Imelda’s birthday get-together at Palace ‘a merienda’, Imee says

Senator Imee Marcos on Monday described the event at Malacañang marking the 93rd birthday of former First Lady Imelda Marcos over the weekend as "a merienda" and "a small get-together."

Imee said no public funds were spent for Imelda's birthday get-together at the Palace which came just a few days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s inauguration as the country's 17th president on June 30.

She said those who played music did so for free and that the guests themselves brought food.

"Nag-merienda lang. Siyempre ang nanay ko 93 na, ang tatanda na n'on. Pag sinabing party, parang yugyugan e," Imee said when asked about the former First Lady's birthday event at Malacañang.

"Hindi ganon kasi they are also ancients but yes, we had a get together. Very simple merienda with a small recital of old friends and scholars," she added.

(We just had merienda. My mother's already 93 and those who attended were also elderly. When one says party, it's like there was dancing. It's not like that because they are also ancients. But yes, we had a get-together. It was very simple merienda with a small recital of old friends and scholars.)

The lawmaker said the event was "very, very happy occasion" as her mother was ecstatic about having two presidents from her family in her lifetime.

"Nagsalita siya, talaga namang nakakataba ng puso. Sabi niya, 'I am the happiest person in the world. Ako lang yung naging nanay ng isang presidente na dating asawa ng isang presidente at buhay pa ako," Imee said.

"Kaya nakakatuwa siya. 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 added.

(She spoke and it was really heartwarming. She said, "I am the happiest person in the world. I am the only mother of a president who's the wife of a former president, and I'm still alive. It's a joy to see her...)  

Asked if there were government funds used for the former First Lady's birthday event at the Palace, Imee said, "I don't think that is the case."

"I'm sure everyone brought food as a matter of fact. It's quite funny. At saka libre naman lahat noong mga tumugtog. Bawal ba 'yon? Hindi ko alam. Kasi nagbi-birthday party rin ko noong bata ako doon e. Bawal ba yon?" she added.

(Those who played music did so for free. Is that forbidden? I don't know. I was also having birthday parties there when I was a child.)

The Marcoses' father Ferdinand Marcos was president from 1965 to 1986.

The President and her sisters Imee and Irene grew up in Malacañang.

On Sunday, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said it would not release details about the birthday celebration of the Marcos matriarch, saying it will only issue statements on issues where public interest or welfare is involved.

Communications Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles on Monday assured the public that the president would always "adhere to law" amid concerns on the Marcos family having "lavish" parties. —NB, GMA News