed against her and several other movie personalities who allegedly led Marcos loyalists at rallies.
I WAS never at that May 1 rally.I was in Los Banos at that time. I was there from 9:30 in the morning till 8:30 in the evening. I bought plants and fruits for Joey’s birthday.
I was never invited to those rallies. On my way to Club Intramuros (leased by the Philippine Tourism Authority to Amalia and Joey) on April 27, I stopped by because I saw Alona (Alegre). I even asked her, bakit ka naging ganyan? (Why did you become like that?) Of course I made V signs. What could I do? I went down from the car. I heard Arturo Tolentino was going to speak, so I stopped.
If I was going to hold a rally it’s not going to be like that, I’m not going to try to get Marcos back. It will be on other issues, like insurgency. Why, because I have everything here. I don’t want this country to end up like Vietnam or Korea which is divided. I was in Vietnam during the war shooting a movie, ‘Destination: Vietnam’ Gen. Fidel Ramos was there at that time. I already received a letter from the PTA terminating our contract on Club Intramuros when I still have five years to go on our contract. Some PTA employees inventoried the contents of my two bodegas and padlocked them when I have my own things there. I was not even notified. I am informed the bodegas were padlocked on the basis of the fact that a plate grinder is missing — whatever it is. It must belong to the golf club. I have nothing to do with the golf club (Club Intramuros is like the clubhouse of what used to be the Muni-golf club).
Today, I passed by Liwasang Bonifacio on my way to Club Intramuros and I saw there was a rally. We had to turn back. I didn’t want to be seen there. Baka ano na naman ang sasabihin.
I have not been served any notice yet that I am being charged. But I talked to my lawyer already. If this case is dropped, I’m going to file charges against those who wrote that I am one of the leaders at the rallies. I will be like a test case. I’ll be testing our new freedom if I’m charged in court.
It’s not true that I was used by the Marcoses as a dummy. Period. I’m not close to them. My husband is. The gossip in the Philippines is at its worst state. I only attended two parties of the Marcoses. They got dummies who were close to them for more than 20 years. We’re just Johnny-come-latelies. I’m very visible, why me? I’m not red, red-white-and-blue or yellow. If see something wrong, then that’s wrong, if I see something good, I credit them for that. I can criticize the new government because I had nothing to do with it. I can criticize Marcos because I did not vote for him. Once I told him straight to please remove the curfew. I had a curfew pass but my crew didn’t so they were brought to Camp Crame. I told him, people were mad and cursed him before midnight.
They used me? I think they are smarter than that. There are 58 million Filipinos and I think 50 million would want to be used as dummies. Now they talk tough. Where were they when martial law was declared, when so many went to prison? I’m not like the others, going with the crowd, saying that there is strength in unity.
I remember I fought the Board of Censors’ Maria Kalaw Katigbak because she wanted to cut the portion of the movie where Liezl, my daughter, made the L sign with her fingers. But those shots which were incorporated in a recent movie were taken when she was three years old. She was saying Love, Liezl! I was mad. I came out on TV. I answered Katigbak to her face. I even sent Marcos a letter regarding this. He approved in writing the inclusion of that scene in the movie. Cardinal Sin even makes the L sign during his homily.
Now there is this Committee on Human Rights headed by Diokno. They’re after the military. But there were abuses on both sides. In any war you cannot say that there is no torture, that everybody will abide by the rule. My own father died as a prisoner in the last World War.
I’m happy that they have opened the Palace. I hated the fact that you could not even pass through that street before. Those who block the streets and make basketball courts, they are just following what they saw our leaders were doing.
The hospital room in Malacanang is a revelation. But the chandeliers have always been there. I don’t see anything ostentatious.
I have no holdings in the U.S. The house there is my brother’s. I cannot own a house there as the banks won’t give me a loan because I have no job there. The banks will screen to see if I can pay the amortization.
My husband is in the insurance business. Joey is the grandson of Rita Legarda. Gen. Basillo Valdez is the brother of his mother. My husband is not exactly poor. Their home on R. Hidalgo used to be one of the big houses there. I’ve worked 30 years and I’m not exactly poor either.
(Presidential candidate) Sergio Osmena offered me P30,000 then to join his rally but I refused. The rally was going to be in Plaza Miranda where the bombing occurred. If I went I would be limping by now. I don’t like it when I hear Nora Aunor being called balimbing. She was also close to Lupita (Ninoy’s sister). Nora started as a water girl. If Imee Marcos goes to her house, wouldn’t she get flattered? I’m not privy to their negotiations though.
I can’t say whether I was happy or sad when Marcos left. But I’m for anything that is good for the country. In the end, that would also benefit me. Of course, I was proud about People Power. My daughter sent me tapes from the U.S. I saw everything that was not shown here. Before, foreigners would always look down on us. They’d look at our passports. They think we’re going to be chambermaids. I would tell them, I’m a movie actress. Passports used to show your occupation. In the train, someone would say, ah, my maid is a Filipina. So patronizing.
I’ve met women in Spain, some were nurses, optometrists. They worked there as maids. Why, because they are not paid enough here.
If they think I really made money from my connections with Marcos why don’t they just file a case? You are considered innocent until proven guilty. They can check the movement in my bank account. I can prove every penny. I cannot claim that I had something to do with Cory’s victory. I did not stop the tanks. I cannot take credit for that. Those who rooted for Marcos must feel a personal loss. Really, I don’t know their feelings since I have been keeping a low profile.
Maybe they underestimated Cory’s chances. I was happy when I heard Cory say she will be magnanimous in victory. I don’t like male chauvinists who belittle women. You don’t have to be a lawyer or something. If Reagn could be president then maybe Joseph Estrada, Ronnie Poe or Ramon Revilla could also become president. Running a country is like running a household. Don’t spend more than what you earn. But I reserve my judgment on Marcos regarding this at this point.
I also reserve my judgment on the Cory government. It’s too soon.
My brother Cheng was a rabid Cory follower. We discussed till the last minute.
I went to Ninoy’s wake and stayed for three hours. I even lined up because I felt outraged at what happened. No politics there. I wanted to condole with — the family. My nephew Aga Muhlach campaigned for Cory. I didn’t vote before but this time I did, para akong walang utak if I didn’t.
Marcos is already enjoying the weather in Hawaii and here we are suffering the heat. All this thing about their hidden wealth. That has always been the issue since the time of Macapagal, Garcia. As a little girl my mother brought me to a rally and there I heard about Quirino’s orinola (chamber pot). In every regime there is always somebody to blame.
Yes, there are international forces which influence us. Our economy is pegged to the dollar. If the U.S. cuts our quota on sugar or coconut, who suffers? Not the middlemen. They have commission. It is the farmer.
We cannot help but be under the U.S. if we have to survive. The Communists say, down with the U.S., but where will we go, to Russia? At least I know the U.S. as a good model, I have lived there, but what I know of Russia is something else. The worst thing that can happen to this country is a Communist takeover. They have collectives.
The capitalists take the risk of investing, they worry, they cannot sleep. The workers do not have to worry and can look forward to their salaries. But look what Labor Minister Augusto Sanchez said. I know of an investor from Hong Kong who backed out when he heard what Sanchez said. I think there has to be a happy compromise between capitalism and socialism.
The U.S.? Well, the stronger ones always bully the smaller ones in this world.
But look at Japan. I hate the Japanese, I cannot stand them because of what happened to my father. I don’t even go to Japan. Who made us suffer, wasn’t it the Japanese? Now, why do we kowtow to them? We accept their aid, that means they can dictate. We keep on borrowing money.
What’s going to happen to our children? With all our debts, my grandchild who just took the first breath is already indebted. I can’t stand debts. I never buy on installment because I do not know what will happen tomorrow. I cannot project my income ten years from now. We’re just as good as our last movie.
I like Cory’s policies on debt repayment. If I were president I will not live on debts. The Japanese — they were razed to the ground but they rose. They were not allowed to import cars so they could build their own car industry. We used to laugh at them, saying papel hapon yan. But now, look at their products.
Would I play Imelda in a movie? Yes, if the movie is presented truthfully. I remember I was asked to play Eva Macapagal in a movie to be pitted against Marcos’ “Iginuhit ng Tadhana” and I refused. I didn’t want to be used. But I believe movies can be used to raise people’s consciousness and open their eyes to realities. CPD.
