Imelda Marcos

Imelda Romuáldez Marcos (born 2 July 1929) is a former First Lady and political figure in the Philippines. She is known as the "Steel Butterfly" and remains a controversial figure not only in her home country, but around the world. She became known for her extensive shoe collection.

• I'm like Robin Hood. I rob the rich to make these projects come alive... not really rob. It's done with a smile.
  • On her fund-raising abilities, as quoted in Fortune (1979).

• The Philippines is in a strategic position. It is both East and West, right and left, rich and poor. We are neither here nor there.
  • At a press conference, on why the Manila Film Festival should be held in Manila, cited in Ang Katipunan (February 1982).

• The Philippines is where Asia wears a smile. Beautiful products can only be made by happy people.
  • At a press conference in Bloomingdale's, at the opening of the Philippine exhibit, cited in Ang Katipunan (May 1982).

• If you know how rich you are, you are not rich. But me, I am not aware of the extent of my wealth. That's how rich we are.
  • After promising to give $800 million to poor Filipinos if she becomes president, quoted in The Philippine Daily Inquirer (March 1998).

• Diligence, hard work, foresight, entrepreneurship and God's blessing.
  • On how Ferdinand Marcos became wealthy, as quoted in The Philippine Daily Inquirer (March 1998).

• When they see me holding fish, they can see that I am comfortable with kings as well as with paupers.
  • As quoted in Today (April 1998).

• President Marcos was investing in precious metals long before he entered politics.
  • Explaining her and her husband's wealth, as quoted in Today (April 1998).

• Funny, I never shopped. Even my jewelry — not a piece of my jewelry I bought for me.
  • Asserting that all of her jewelry were gifts from her husband, children and "even the dog," as quoted in an Associated Press report (April 1998).

• I was born ostentatious. They will list my name in the dictionary someday. They will use 'Imeldific' to mean ostentatious extravagance.
  • As quoted in an Associated Press report (April 1998).

• Ferdinand had foresight and unbelievable luck. His success actually bordered on fiction.
  • As quoted in "Imelda and the Cash" by Werner Raffetseder in Saga magazine (April 1998).

• I have never been a material girl. My father always told me never to love anything that cannot love you back.
  • As quoted in TIME magazine (November 1996).

• I will not say sorry and be pardoned for doing a godly act.
  • After being acquitted of graft charges, albas quoted in "No Apology, It Was A Godly Act — Imelda" in Newsflash (14 October 1998).

• My grandchildren are growing up and they could not understand why the Marcoses are still being crucified although we keep on telling them that we did not steal from the Filipino people.
  • As quoted in The Philippine Daily Inquirer (December 1998).

• I would have to ask the public to choose between a culture of hate or a culture of love. I am sure our poor will pick the latter. With the Marcos assets, we could regain this value of sharing love with one another.
  • On establishing the Marcos Foundation, as quoted in The Philippine Daily Inquirer (December 1998).

• They went into my closets looking for skeletons, but thank God, all they found were shoes, beautiful shoes.
  • Statement made upon opening the Marikina City Footwear Museum in Manila, as quoted in "Homage to Imelda's shoes" at BBC News (16 February 2001).

• Filipinos don't wallow in what is miserable and ugly. They recycle the bad into things of beauty.
  • As quoted in "Homage to Imelda's shoes" at BBC News (16 February 2001)).

• It so coincided that Marcos had money. After the Bretton Woods agreement he started buying gold from Fort Knox. Three thousand tons, then 4,000 tons. I have documents for these: 7,000 tons. Marcos was so smart. He had it all. It's funny; America didn't understand him.
  • Quoted in "Queen of the Quirky, Imelda Marcos Holds Court" at the New York Times (4 March 1996).

• When you reach a certain level of leadership, people cannot be neutral with you. They either love, love, love you, or hate, hate, hate you.
  • Quoted in "The day I met Imelda Marcos at BBC News (31 October 2000).

• We never had such a violation of human rights. In fact, we have had no human rights case here in the Philippines, even to this day.
  • Quoted in "Imelda (2003) and in "Director fights for Imelda movie", BBC News (7 July 2004).

• It is not expensive to be beautiful. It takes only a little effort to be presentable and beautiful. But it takes some effort. And unfortunately people think of beauty as luxury, beauty as frivolity, ... or extravagance. Beauty is a discipline, beauty is art, is harmony, in the ideological sense and in the theological sense, beauty is God and love made real. And the ultimate reach in this world is beauty.
  • Quoted in "Imelda (2003).

• I seem to be able to only see the positive things in life and the beautiful things in life and when I see, for instance, garbage or ugliness, then I turn my back or I seem to be able to skip it.
  • Quoted in "Imelda (2003).

• I am my little people's star and slave. When I go out into the barrios, I get dressed because I know my little people want to see a star. Other presidents' wives have gone to the barrios wearing housedresses and slippers. That's not what people want to see. People want someone they can love, someone to set an example.
  • Quoted in The Los Angeles Times (1980).

• I was born ostentatious. They will list my name in the dictionary someday. They will use Imeldific to mean ostentatious extravagance.
  • Quoted in the Associated Press (1998).

• ’Who is Imelda?’ I come from a third world country, third class province. And I was orphaned—and look, Imelda made it. If Imelda made it everyone can make it. At this age and stage I feel so good I’m still ready to fly.”
  • Quoted in "Imelda (2003).

Quotes from "Her Greatest Admirer" in TIME (5 July 2004)

• Thank God I never lost that childlike innocence and the purity of vision and naivete. …That childlike innocence was most useful, because if I was a bit wiser, I wouldn't have been able to do anything, perhaps. So I'm glad I was not smart.

• I've always maintained that the only things to uphold are the good, the true and the beautiful. We have to reject what's ugly.

• The best compliment I ever got in my life came from Chairman Mao of China. When I went there, at a time when nobody wanted to touch China with a 10-foot pole, Mao told me that I'm beautiful because I'm a natural, and he said natural is perfection. So, no character assassination can diminish me and my perfection.

• I'm the Imelda Marcos of sunglasses.
  • Bono, Irish rock musician and social activist in an interview in Rolling Stone magazine, No. 986 (3 November 2005).

• A cunning child with a remarkable gift for both self-delusion and self-preservation. Marcos, who turned 75 last week, always maintained her childlike sense of entitlement, despite the harsh realities of life.
  • Ed Leibowitz in "Her Greatest Admirer" in TIME (5 July 2004).

• She spent money. No question about that...She is a world-class spender. She is a world-class shopper.
  • Gerry Spence, defending Marcos in her 1990 trial TIME magazine (6 May 1996).

• Marcos Presidential Center
• A Showcase of Extravagance: Imelda Marcos
• The wit and wisdom of Imelda Marcos at The Wily Filipino
• "Imelda" - Documentary on Imelda Marcos
• "Imelda Marcos arrest ordered" at CNN (16 October 2001)
• "Imelda's crown jewels to go under the hammer", BBC News (13 May 2003)
• "Her Greatest Admirer" in TIME (5 July 2004)