Daily Tribune (Philippines)

Portraits commission­ed for Imelda’s birth month

- FRANCIS SIMEON

We got to chat with artist Kristine Lim, who painted large portraits of President Ferdinand Marcos, his wife

Imelda and son Bongbong, and asked her if she’s pro-Marcos.

“I’m pro-God. I regard theocracy to always be above democracy. If we are to follow God’s governance, then we have to accept what was stated in 1 Peter 2:13:

‘Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institutio­n, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by Him’. I believe former President

Ferdinand Marcos was a rightful leader, as well as all the other leaders that we had, have and will have. They would not have been put in position if it weren’t God’s will,” Lim said.

We also asked why she decided to take the project, knowing the possible unfavorabl­e comments on the controvers­ial political family. Lim’s response left us more speechless. “Our God is a God of All. I work for the Lord and if my Master doesn’t discrimina­te, then who am I to choose who to paint and who not to paint?”

She added, “Everyone has critics. Jesus had critics. They spat on Him, cursed Him, tortured Him and nailed Him on the cross but He loved them anyway. Who am I, a sinner, to do or say otherwise?”

The portraits were commission­ed by Phil Marcelo Villamar, Ph.D, and his wife Eleonor (long-time friends of the Marcoses from San Miguel, Pangasinan), to be given to the Marcos family this birth month of the former First Lady (who celebrated her 92nd birthday on 2 July) as a sincere gesture of their unending support.

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 ?? PHOTOGRAPH­S COURTESY OF FRANCIS SIMEON ?? THE portraits were commission­ed by Phil Marcelo Villamar, Ph.D, and his wife Eleonor.
PHOTOGRAPH­S COURTESY OF FRANCIS SIMEON THE portraits were commission­ed by Phil Marcelo Villamar, Ph.D, and his wife Eleonor.
 ??  ?? THEY will be given in time for the former first lady’s
birth month.
THEY will be given in time for the former first lady’s birth month.

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