Ailing Imelda wants to reach Tacloban

By Freddie G. Lazaro

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Flamboyant former first lady now congresswoman, Imelda Romualdez Marcos, is sick, confined in the hospital and for the first few days of the tragedy that has struck her hometown of Tacloban City, kept in the dark of the fate of her relatives back home.

Now that Ms Marcos is well aware of the massive destruction wrought by super-typhoon “Yolanda,” all she wants is to return to her home province of Leyte and see through the welfare of her siblings and help in relief efforts.

But that is not about to happen. Doctors attending to Ms Marcos, Ilocos Sur’s 2nd District representative in Congress, insist that she remain in the hospital and continue treatment for diabetes.

Her family has urged her to obey the doctor’s advice and assured her that her relatives back in Tacloban City, the Romualdezes, are hands-on in providing relief assistance to typhoon victims.

Information Officer June Arvin Gudoy, who works for Ms Marcos’ daughter Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, said the Marcos family is working with the official government relief system and is currently exploring private efforts in the relief operation of the typhoon victims.

Gudoy said Ms Marcos has also ordered that relief goods be sent to Yolanda victims, along with a personal note she wrote in the Waray dialect to inspire them.

The note read: “Ayaw kawang hinpaglaun; matin dogkitanam ga waray.” (Don’t lose hope; we Warays shall rise again).