Letters from Manay Ichu and mom Nene - DIRECT LINE by Boy Abunda

In a previous lifetime, Manay Ichu (Vera-Perez Maceda) and I must have been naughty, loyal and strong-willed princesses in some beautiful kingdom. I didn’t say pretty because I am not but Manay Ichu is beautiful. Although as a child, she thought she was unattractive – perhaps because she was surrounded by the most beautiful movie stars of Sampaguita Pictures. She would watch the Santacruzan that would pass their house, secretly wishing that one day, she too, would be Reyna Elena. She even asked her father, the legendary Doc Perez, if he could organize a Santacruzan for her. He never did. But Manay Ichu grew up to be a reyna in her own time and space.

I said princess because it’s hypothetical. C’mon, give this one to me! It can be boring to self-deprecate oneself too often. My friend would say, aliping sanguiguilid is more apt to describe me. I vehemently protest, after all, it is I who am hallucinating.

I said loyal because I try hard to be loyal. I’m not always successful but I try. Manay Ichu has legendary loyalty. Remember when the Marcoses were in exile in Hawaii? Manay Ichu was there with them. She stood by "SIR" to the very end. The story goes that she even set up a makeshift office in the driveway of the house the Marcoses were renting. She suffered the disdain, the vilifications people lashed at the Marcoses. Some say that Filipinos were more compassionate to the Marcoses in Hawaii. Americans were obnoxious. Manay Ichu went through humiliating experiences like being spat at or being hit (almost) by deadly stilletto shoes.

Manay Ichu stuck it out with the late President and is proud to have done it.

I said strong-willed because I think Manay was born with a will that is stronger than charm. In my own life, I had nothing but will power in the most devastating storms I went through.

Manay Ichu is a fascinating, funny, gracious lady. I’d like to change my mind. I must have been a court jester in her kingdom in a previous lifetime.

These days, I always look forward to getting letters from her – letters about anything. She writes them well and sincerely. Her letters are refreshing in this frenzied world of political confusion and economic drudgery. While the entertainment industry is in limbo – she is eternally hopeful like a true blue blooded child of show business.

After writing a piece on my hometown, Borongan, (Eastern Samar) I got a surprise letter from Manay Ichu. She said that in 1969 "while campaigning for the re-election of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, Mrs. Imelda Marcos brought me with her to several towns in all three Samar provinces, Borongan being one of them. I have reached about a thousand municipalities in the country and Borongan is one of the two places I shall never forget" because it was in Eastern Samar where her hair turned red after riding a jeep for seven hours going around the province. Manay Ichu vowed to return to Borongan one day to see what she could do to help. "Thinking of Borongan always filled my heart with sadness because it looked so desperate for attention. It just looked so forlorn." Manay Ichu was right. To this day I think my town is still desperate for attention not just from the government but from its own children like me. I plead guilty to the many things I have failed to do and could still do for my town and province. Unwittingly, Manay Ichu made me realize this!

Last week, I got another letter from Manay Ichu. This time she wrote that her mother woke her up one morning and very passionately told her to read a column we wrote here on Direct Line about People Power II. She advised her mother to write me instead. I’m printing it here.

Dear Mr. Boy Abunda,

This morning I read your column "Let’s Give Gloria at least 100 days," – and I was much impressed. All you wrote about EDSA II or People Power II is for me the most reasonable, most objective and most sober of all the columns I have read in the newspaper.

From the very start of your article. "I think everybody wants a cabinet post after People Power II" – down to all the points you mentioned up to No. 10 "Excuse me – I want to scream and to cry" – my eyes were riveted on every word and every line of your column – down to the very end of your dissertation – "The Arroyo government has a gargantuan task in rebuilding this country. We can choose to do our share" – because for us, like you – we stood up there in those rallies, not asking for anything in personal return for in my case, I stood for my grandchildren and great grandchildren, because I want them to grow up with the right values in life and be good Filipino Citizens – of a maayos na gobyerno ng ating bansa.

Thank you for that beautiful, intelligent piece of analysis of People Power II.

God Bless you and your family.

Sincerely,

Nene Vera Perez

Thank you Ma’am.

Your children and great grandchildren must, be very proud of you! and Doc Perez must be up there watching over you, smiling proudly that his Nene stood among thousands of people in EDSA, because she wants a better country for her grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Mabuhay po kayo!