Imelda is 81 and loving every minute of it

Today is the birthday of Imelda Romualdez Marcos, widow of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Born July 2, 1929, Imelda is now 81 years old. But more than the years, she has survived the greater challenges of a charmed but tumultuous life.

 Having done so, one cannot help but wish the woman a happy birthday. She truly deserves it. This enigmatic woman is one great survivor. No, the word survivor, in that it implies having overcome difficulties, is not appropriate. Writing her own script, Imelda simply overwhelms.

 The things people, both others and her own, say about her are not only numerous, they are mostly unflattering. Women of less sterner stuff would have withered under such relentless vile verbiage. But Imelda not just overwhelms them, she seems to thrive in them.

 There used to be a time, when memories were a little more fresh, that hate would be more apt to describe popular feelings toward her. But over time, that hate has mellowed to something more appropriate to her continuing story. It would not be off to describe her as amusing.

 A large part of the charm about her is her consistency, which by itself and regardless of the personality exhibiting it, is truly admirable. People may vehemently disagree with the things she insists upon, but they have to agree she is firm in her beliefs, misplaced or not.

 If she is indeed living a lie, as many would insist, then she has made that lie her own reality and it is admirable how she has resolutely guided all her dealings and endeavors along that line while other, supposedly more honest men, have compromised their way to advancement.

 Upon the ouster of her family from power, the world literally threw the book at her, being the accountable survivor of her deceased husband. Court cases were filed against her in such great numbers it is a wonder she has even kept track of all of them.

 But she did, and says there is only one remaining case left. In all likelihood, she will overcome even that, which brings us entertaining the notion that perhaps God, in his divine wisdom, has elected to reserve Imelda for his own judgment.

 Now is not the time. Elected congresswoman in the Marcos family district in Ilocos Norte, Imelda will be joining a strange coterie of personalities in what we collectively call as the House of Representatives.

 It is not clear if Imelda will play a very active role in Congress, but just adding her to the roster that already includes Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (remember her?) and Manny Pacquiao certainly makes for exciting times, especially under a new Noynoy Aquino administration.

 Imelda loses no opportunity extolling the virtues of "love and beauty" and uses them to disarm even those who reject these virtues when associated with her past. Love and beauty, after all, are not something you disagree with or reject.

 And she has been consistent in extolling them. People have tried a variety of tacts to pin her down on the most provable of all allegations against her and her family, and she has managed to parry them all away with her musings about love and beauty.

 Ask her about shoes. Ask her about jewelry. And because in these items and in these extravagances there is always an element of love and beauty, there is no way anyone can pin her on a falsity. She just happens to have more. But what woman does not have a hankering for them.

 Maybe by constant repetition, Imelda has crafted some truth about the lies people see in her life. And that truth, no matter how narrow and fragile, is there. More importantly, it is liveable, which is more than can be said about the "truths" that other people live.

 Every charge hurled against Imelda she settles with some mumbling about love and beauty. Others froth in the mouth sweating and swearing about principles and morality, about change and democracy.

 Yet after all is said and done, the responsibility to judge God's creation is still God's alone. Maybe Imelda has long realized this while others did not. Maybe this is the reason she is aging gracefully while others do not. Imelda deserves every minute of her birthday. Cheers.