Imelda loses balance and falls on stage, is unhurt

CEBU CITY—It may yet be her most unforgettable visit to Cebu.

Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos lost her balance and fell to the floor as she was about to sing at the Capitol Social Hall here at about 3 p.m. Saturday.

Her children—Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos—and Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia rushed to the side of the 82-year-old widow of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. But her two security aides were already helping her up.

The former first lady assured everyone that she was not hurt and that she was okay.

She went on with the program, singing the renowned Cebuano ballad, “Matud Nila,” in a duet with Representative Pablo Garcia, the governor’s father.

The Marcos family was in Cebu on the invitation of the governor as part of the monthlong celebration of the 442nd founding anniversary of the province.

Imelda and Imee both attended the opening of the Cebu Performing Arts Center at the University of the Philippines-Cebu College in Lahug on Friday night.

Earlier Saturday, Imelda and her two children witnessed the signing of the sisterhood agreement between Cebu and South Cotabato as well as the distribution of P5 million in financial assistance to the flood victims in Albay at the Capitol Social Hall.

Gasp

In her remarks at Saturday’s Capitol gathering, Imelda thanked Garcia for inviting her family to Cebu. She recalled various visits she had made to the province when her husband was president.

It was when she was about to sing that the accident happened. She apparently forgot that she was standing on a platform and took a step that brought her to the platform’s edge, losing her balance and falling on her left side.

There was a loud thud and a collective gasp from the audience.

After the event at the Capitol Social Hall, Imelda and her children joined the provincial officials at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City for the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo festival.