Chito Madrigal Collantes – Feisty, compassionate and elegant

More than a decade ago, before she moved on to the great mansion in the sky, Chito Madrigal Collantes allowed me the honor of visiting her in her Forbes Park home. I was conducting my oral history on Manila’s 400 and I wanted to know her views especially on Conchita Sunico, our country’s version of the hostess with the moistest and the foremost promoter of Philippine fashion through her Karilagan Arts International.

When someone says some people are society climbers, I say, all of us are society climbers

Chito Collantes and Conchita Sunico were friends, along with Mary Prieto and Chona Ysmael and a number of a few other women who, in postwar Philippines, were known as the “Party Girls,” an appellation not very much remembered of them by today’s social set and social chroniclers. And yet, they indeed fit the title, at a time when people wanted to forget the recent war and just wanted to enjoy their hearts out.

POSING for a memento with her sponsors and dearest friends, Eddie Lim, Monching del Rosario, her brother Tony, Nelly Gonzales, Mary Prieto and Milllie del Rosario. Taken at the reception after her investiture as Dame of the Order of Saint Sylvester,

My interview with Ms. Collantes took place in the library that is also the anteroom to her master’s bedroom. She was then not feeling well, I was told by her assistant, but I couldn’t help noticing that she dressed up for this interview despite her then frail condition. But I need not wonder. Letty del Rosario, when I interviewed her, had also been for the longest time staying home but she looked equally made up and even stylish. For these women, the times were different, with only a few of them of that elegant era still around, but because I had sought an interview about Manila’s 400 as they had seen and lived its wonderful years, they had agreed to give me the rare privilege.

Society doyenne Chito Madrigal Collantes.

And there they were, emerging from the privacy of their bedrooms, all looking elegant, properly groomed and very polite. Ms. Collantes, at three in the afternoon or thereabouts, didn’t seem to be in her element, with an occasional twinge showing in her face, but she did her best to answer my questions. Normally, I would have stretched the opportunity since occasions such as this do not happen every day, but it didn’t seem right to stretch the hospitality of the lady who, after all, had accommodated me only because I had dropped the magic name, Tita Conching.

Years earlier, I had helped classify her vast collection of books — and oh, was I impressed and drooling — but I am not sure if she remembered. This was in the late 1980s when she had been livelier and more energetic. As it took quite a while to finish my assignment, I would regularly visit her tastefully-decorated home, immerse myself in the work, but not occasionally allowing myself to get lost in the vast surroundings, taking my break in the spacious lanai and debating with myself over whether I should try my hand at the antique harp on display. I was told she used to play it, but now, it was all for ornamentation. The favorite part of my engagement was to take a look at her old albums, long before her book Picture Me came out. I had the proverbial time of my life journeying through the best years of Manila’s high society and somehow insinuating myself into those pictures. Oh, if I were but there, but why not? I could be the waiter, I could be the band player, or the acolyte of an officiating priest, who were occasionally on the pictures, but why not be the other person standing next to Chito, Conching, Mary, Luis and Chona (Ysmael)? Or in another memorable shot be with Chichos, Ising, Danny, Ramoning, Charlie and Peggy? The thing about daydreaming is you could be anywhere and with everyone. Never mind that if you woke up to the reality, there you were talking with Encarnacion, the majordoma-cum-confidante, sharing with you all those wonderful stories about her masters and their friends. (“Ms. Sunico would kiss me on my cheek every time she visited,” said Encar. Or, “I was with them in that private plane that brought us to New York, and that singer who is now married to the son of a friend, would sing for us while someone played the piano — all up there, of course.”) As one society columnist would say, I had a blast but maybe I’d go further. I always came out, thrilled like a debutante every time I heard those stories, for they indeed were adding to the fodder for my social-climbing-by-writing career.

On the over all, my interview with Chito Madrigal Collantes went well. As you will read below, she might have started cautious, even bothered by the intrusion, but as she warmed up to the whole idea, she became more candid and, as I expected, frank. Which she could not help, because she was always known to be straight and not one to say something she didn’t mean just to be nice.

Jojo G. Silvestre (JGS): I came to ask you about your recollection of Ms. Conchita Sunico or Tita Conching, as well as of that era when it was a great time to be part of Manila’s 400 and its doings.

Chito Madrigal Collantes (CMC): I don’t have much to say. All I can say is Conching was a good woman, very active, and very involved in arts and charity.

JGS: I understand you were involved in postwar benefits? Like you had these parties and you would raise funds.

JGS: I understand that you had parties , your group, along with Don Luis, Peggy Lim…

CMC: Those were things we did when we were young. And I don’t think that at this time, where the country is and everything, we have time to talk about parties.

JGS: What would you consider the contribution of Ms. Sunico to Philippine arts and culture?

CMC: I remember she was active in the Karilagan and the Metropolitan Theater. She had many shows, fashion shows at the Hilton hotel.

JGS: Was there some kind of a friendly competition or rivalry?

CMC: Why would we have a rivalry? It was so banal, so insignificant.

JGS: Is it right to say your friendship goes back to even before the war?

CMC: No. I am much younger than Ms. Sunico. She was the age of my elder sisters who are dead now. She became my friend later on. I was not here during the war. I only came back in 1947.

JGS: You were both active during the Macapagal years.

JGS: Would you like to share what exactly transpired during the Macapagal years. What exactly did the society matrons like you do?

CMC: I don’t even think about them. Those were things of the past. All I think of now are my foundation and my business. Those were things of the past when the country was better.

JGS: Of late, you’ve been giving a lot to humanity in general.

CMC: Yes. I have a two million-peso foundation for the poorest of the poor. Rather than going to those parties anymore. Those were the things we did when we were young. When the country was better.

JGS: You were a close friend to the First Lady, Eva Macapagal, of course.

CMC: No, it was my elder sister. I’m much younger than Ms. Sunico and all of them. Napapasama na lang ako (I became part of their group) because she was one of the best friends of Macaria, my eldest sister.

JGS: You organized the Lakambini. Given their age, you would be in a better position…

CMC: Not exactly. They were okay. I believed in Macapagal so we organized.

JGS: I am just curious. How was society then compared to society today?

CMC: I don’t know because my perception then is different from my perception now. I was young then, so I was probably not serious. I now take care of my own, my business, my family.

JGS: But those days. How was the social scene then? Was it fun, was it wonderful?

CMC: Yes, we enjoyed it, just like we enjoy what we are doing now.

JGS: Was it just limited to certain people?

CMC: Anybody who had the guts and the energy to do it. There were people who were in a better financial position who didn’t do it, because they had something else to do. Just like me now, I don’t concern myself so much with society because I am more interested in business.

JGS: So you continue to be active in business.

JGS: What are your concerns now? Do you still have the cement (manufacturing company founded by Vicente Madrigal)?

JGS: So, what business are you involved in now?

JGS: I guess it’s more like you do the big decisions and people do things for you.

CMC: In order to make a decision, you have to know what you are doing, the facts, the details, everything. Otherwise you will go bankrupt.

JGS: Is there someone among your nephews and nieces you have more or less anointed to take care of certain things?

JGS: To go back to your charity work, what are your priorities (in helping)?

CMC: According to their need. I have a foundation for the poorest of the poor, which is ongoing.

CMC: Aah, the church, I always give. I used to belong to Caritas until I resigned because of age. With Cardinal Sin and for a while, with Cardinal Rosales. But I couldn’t move as when I was young, so I asked them to put my niece. Gina Montinola is now with Caritas.But first they had to choose, whether they would accept her or not. They usually choose you, you don’t choose them.

JGS: And, of course, you have your papal award, as a reward for all this work, I suppose.

JGS: Looking back, what lessons would you share with the younger generation of business leaders, civic workers…

CMC: Well, do what you think is right. Not everybody have the same thinking, or what they should do, and what they want to do. I have a foundation, to help the poor.

JGS: how does it feel being a grand dame?

CMC: For people to respect you, you must command their respect.

JGS: You’ve managed your resources very well.

CMC: Our father taught us so. We were taught to work. My father and my mother used to work in the office.

JGS: What is your work ethic? What principles did he impart to you? What did your father teach you?

CMC: First of all, you have to know what you are doing. Be honest. You have to be doing something good, for the people and the country.

JGS: In your pictorial biography, Picture Me, there are photos showing you doing Leonor Rivera and all that.

CMC: That was a span of my life. The stupid span of my life.

JGS: I don’t think playing the role of Leonor Rivera was something silly.

CMC: I could have done something more helpful to people.

CMC: I don’t regret it, but I could have done, like I have this foundation, to help the poor. We are not all perfect. We have silly things that we do.

JGS: Your niece, Jamby, is a senator now. What has been your advice to her?

CMC: I don’t see her very often. She is in the provinces.

JGS: Was it a family decision? Or was it a personal thing?

CMC: Nobody tells us what to do. We do what we think is right.

“For people to respect you, you must command their respect.”

CMC: I don’t think there’s a typical Madrigal woman. No. Each one of us is different.

JGS: But it’s nice you are really able to work hard, then there’s time for charity, and there’s also time for socializing

CMC: All play and no work, and all work and no play…you combine…

JGS: Let’s admit it, a lot of women of your age got old ahead of you. I mean, as early as age 60, they started to look like, you know…

CMC: They didn’t take care of themselves.

JGS: Yes, but it took a long time to put you in this situation. Did you have a regimen or something?

CMC: I did a lot of exercise. And I was very sporty; I used to play tennis and golf. And even now, I walk.

JGS: So how often do you get together with friends? Like you had this early Christmas luncheon for select friends.

CMC: I go out with my friends if they invite me. And we have a family meeting every Sunday.

JGS: You used to invite Ms. Sunico also.

CMC: To parties, yes, but not to our family meetings. We also have our family parties, but only the family.

JGS: What kind of person was Ms. Sunico? Is it true that she could be dictatorial? Not to you, of course.

CMC: You know, she loved to organize things. To organize things, you have to be dictatorial. Otherwise, she was a good person and she was a leader.

JGS: I guess you two would fall under the same category. I cannot think of any, any society girl who had done as much…

CMC: My useful years came only about 10 years ago. Before, I was still a little bit, you know, going to parties. Well, I started really working about 10, 15, 20 years ago.

CMC: Yes, family business and my business.

JGS: But then it is something that would make you look back and be happy about.

CMC: I am very happy about my life. What I did, what I have and what I am doing. I am very happy that I have a P2-million foundation for the poor. I have realized that those things should be done. When you are young, you don’t realize that. You enjoy yourself.

CMC: Mostly I go with my nieces. Most of my friends are also… they are not very healthy.

JGS: I also saw Ms. Lizares, who’s very much older than you. She also had nice words about Ms. Sunico.

CMC: Conching was a nice person, very lively.

JGS: Did she laugh the way Elvira laughed, you know… like it reverberated?

CMC: I would not want to talk of Conching in the same breath as Elvira.

A relaxing day in the swimming pool with Manoling.

JGS: Oh…So, tell me… how was Tita Conching as a person?

CMC: Conching was a nice person, very active…

JGS: What made her very capable? Would Assumption have to do with that? You both went to Assumption.

CMC: I don’t know. There are so many girls who go to the Assumption and don’t do anything.

JGS: What makes you the kind of woman that you are, of for that matter, what made Ms. Sunico the kind of woman that she was?

JGS: Did you keep a schedule? What was your management style?

CMC: I work in the morning, from nine to one. I used to play golf. I don’t anymore.

JGS: When you were younger, what did you envision of the future?

JGS: Did you really want to become a lawyer?

CMC: No. I became a lawyer because I was in the States. The war broke out and I had nothing to do. So I studied. So what did I want to study? I said Law. So I took up Law. I took the bar in the States.

JGS: Would it be safe to say that when your pack led certain fund-raising activities, which meant partying also, a lot followed because people like you were there.

CMC: Life then was different from the life now. If I were to do it all over, I would have worked.

JGS: They looked up to you, and if you contributed, and you were there as a fashion model, they would go, and they would share whatever they had. Because you were there.

JGS: But that time, it was a good idea, I guess.

CMC: I put up my foundation about 10 years ago. Or 15 years ago. (interview took place around 2005)

JGS: And, of course, there’s a board that chooses… Would you like to say a few words about the evolution of high society through the years?

CMC: I don’t know why they call it high society. And I have some friends who say that some friends are social climbers. That’s nothing. What is important is you do what you think is right. When someone says some people are society climbers, I say, all of us are society climbers

CMC: All of us, in one way or the other.

JGS: After all, someone else is always ahead of us. Thank you very much. It was my pleasure.

CMC: Oh, don’t mention it. If there’s anything at all, let me know.