I get my fingers in all our pies. Before you know it, your little fingers including all your toes are in all the pies.

The Marcos era was the golden time for the Philippines. We had the lowest crime rate in the world in Manila and real development then. At last, people are starting to understand this.

My husband does not like me to give interviews because I say too much. No talk, no trouble.

Never dress down for the poor. They won't respect you for it. They want their First Lady to look like a million dollars.

The problem of the world today is the people talk on and on about democracy, freedom, justice. But I don't give a damn about democracy if I am worried about survival.

It is shallow people who think beauty is frivolous or excessive. If you are bringing beauty and god, you are enriching the country. Rice feeds the body, books feed the mind, beauty feeds the soul. It is one thing I can really be proud of and stand tall in the world.

The problems with First Ladies is that you have to set the standard. My role is to be both star and slave.