Revilla and forgiveness
THREE F’s – Faith, family, and friends. Those three Fs kept Bong Revilla’s morale and spirit high the four years and nearly six months he was unjustly deprived of liberty.
Faith in God and the country’s justice system, the support of family and friends he had plenty of. Wife Lani Mercado was a pillar of strength. Friends like Mother Lily Monteverde and Manay Ichu Maceda often visited him and Jinggoy Estrada. Also friends from entertainment media like Lolit Solis, Gorgy Rula, and Ethel Ramos, who were already around when Bong was new in showbiz.
Mother Lily and Manay Ichu hosted a luncheon party for Bong, attended mostly by the press. Tirso Cruz III, a true friend, was seen. Wife Lyn Ynchausti would have come, but she was taping a teledrama. Which Pip welcomed, saying it would give his wife a welcome break, distraction from mourning the death of their first child, TJ. •
FOURTH F – There’s a fourth F in Bong’s life, Forgiveness, which came from his father, Don Ramon Revilla.
Upon leaving Camp Crame in QC as a free man, the first thing he did was pray at the church in Imus, Cavite, and then visited his ailing father.
It was only natural for Bong to harbor hatred in his heart, but Don Ramon advised him to learn to forgive people who persecuted him. “Diyos na ang bahala sa kanila,” Bong sighed. What mattered most was justice and that people trusted and believed him. That is judging from the latest result of the Pulse Asia survey, which placed Bong on the winning list of senatorial aspirants.
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MATINEE IDOL – Manay Ichu recalled that a few years back, she and Gloria visited Don Ramon in Imus. The ailing former matinee idol was extremely happy to see them. When it was time to say goodbye, Don Ramon turned sentimental and emotional. He cried and asked them to stay a longer. “Parang ayaw na kaming paalisin,” Manay Ichu smiled.