[PHOTO AT LEFT - Sen. Loren Legarda | Zoom I can never get enough of Norma Japitana's new column in this section called Now & Then (read article below), wherein she retrieves old pieces and ties these up to the present time.]
MANILA, SEPTEMBER 24, 2010 (STAR) STAR BYTES By Butch Francisco - Last week, she reprinted an August 1988 article about how Loren Legarda, then only two years into her TV comeback via ABS-CBN, threw lunch for the press at the now-closed L'Orangerie, one of the finest restaurants in Makati's dining history.
Loren was the broadcast industry's new sensation then (young, beautiful and intelligent) and she wanted to thank members of print media for all their support — and basically just get together with them. Among the names Norma mentioned who were present in that lunch were Ronald Constantino, Nestor Cuartero, Millet Mananquil and, of course, Ricky Lo, who had always been supportive of Loren's career.
Well, I was also in that gathering. I had just started writing for this paper and it was even Ricky, who relayed Loren's invitation to me. A few months earlier, he and Ronald had brought me to another lunch — at the Leviste penthouse unit — where I first met Loren.
Yes, I remember the beef dish Norma described in her article — and the sinful mango jubilee for dessert. I likewise recall that then broadcaster Manny Ayala (another one of Loren's friends) was also present and Ricky kept needling him "about how he must be so rich — being an Ayala." Manny is not related to the Ayalas as far as I know and Ricky was obviously just kidding. Five years after that, Manny was supposed to get married to… oops, forget I even brought that up. Okay, the US wedding was cancelled at the last minute. His would have been bride is still around, but I don't know what became of Manny.
I still recall what happened after that lunch. I asked Loren if I could wait it out at her house — off Greenbelt — since that was where the car was picking me up (we had relatives from the US shopping at QUAD, which is where Glorietta is now and we only used one vehicle to get to Makati).
When we were in her car, however, the vehicle conked out and then husband Tony Leviste had to hail a cab for all four of us (writer Mina Paras, included).
Mina later did some errands in Makati, while I went up with Tony and Loren to their unit at the LPL building. Loren and I had a very long chat upstairs — over iced tea, which they always served — and that began what would become a deep, 22-year friendship between us. It all started right after that lunch Norma Japitana wrote about last Sept. 13 in her Now & Then corner.
I became a constant visitor to that house — with or without Loren there. It became my halfway house in Makati. I would just announce my presence at the lobby of the building and they would call her unit. If she happened to be away, it would be her Nanay Fely (her nanny since she was a little girl), who would serve me food — and iced tea, of course. They always had cakes, which was why I chose that as my halfway house. I'd freshen up in their bathroom or just wait it out there in between appointments in the area.
A year later, a common friend sowed intrigue between us. I became cold to her and she noticed that (I think even Ricky sensed my sudden aloofness to Loren). Since I've always been honest with my feelings, I told her about how bad I felt and when we traced the incident, it was just that — an unfounded, but malicious piece of intrigue. We pledged to each other that — from that time on — we would never allow petty things to come between us.
Nine years after that, she won in the Senate race (her first term) and she felt bad that I had not even sent her a congratulatory note from the US, where I was studying. As soon as I got back, she lost no time tracking me down to confront me — not angrily though, more of hurt. I had to explain to her that during that time, I had difficulty raising 60 cents for my bus ride to school — and that I had to walk from one city to the next to get to my destination because I was so destitute. She easily understood and all was forgiven.
That was how we kept our friendship through these decades — through sheer understanding of each other's faults and flaws. You also have to understand that Loren and I are the type of friends who only see each other once a year — twice at the most — and yet we know that we will always be there for each other.
Our last communication was when I sent her a text message on her birthday last January. No, I wasn't around her during the campaign period — having made a vow not to get myself involved in political endorsements. I didn't get to explain that to her personally, but I know she will understand, as always.
Wow, a 22-year friendship. That's long, especially in a business like ours that is full of betrayal and deception. Loren had been wrongly accused of a lot of things in politics, but I know her inside and out. Underneath that tough and seemingly ambitious façade is a golden heart, a genuine compassion for others and her desire to improve the situation of this country.
Twenty-two years from now, I'm sure we will still be friends (I'm optimistic we will live that long). I may not remember I said this, but if you open my heart decades from now, I'm sure the friendship will still be there.
Pep talk with Loren THEN & NOW By Norma Japitana (The Philippine Star) Updated September 13, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (0)
[PHOTO AT LEFT - Sen. Loren Legarda (with former husband, Tony Leviste) riding high on her environment projects]
THEN: Aug. 17, 1988, 22 years ago.
Loren Legarda, slim and exuberant, was treating media friends to lunch at L'Oarangerie. What was rather a refreshing change was the fact that it was not a presscon but simply a gesture of getting together among friends.
"It's not my birthday or anniversary. I'm not pregnant and so there's no announcement on this. It's just my way of spending time with you and express my appreciation for your support. I feel that this way we will be more relaxed and get to enjoy the excellent cuisine."
The cuisine was really great. The best beef recipe and the superb mango jubilee dessert completed the delicious lunch. But what was more enervating was the bubbly talk and the teasing and a little harmless gossip. Loren went through it all like a good sport. Even her loving husband, former Gov. Tony Leviste helped make everyone enjoy. Tony turned out to be an excellent raconteur and a great one for some witticism.
Nestor Cuartero of Tempo, Ricky Lo of The Philippine STAR, Ronald Constantino and myself got Loren into a corner table and kidded her no end about her relationship with Tina Monzon-Palma. Millet Mananquil of The STAR joined the fray and we had a grand time. Some samples: One referred to Tina as a colleague and Loren unabashed said that Tina belong to older group which was way ahead of her professionally. Then Millet mentioned: The headline should be "Loren says Tina is old!" Loren was aghast. "No, no. I just meant she is ahead of me in the profession!" And we all laughed because we really knew what she meant.
Ricky said: "That's how a feud starts. The headline will scream, "May feud si Loren at si Tina." Ronald and Nestor, meanwhile, were having the time of their lives coming up with new screaming headlines.
During that luncheon with friends in media, it was revealed that Loren works very hard for her show. Her schedule, which she gave to some friends, is just so hectic that it can easily break one not inclined to hard work.
"We thought you were going to do a Jackie Lou and announce that you are pregnant," someone kidded Loren.
"I wish that were true. I'd love to have children and Tony, too. But I don't have the time. I usually come home around midnight and by time I'm so tired already."
It was Loren's husband, Tony, who brought the house down.
"I would like to say a few words," he said. "Being an old politician and seeing a microphone and noting the audience, the situation is simply hard to pass up." And forthwith the ex-governor cracked jokes that brought laughter all around. But it was what he said about Loren that touched us.
"I saw Loren on TV and fell in love with her. When she came to interview me I was smitten some more. I met her mother Bessie Legarda one night with Nini Ramos Licaros. And you know what they say about mothers. If you like to know how your loved one will look once they are older, look at her mother. When I saw how pretty Bessie Legarda is, I married Loren right away."
The irrepressible Joe Guevarra said aloud to Tony: "You should have married the mother!"
Loren herself said a few words later. Among other things she mentioned about some of the things she can thankful for is the fact that "Peptalk garnered five awards this year." "That includes me!" Tony said in an aside.
NOW: July 23, 2010
Loren left a very successful broadcasting career to join politics. She ran for vice president twice and lost. But she is still a senator riding high on her environment projects. Loren and Tony have two adorable sons. Bessie, who also became a friend, died of cancer a few years back. Tony and Loren are no longer together but Tony has been a colorful and gentlemanly personality through the years I knew him. It was a big shock to all his friends when he was brought to prison for a crime still with the courts. I tried to visit twice but it was always the wrong time. Joe Guevarra, dead for several years now, left a void in journalism with his kind of reportage on political shenanigans with humor that cuts deeply.
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