Eeeew

Dear insansapinas,
I've been monitoring the flood in Metro Manila. Pinasok,  ang bahay. Eewwww. Pero ang kinaiinisan ko ay ang mga pulitikong nangangampaniya na. Kahit sa truck sumasakay. Tapos, namimigay ng maliit na bag ng relief goods.

Nakakainis pa ang mga artista na kahit sa kalamidad sumasakay pa rin sa publicity. Nakikisama raw sa taong bayan, ang retrato naman, nakangiti. Nakakaloka ba kayo. Tse.

Pinaysaamerika

Camay Beauties (Part 3 )

Dear insansapinas,
When Camay Beauties are mentioned, it is the Revilla ladies who come into the picture.There were fashion models and beauty queens but they were not a popular as the Revilla mother and daughters.

Here is the mother, Paquita Roces, the late wife of Armando Goyena, a popular movie actor and father of the Revilla sisters,

Here are the two daughters who also became Camay girls--Cita and Maritess.

Maritess Revilla-Araneta

Cita Revilla

Tina Artillaga
Aside from fashion models, there were also beauty queens who were tapped for the soap promotion. Two of these were Tina Artillaga whose TV commercial showed her hair windblown, her right hand holding in place a wide-brimmed hat as she stood on a sailboat, with the voice over saying, “Ang lahat ay napapalingon…” Remember?

Anjanette Abayari

Anjanette Abayari was a beauty title holder from the US who became a movie star in the Philippine cinema.

Singers/Actresses and recording artists were also asked to endorse the beauty soap. One of this was Zsa Zsa Padilla, the long time partner of the Comedy King, Dolphy and herself was the daughter of a movie actor, Carlos Padilla, Jr.

Camay Beauties (Part 2 )

Dear insansapinas,
Here is the second group of movie actresses/celebrities who were Camay girls/endorsers:

• Tita Duran — “Ang matatapang na sabon ay walang mainam na bango…maging kaibig-ibig sa pamamagitan ng lalong mabangong sabong Camay!”

• Norma Blancaflor — “Harsh soaps lack fine perfumes…be lovely with extra-fragrant Camay!”

• Gloria Romero 

“Beauty demands a lovely complexion. And I’ve discovered Camay complexions are loveliest!”

  

• Tessie Quintana — “Lovelier complexions begin with extra-gentle Camay. Harsh soaps leave skin rough…use Camay for a lovelier complexion!”

• Delia Razon — “Camay’s exquisite new perfume keeps me lovelier much longer!”

Camay Beauties Part 1

Dear insansapinas,

When my girl friends were young and teasing each other as to what beauty soap we used, we would raise our hands and exclaim PAA (erase, erase, erase... CAMAY. I thought, there were only a handful of Camay lady models like the Revilla mother and daughters. I did not know that there were lots of them, mostly movie stars and celebrities.

And surprise, even Bella Flores was a Camay girl. 

According to an article, Camay was introduced in the Philippinnes in 1950 by PMC (Procter ad Gamble).

The following were the Camay models/endorsers:

• Carmen Rosales

“Every woman who wants to be lovelier will be delighted with Camay’s new fragrance!”

• Tita Muñoz — “Loveliness begins with extra-fragrant Camay!”

• Sylvia La Torre
“A screen star’s complexion must be perfect for close-ups, and Camay helps keep it perfectly lovely!”

• Nena Cardenas 
“Camay’s new fragrance is so flattering. Only this new perfume has such flavorful sweetness!”

• Armi Kuusela —
“Camay ang aking pampagandang sabon. Ang kasiya-siyang bula nito ay kawili-wili sa kutis. Sa bawa’t babaeng nais na maging higit na kaibig-ibig, Camay ang aking ipinapayo. Gamitin ang higit na suwabe, higit na mabangong Camay gaya ng ginagawa ko, para sa kutis at pampagandang pangligo!”

• Rosa Rosal

• Virginia Montes

 Pinaysaamerika

Daily Schedule

Dear insansapinas,

I follow a daily routine at home hindi lang dahil sa aking C but also due to my D and H. Hindi lang sleeping  zzzzzzzzz. Oops, Biglang mulat. At six, I should be awake for my first pill (hypertension) and the taking of the blood sugar level before I eat my breakfast.
I am not in any diabetic meds these days so I have to watch out for my bs level not to go lower than the ideal para hindi maulit yong bigla na lang na CCU. Noon naman kasi ang pag-inom ko ng aking mga pills ay minsan isang medicine cabinet sa morning at isang medicine cabinet sa evening. Ang mga pills magkakasama at ang gagawin ko na lang ay NGANGA, INOM, glug, glug, glug, e marami na akong parmasyutikang pinayayaman. Diabetic meds ko lang noon anim. Eh yong pang sa puso, sa blood pressure at mga medical supplies pa. Ngayon, bawas na.


Pagkatapos breakfast, personal hygiene (wisik dito, wisik doon).  Another pill for blood pressure, pill for potassium at pill para sa bakal. (IRON) Kailangan daw may panghambalos. Pero pag inom naman, kailangang may stool softener kung hindi maghintay ka ng Pasko bago may lumabas. Pahid ng noo.


Bago kumain ng tanghali, check na naman ng blood sugar. Kailangan bang kumain ng may matamis?
Two hours after lunch, check na naman.


Ang huling pagcheck ay bago matulog. In the meantime, ang dugo ay nakikipag-laro sa chem meds. Minsan itim ang marka; minsan reddish.


So appreciate whatever good health you are enjoying right now. 
Thank HIM.


Pinaysaamerika

Blender

Dear insansapinas,

I lost more than ten pounds for the last few days. It is not only due to loss of appetite during the chemotherapy treatment but also the pain of swallowing food particles even those  small sizes.


A booster shot was done a day after chemo meds were "hosed " down to my blood system. Side effect, masakit, so I was brought to the ER where I was given painkiller meds that will make you drowsy  that you could hardly open your eyes. But first, syempre, kita muna sila. Pinotoshoot nila ako sa chest at sa upper stomach para walang ibang organs na involved. Smile. Tapos pinauwi ako with painkiller prescriptions na hindi pwedeng makuha ng basta-basta.

SONA Red Carpet Fashion Show 2012 of the Legislators and Wives

Dear insansapinas,
The SONA will not be complete without the attendance of the legislators and their wives whose gowns are designed by fashion designers and couturiers.

This year, these are the women who shashayed and walked with their respective spouses/families and friends.

kris aquino and boy abunda

manny and jinkee

lani mercado and daughter

risa hontiveros

lucy gomez and richard gomez

Chemo Treatment

Dear insansapinas,

Early morning of Thursday, my brother and I went to the hospital to continue my chemo treatment.I was the earliest and so the nurse had to call my oncologist if she can proceed.




There were six chairs for the patients and an hour or so, the chairs were already taken. But there was only one nurse so that she was the only one who took charge of the preparation and chemo treatment management. Some patients watched the small TV monitor for news and programs.There was a father-daughter team who played cards while the treatment was going on. Some were chit-chatting. I read a pocketbook and observed the nurse doing her tasks of changing meds/changing her gloves more than twenty times and talked with patients to comfort them. The chairs are convertible to mini-beds.

It was the IV which used up the time for connection to the meds. Mine and another woman were implanted with pedi-ports so all the nurse did was to inject the needles.

The Medi-Port

Dear insansapinas,

Pasensiya kayo kung kinukuwento ko kung anong ginagawa ng aking specialist sa akin (oncologist). Pinaschedule niya ako sa ospital para lagyan ako ng medi-port. Yon ang dadaaanan ng chemo na ilalagay naman sa akin bukas.


So pagkatapos ng tatlong timbang dugo, ikinabit na ako sa oxygen, sa antibiotics at sa magpapatulog sa akin. Siguro sa nerbiyos, di ako nakatulog. Nararamdaman ko ang ginagawa sa akin. Nagmulat ako ng mga mata, maraming plastic na nakacover sa akin. Nag-uusap ang mga doctor at nurses.


Mga mahigit isang oras ang nakalipas, isa-isa ng tinanggal ang mga nakakabit sa akin. Masakit yong hiniwa. Pagkatapos na advisan ako kung ano ang aking mga gagawin, isinakay ako sa wheelchair at dinala sa sasakyan. Saka lang umepekto ang pampatulog. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz


Pinaysaamerika

No Call

Dear insansapinas,
I was expecting the visiting nurse yesterday. She did not come. I called the agency and the person who responded informed me that the nurse is sick. Biglang taas ang BP ko. So I asked why she did not bother to call and inform me.Excuses, excuses, excuses. I said next time, a day before coming, they have to call me to confirm. Tchp 


Nursing registry and home health care agency are the two businesses that I helped put up in California with friends. We were very particular with the schedules of the nurses and other staff assigned to our patient/clients. We checked if they are available and if there are substitutes if they are not. When we were beginning, we even offered them rides so that we were assured that they would be in the patient's place on time. We also did not allow the staff to change their schedules with the patients. Whatever changes were made, we had it done in the office for coordination and information purposes. Dito sa agency na ito, nagpapalit ng sked yong nurse, cnas at 
therapists thru patients. 

The Memory-Do they remember you?

Dear insansapinas,

If you have been following the story of my life, you know that this "cat" been gifted with several lives. For the last two years, however, after I was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 and was declared by the oncologist that it was gone in 2008, another diagnosis was made again in 2010; liver cancer, liver cirrhosis aside from diabetes and hypertension. In later part of 2011, another cancer (not a metastases) was found in my breast; two of them. I had them mastectomied last April and now I am undergoing chemo.


So when my visiting nurse informed me that the cause of my confinement in the hospital was RESPIRATORY FAILURE,(STOPPED BREATHING)  I can't helped but think, sa dami ng mga sakit ko, maoospital lang pala ako sa pagkalimot ng paghinga. Acheche.


What has this to do with my title? As I have said kung pinakikialaman ninyo ang buhay ko, sa bawa't buhay na isinasalba ako ni Bossing sa Itaas dahil ako ay masamang damo, marami akong eksperyensiya doon sa kalagitnaan ng Langit at Lupa. Di ba kinuwento ko noon na may nakita akong Napakalaking Pinto na sa Loob ay may Bright Light na pilit lumalabas sa mga siwang. Ang sabi sa akin ng isang babae doon, nasa loob daw ang Boss. Tapos bigla akong nagdisappear. Balik sa mundo.


Pero itong nakalipas na mahigit dalawang Linggo ako sa CCU at sa hospital, iba ang aking experiensiya na siyang mag-eexplain bakit tama nga ang ginagawa ng iba na pagnamamatay ang mahal nila sa buhay, hinihiling nila na tulungan sila o huwag silang pabayaan.


Let me esplain. Sa pagkakahiwalay ko sa aking katawan noong nasa ospital ako (hiwalay yon kasi kahit nakamulat ako at parang gising, hindi naman nila ako makausap at hindi ko rin naman natandaan ang mga ginawa nila sa katawan ko) may mga nakasama akong mga "tao" na" kau-kausap" ko. Pero ang natatandaan ko lang ay ang aking daddy na parang sinalubong lang ako at ang aking mother na hindi ako iniwanan. In fact nandoon  siya palagi. Tinatanong ko ang sarili ko kung sino ang mga "taong" nandoon. 


Ang nakakapag-isip ay ang aking nakikita sa mundo ng mga buhay. Kilala ko ang aking kapatid na nakabantay sa akin, pamilyar sa akin ang binabanggit niyang mga pangalan na related sa akin at sa amin. Ngayon ko narerealize na ang connection mo sa mga mahal mo sa buhay ay di napuputol. Lalo na kung tatawagin ka at aalalahanin. Nabanggit ng aking kapatid ang pangalan ng aking tsikiting gubat at doon sa "kinaroroonan" ko ay nanatili yon hanggang nagpilit akong gumaling. 


Naalala ko ang aking dating tenant na matanda. Naulila raw siya ng bata pa siya. Halos di  niya na matandaan ang mukha  ng mother niya. Pero minsang nagkasakit siya at halos  mamatay, may nakita siyang babae na nagpakita sa kaniya at sinabing siya ang mother niya. Hindi ba kataka-taka yan? Naalala pa nong ispiritu?

High Blood Pressure and Masamang Damo

Dear insansapinas,
Even if I was checked out from the hospital and rehab, the attending medical staff asked  me to approve the home visitations of the nurse, therapist and nursing assistants. Hokey, except for the nursing assistant whose function is to assist me in bathing. Silipan pa niya ako. Tse. There is no need naman eh because my brother installed a grab bar for me to hold on when I get to the bath tub, a rubber bath mat to make the tub flooring not slippery and a hand-held shower to enable me to control the temperature and flow of the water from the bath water pipe. Meron pang upuan.

My primary doctor temporarily asked me to stop diabetic and blood pressure meds so that the nurse has to monitor my vital signs. I've got also sphygmomanometer, pulse meter and glucometer but the determination as to what readings are good for me depend on the nurse.

 Kaso ang problema, dahil and bayad sa kanila ay per visit /per patient, gusto nila maraming mavisit. So, kapag may bago silang tanggap at nagconflict sa sched mo, itatry nilang baguhin ang iyong sked kung papayag ka, May isang araw na limang beses yatang tumawag para palitan from 3 to 11 or 10 to 1. . Minsan triny nilang magpalit ng sked to the extent na yong physical therapist gustong pumunta rito pagkagaling ko sa doctor para maaccomodate yong bagong pasyente. Ano siya nababaliw?  Paano akong makakapag-exercise kung halos hindi ako makalakad sa pagod. Sabi ko, NO. Kumg hindi siya pwede, di huwag siyang pumunta. taray.


Kahapon, tumatawag na naman, kung pwede raw ngayong Sunday. Ano? Wala na ba silang day of worship. Sabi ko, NO. Ako na lang ang mag-eexercise.

Masamang Damo


I talked with a friend of mine. She told me that our co-faculty in the Graduate School died of heart attack last June 20.

Bone Marrow Biopsy and Out-of-Body Experience

Dear insansapinas,
Before I was discharged from the hospital/rehab facilities, my oncologist required me to undergo bone marrow biopsy. His intention was to find out what is causing the decline in the white blood corpuscles, the change in the hemoglobin and platelets. These are symptoms of leukemia and bone marrow dysfunction. Like Dolphy, I was susceptible to infection.


This week, the cancer doctor attributed the blood problems to my iron deficiency and the chemotherapy treatment which is temporarily halted until the hospital can put port in my body where the meds will pass. Para bang canal na dadaanan. Hirap talaga ng maysakit pero panay pa rin ang bantay sa akin ni Bossing sa Itaas. Sabi ng kaibigan ko, ang lakas ko raw. Sabi ng mother ng kaibigan ko, baka raw kasi may mission pa ako. Ano Mission Impossible? tan-tan-tan.


Honestly, you do not feel the pain when you are experiencing out- of -body- experience. What feels the pain is the physical body. It does not mean also that when the patient appears to be conscious, his spirit is still there.


When I was in the hospital and the doctor declared that I was not breathing, that must be when I was met by my mother. She showed me three houses which doors she promptly closed. Sabi niya, hindi ka wedeng pumasok.  She said that my heart is strong.
Ilan na bang near-death-experience ko ito starting when I died when I was a baby and my mother had me baptized. 


Why did I say that the soul does not feel the pain and discomfort because of the sickness? Because my friend, all the while that I was in the CCU last May, I was fighting it out with the hospital staff by removing the tubes that were in my throat, my nose and my arms that they had to tie my arms in the bed railings so that I can not reach the tubings. I was not even aware and remember of what I have done.  What I remembered was my visit to California, to the Philippines and the things that I should do.

 I was even surprised that I could easily move from one place to another.  My brother told me that all the while I appeared to be awake and was just quiet and asked questions which happened in the past.  The truth was I was out. So when my brother let me read his notes about my hospitalization, I said that I must be sleeping while they were talking to me.


So I can now say that families could do more favor to the  long suffering bed-ridden relative  to just say good bye to the world.


Pinaysaamerika

The Women and the Children of Dolphy

 Dear insansapinas,
Dolphy died a bachelor with seventeen biological children and one adopted.daughter. He had also romantic relationships with several women.

His first common law wife was Engracia (Gracia )Dominguez, a stage actress. He had six children:
1. Manuel (Manny Boy)
 2. Sahlud (Sahlee)
3. Rodolfo, Jr. (Junior)
4. Freddie (Baby)
5. Edgar 
6. Raul (Rolly) 

The next woman in his life with whom he had four children was Gloria Smith.These are their children:
1. Mariquit
2. Carlos
3. Geraldino (Dino)
4. Edwin

With Baby Smith (Pamela Ponti) a movie star in the Philippine movies, he has three: They are:
1. Enrico (Eric Quizon)
2. Jeffrey (Epi Quizon)
3. Ronaldo (Ronnie Quizon)
4. Madonna (Donna)

 With a nurse named Evangeline Tugalao, he had one son .
1. Rommel
He had also one son with Alma Moreno
1. Van Dolph

Zsa Sza Padilla and Dolphy had one biological and one adopted daughter.
1. Zia
2. Nicole (adopted)

Dolphy almost married Pilar Pilapil and Lotis Key.

Pinaysaamerika

Dolphy said goodbye to the world

Dear insansapinas,

When Dolphy asked that he be brought home, it was already his spirit who was wishing it. He knew he's going home to where he came from.

Dolphy died at age 83, today, July 10, 2012 a few days shorter his 84th birthday. I will always remember him as John Puruntong, " the Kaya ikaw John, magsumikap ka" in John and Marsha. He has joined his " wife Marsha
(Nida Blanca).

Pinaysaamerika

Hospital and Rehab

Dear insansapinas,

Nag-aadjust a rin ako. Biruin mo namang almost two months akong nasa hospital facilities di wala akong ginawa kung hindi ang mahiga at magtherapy.

Dolphy wants already to go home. I do not blame him. There is no rest in the hospital. Amost every hour, there is somebody to check on you, your vital signs and if you are not feeling pain.

In the hospital, I became aware of my surroundings after I was moved from CCU to the regular room and all my tubes were removed.

In the rehab, I hardly slept. The nurses outside my room were noisy.I was near the nurses desk. The room of the door was left slightly open for emergency purposes.

Ala una ng midnight, bigla kang gigisingin for meds. Para bang Ano yon, nasaan ang sunog, anong nangyari, blah blah.

Dalawang beses, may pumasok na isang pasyente sa kuwarto ko. Pinipilit niya kuwatrto raw niya. Confused pala. Ngiiiii.

Minsan naman, isang matandang babae, nakababa na ang kaniyang tapalodo, magbabathroom daw siya. Ngiii.

Hana kaagad ako ng mask. Bawal sa akin ang nakikipag-usap ng walang mask.

Pinaysaamerika

I STOPPED BREATHING PART 2

Dear insansapinas,
First week of June, I was transferred from the hospital to the post acute rehab. Surprise, surprise, the manager is a Filipino, one supervisor nurse is a Filipina, a physical therapist is also a Filipino and one other staff is an American who asked me Kumusta? He lived in Bicol for three years pala.

I was isolated from other patients because I got a weak inmmune system for disease. Every staff that comes inside my room had to put on a mask and a glove.

My physical therapy on the first few days made me feel like I was one baby learning how to walk steadily. The therapist had to secure me in my waist with a band while I took few steps to walk a less than 2 meter distance. The other therapist worked on my arms and shoulders. There were equipment that were brought to my room for therapy purposes.

I STOPPED BREATHING

Dear insansapinas,
Kulit ng batang ito. Sabi siguro ni Bossing sa Itaas.

I have just been discharged from the hospital facilities after two months of battle for life not because of my C but because of my D-iabetes.

My brother found me unconscious in my bedroom last May. He could not wake me up. He called 9-11 and an ambulance was quickly dispatched to our home. He did not ride along with the paramedics. He drove his car and followed the red lighted trucks in the ER of the hospital.

The doctor told him that my blood pressure was high, my blood sugar was almost zero and I
STOPPED BREATHING.

.........I know who I am. But I do not know what I was doing in that top of the building looking down
the water, trees and buildings. I can see what was inside the tall building. There was a bed and a group of people in uniform. I saw my brother wearing a mask, glove and a gown. I wondered if he is already connected there. Then I felt flying. I reached San Francisco where I was looking for my former house....then I went back to the building. I was just looking from where I was. 

For days, while Dolphy was having difficulty breathing, I gave it up. I was put in the CCU with all
the tubes and ventilator taking charge.

After days, I opened my eyes. They can not communicate with me. The neurosurgeon ordered an MRI to
find out the extent of the brain damage. I can not swallow, I can not eat and I could not speak. Although
I was articulating some things which happened in the past. The doctor said that something's mixed up.
I got no appetite, I could not get up, I could not walk and I slept a lot.

Nagsishare lang daw siya

Dear insansapinas,

Kung nagtatanong kayo (meron ba?) kung bakit ako nawala,pabalik-ako sa specialista ko. pagkatapos simulan ang chemo ko. Unusual kasi ang mga side effects., kaya emergency dito, pharmacy dito at doctor dito. Kaya hindi ako nagiinternet dahil tulog ako palagi. Kung hindi sa atawg ng aking kaibigan na halos ko na hindi ko rin nasasagot sa phone, hindi ko ito maibabasa.,

Basahin ninyo na lang ang article na ito. Read and weep. Sinishare ni ya lang raw sa mga fans niya ang milyong-milyong nabibili niya mula sa kanilang pagtangkilik. SUS.

Si Kris Aquino nga yata ang pinakamayamang artista sa kasalukuyan. Kahapon sa programa niyang Kris TV, ipinakita ang kanyang half way house kung saan naging bisita niya si Cong. Lucy Torres.

As usual, sosyal na sosyal na siyempre ang halaga ay milyun-milyon.

Pero taob ang lahat sa kanyang sasakyang gamit sa kasalukuyan. Parang condo unit ang nasabing sasakyan na may banyo at shower room, may pahingahan, basta lahat ng bahagi ng isang condo unit nasa sasakyan ni Kris. Ipinakita niya ‘yun kasama ang isa niyang kaibigan.

Doon daw siya nagpapahinga lalo na kapag magdamagan ang taping at pag naka-rest na siya ng two hours, fresh na uli siya.

Katuwiran ni Kris after niyang ipakita ang mga latest acquisition niya mula sa kanyang mga pinagtrabahuhan ay gusto lang niyang i-share sa mga taong tumatangkilik sa kanya ang mga bunga ng kanyang pagod at pagtangkilik sa kanya ng sambayanan.

Parang gustong bilhin ni Kris sa susunod ay isang resort na huhulugan pa raw niya.

Pero, mas maganda rin sana kung kasabay nang pagpapakita ni Kris ng kanyang mga kayamanan satelevision ay ipinakikita rin niya ang mga kawanggawa niya bilang presidential sister. Siyempre wala namang masama na mag-flaunt ng yaman niya, kaya lang siyempre ano na lang ang sasabihin ng iba na ang daming mga walang tirahan sa kasalukuyan lalo na ang mga nasunugan sa Tondo na nagsisiksikan sa isang sports complex na walang comfort room. O kaya ang mga taong nakatira sa ilalim ng tulay at nagdurusa sa init ng panahon, heto siya na kapatid ng pangulo na higit pa sa pangarap ng bawat tao ang hawak na kayamanan.

Kasi kung ipakikita niya ang pagtulong na ginagawa niya, na I’m sure ay ginagawa naman niyang tumulong sa mga kapus-palad, malalaman din ng mga tao ang kawang­gawa niya bilang kapatid nga ng pangulo ng bansa.

Pinaysaamerika

The First Wife and Our Family Tree

Dear insansapinas,

This blog is acshually about a story of families; mine and that of the first wife of Iggy Arroyo, Marilene Jacinto. Not so long ago, there was a squabble between the second wife, Aleli Arroyo and the mistress who denied she is a mistress, Grace Ibuna over the body and the estate of the deceased Congressman. So people asked, where is the first wife? 


The First Wife


These excerpts from Babe Romualdez 's article could provide the answer to the question of those who are interested to know who she is.

The Quezon City Prosecutor’s office has indicted Marilene Jacinto, first wife of the late Negros Occidental Congressman Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, for falsification of public documents. The indictment stemmed from a complaint by Marilene’s brother – Ramon “RJ” Jacinto – president of the family-owned Oregon Land Inc., alleging that Marilene faked a Deed of Absolute Sale and presented the same to the Quezon City Register of Deeds to have the ownership of the P300-million Novaliches property transferred to her name.

The indictment is only the latest in the long-running Jacinto family saga marked by infighting among siblings over their inheritance. The late family patriarch Don Fernando Jacinto is the acknowledged founder of the steel industry. Don Fernando’s father, Nicanor Sr., is also one of the founders of the Bank of Commerce and Security Bank, and together with the steel mill in Iligan City plus vast land holdings, the family wealth expanded to great heights. The Jacinto children lived the kind of opulence and extravagance that most other people could only dream about. At a young age, they were living in the lap of luxury, driving around in the flashiest cars and mingling with the scions of society’s most elite. As a matter of fact, RJ would be seen driving around the Ateneo campus in a red and white Thunderbird – at a time when the T-Bird was just being introduced locally – while another brother went around in a Jaguar.

The rift among the siblings escalated with Marilene accused of squandering the family finances and running away with the others’ share – already little as it is – from the sale of the property. Court records of email exchanges (between 2007 and 2008) among the siblings revealed the acrimony and frustration especially among the other sisters who felt betrayed by Marilene. Two of the Jacinto sisters, Lilibeth and Nannette, passed away in 2009 and 2010 due to cancer while Pocholo died a year later. Sources close to the family allege that the death of RJ’s three younger siblings must have been caused by the stress and unhappiness over the infighting.

Our Family Tree