Imelda shurgs off fall

I’m okay. It happened because I was young.”

This was what Rep. Imelda Marcos of Ilocos Norte  told reporters minutes after recovering from her fall during yesterday’s luncheon at the Capitol’s Social Hall.

The crowd present gasped and fell silent for several seconds on witnessing the 82-year-old Imelda miss a step and slip as she walked  down a  low, red carpeted stage after delivering a message.

She fell flat on her back with a thud.

Her children, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos rushed over to help their mother up. Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Rep. Rudy Farinas of Ilocos Norte’s 1st district followed.

Imelda  got up, still composed as the audience clapped.  Later on, she sang the Cebuano classic “Matud Nila” with the governor’s father,  Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia.

Imelda was dressed in  in a blouse with black slacks and two-inch black heels.

An abrupt fall for any senior citizen could spell a broken hip or other serious injury but the former First Lady didn’t ask for any medical attention.  The program, part of Cebu province’s founding  anniversary celebration, went on.

From a distance, it looked as if Imelda,  sensing her misstep,  had allowed her body to fall backwards and kept her head from striking the floor.

Son “Bongbong” said his mother was “all right”.

“She even sang. She must be okay…she didn’t see the step on the stage,” he said.

The Marcoses and other Ilocos Norte officials joined South Cotabato officials in signing sisterhood agreements with Cebu province yesterday.

The agreements are for “friendship and cooperation” among the three provinces to encourage trade and tourism.

Garcia also signed an economic agreement with Albay province, then handed over a P5 million check for flood assistance to Albay Gov. Joey Salceda.

After lunch, the South Cotabato delegation visited the Museo Sugbo.

Cebu officials exchanged tokens and gifts with the visiting Ilocos Norte, South Cotabato and Albay officials.

Imee received a mother of pearl bag and a red accent chair designed by Kenneth Cobonpue,

Governor Garcia received a T’boli -made brass belt from Governor. Pingoy.

The Marcoses were scheduled to attend the dance festival of Cebu towns in the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2011 last night.

Last July 18, Gov. Garcia visited the province of South Cotabato and signed a sisterhood agreementmemorandum of understanding.

Garcia was invited by South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. as guest speaker for the province’s 45th founding anniversary.

Garcia left Cebu to attend Koronadal City’s annual Tnalak Festival, which is  named after  abaca cloth created and woven by the women of the province’s T’boli tribe.

T’nalak is an indigenous term describing the colorful way of weaving abaca cloth.

Abaca cloth was chosen as the festival icon and symbolizes the blending of culture and strength and unity of various ethnic groups in the province.