(From left) Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos. Deputy Social Secretary Dina Arroyo-Tantoco (at the back) is partially seen. Photos courtesy of Rogelio Medina
THROUGH the efforts of First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, Bahay Pangulo (during Pres. Bongbong Marcos’ term), formerly named Bahay Pangarap (during Pres. Noynoy Aquino’s term) or Bahay ng Pagbabago (during Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s term), has been completely restored. It was open recently to selected media entitities for the first time.
In the past I used to visit this place when I worked as presidential message writer or information officer under Press Secretary Teddy Benigno. This is the same rest house where then-presidential son Noynoy Aquino (I was called by him to go there) and I were together while watching his cousin actress Jackie Aquino on TV.
During the terms of Presidents of Fidel V. Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada, I was often invited to Bahay Pangarap. But it was only during the term of my fellow Kapampangan, former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, I was able to visit the entire Malacanang Park alone reaching up to an apartment (I remember it cost only P500 a month) for families of soldiers.
But never did the late Pres. Noynoy Aquino and former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte (I first met him when he was a congressman at the house of Sonny Dominguez in Ayala Alabang Village on December 25, 1998) invite me to the Presidential Residence just across the Pasig River overlooking the Malacañan Palace.
I felt nostalgic seeing again some members of the Presidential Security Group, an elite force that is tasked to protect the president of the Republic of the Philippines at all cost, who are close to my heart. It is now only during the term of President Bongbong Marcos (I interviewed him years ago for the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s New Year’s issue) that I am able to see the new Presidential Residence near a golf course.
Bahay Pangarap was originally designed in the 1930s by architects Juan Arellano and Antonio Toledo as a rest house of the Malacañang Park for informal activities and social functions of the president. The Malacañang Park itself was converted from a rice field south of the Malacañan Palace during the administration of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon. The resthouse underwent refurbishment in the early 1960s initiated by former FL Eva M. Macapagal, wife of former Pres. Diosdado “Cong Dadong” Macapagal (I had a chat with former FL Eva in Forbes Park after Cong Dadong was buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani and she told me to take good care of her daughter Gloria).
During the term of Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos, it was the residence of his mother, Doña Josefa Edralin Marcos. During the administration of Pres. Fidel V. Ramos, the house was repurposed as a clubhouse (known as Malago) for the Malacañang Golf Club (thanks to FVR for often accompanying him to the plane in visiting Mindanao). In 1996, it was made as an alternative venue for official government functions, in addition to social and recreational events.
As I made a reflection on its brief history, 3 women, Paris-educated Social Secretary Bianca Zobel, Deputy Social Secretary Dina Arroyo-Tantoco (daughter of my former boss in Congress, the late Cong. Iggy Arroyo whose birthday is on October 24), and fellow La Sallian Vivian Recio (member of the Board of Directors of PTV) explained to us about the private tour of Bahay Pangulo (Presidential Residence) at PSG Compound, Manila.
While we had a private tour of the Bahay Pangulo surroundings, I listened to the explanation of Architect Conrado Onglao, husband of singer-actress Zsa Zsa Padilla. It was Architect Onglao who did the renovation of the Presidential Residence upon the initiative of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos (thanks to her consistent initiatives and tireless efforts for the Bahay Pangulo restoration).
I really liked the guest house, Pres. Bongbong’s gym (I stayed longer here), the paintings, the Pac-Man video game machine, the chess board, the black piano, the long table, and FL Liza Araneta-Marcos’s office (I love it!).
After the private tour, we returned to Pangarap Golf Club for some refreshments.
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Carissa Cruz Evangelista represented her mom, Gina de Venecia, during this year’s FAMAS Awards. Her mom received the Presidential Award from FAMAS President Francia Conrado at Manila Hotel. She had a photo with another Presidential awardee Pempe Rodrigo. She recently participated as an exhibitor at CITEM’s Manila F.A.M.E. at World Trade Center.
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When I met Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc in the provincial capitol in Laoag City, I knew he could be the Philippine leader in the future. I dreamed about him in 1990s and I mentioned in Bulong-Pulungan at defunct Philippine Plaza Sofitel Hotel as an invited person with ESP. I dreamed he is tall, has a good body, belongs to Millennials/Generation Z, must be born in other country, is humble, respects the elderly, and serves as a unifying factor to unite the Philippines.
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Atty. Vince M. Tanada’s “Juan Luna: Isang Sarsuela” of the Philippine Stagers Foundation will be performed on October 26 and 27 at San Sebastian College in Manila.
Juan Luna, born in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, was a Filipino painter, sculptor and political activist of the Philippine Revolution during the late 19th century. His famous works were Spolarium (1884) and The Parisian Life (1892).
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FL Louise Araneta-Marcos was the guest of honor during the CITEM’s Katha Awards at the World Trade Center last October 17.
The Katha Awards is a hallmark of Philippine design excellence through the recognition of product design and innovation that combine the ideals of form and function. Since its launching in 1983, Katha Awards has sought to inspire and challenge Philippine exporters and designers to constantly innovate and develop designs and products for export.
This year’s winners include: major product design for furniture (Finali-Zulu Bench), lamps and lighting (Azcor Lighting Systems-Fauna), home decor and houseware (Bon Ace-Achite Chess Board Set), fashion (Bon Ace-PISA Hand Bag), holiday decor and gifts (P & B Valises et Compagnie-Nutcracker Ornaments), and eco-design award (Buttons ‘N Things PAEA Table Runner). Special citations were for best booth design (P & B Valises et Compagnie) and best sustainable booth design (Zarate).
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Miss Aura Philippines 2024 Isabelle De Los Santos represented the country in the Miss Aura International in Turkey. She is the daughter of beauteous Oly Sason-De Los Santos and former PNP (Philippine National Police) spokesperson Chief Supt. Napoleon De Los Santos Jr.
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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