Imelda Marcos is more than just a name. She is more than just a former First Lady. She is more than a woman who enjoyed the reach of her status and the conjugal dictatorship she imposed with her husband Ferdinand Marcos.
She is a cultural figure; a symbol for different leanings, whose meaning varies from person to person, from one political affiliation to another.
She was found guilty of corruption on Friday and given a lengthy prison term in a rare conviction for the former first lady accused with her late husband of embezzling billions of dollars from state coffers.
Yes, Marcos is more than just her 3,000 pairs of shoes, and here are the cultural figure's other eccentricities that you may not know of:
Haute couture is for the poor
Marcos doesn't believe in dressing down.
As she famously said once, "Never dress down for the poor. They won't respect you for it. They want their First Lady to look like a million dollars."
And in her case, that dress probably did cost that much.
Heaven awaits
“Never dress down for the poor. They won’t respect you for it. They want their First Lady to look like a million dollars.” Source: AAP Image/AP Photo/Pat Roque
Speaking with Pope Paul VI, Imelda Marcos stated, "God is love. I have loved. Therefore I will go to heaven," to which the pope replied, "oh, how wonderful, how childlike".
Yes, she said that. Yes, she is that confident. And yes, props to the pope for being subtle with his sarcasm.
Affection from the iron-fisted
"God is love. I have loved. Therefore, I will go to heaven." Source: AAP Image/EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA
Her husband, Ferdinand Marcos, wasn't the only dictator charmed by Imelda.
Known for her sociability and beauty (those cheekbones!), Imelda Marcos charmed the iron-fist off of powerful leaders such as Saddam Hussein, Fidel Castro and Chairman Mao Zedong. She proved herself to be more than just eye candy; she was a spitfire of a woman, able to engage in intelligent conversations with political figures and skillful at manipulating even Fidel Castro to drive for her.
A different kind of military parade
Dictators heart Imelda. Source: NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images
According to documents released by WikiLeaks in 2013, Imelda Marcos threw a gaudy birthday celebration for her husband in 1973 that lasted for two days.
William Sullivan, an American Foreign Service officer, was said to have been disturbed by military men forcibly parading around in drag for the enjoyment of the Marcoses. Observing the celebration, Mr Sullivan stated, "Every aspect of the occasion was too much, too long and in questionable taste."
Marcos was said to have forced an unhappy General Fabian Ver, along with other generals, to wear hula skirts and bras.
From the beaches of Australia
Dresses instead of military garb. Source: Pexels
The beaches of Australia are definitely worth the trip; but for Imelda Marcos, she just came for the sand.
In 1979, Imelda Marcos was hosting an event to open a new beach resort in the Philippines. Unhappy that the beach didn't have white sand and concerned that the aesthetic wouldn't be impressive to her European royal guests, she ordered a plane to Australia to get some.
But, going back to those shoes
Australian white sand is worth the trip. Source: Pixabay
Ah, those shoes. All 3,000 pairs of them.
Where are they now exactly?
While they were once luxuries Imelda considered her pride and joy, you'd be surprised to learn that more than 1,000 of them have been eaten by termites, consumed by mould, and wrecked by neglect and leaks from the ceiling.
Although the shoes were sent to the National Museum for safekeeping, improper storage led to damage.
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If the shoe fits... Source: TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images
Some of the 200 shoes of former First Lady Imelda Marcos on display Friday, Feb. 16, 2001 at the shoe museum in suburban Marikina City Source: AAP
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