In 1974, the Martial Law regime went on an international blietzkrieg PR campaign selling the Philippines as a world-class venue. Securing the 1974 Miss Universe pageant for Manila, Madame Imelda made sure the visitors would be impressed so she had the Folk Arts Theater built in a record 90 days (talagang walang tulugan!); finished just in time for the pageant’s staging! And as the original mastershowperson, Imelda staged that magnificent “sidelight” for all the contestants, organizers and tourists to marvel at: the “Kasaysayan ng Lahi” parade. The parade, snaked across the CCP complex grounds presenting the history of the Philippines in floats and “live” dioramas. The power couple, FL & FM, watched from a constructed grandstand filled with foreign diplomats and the emerging coterie of “Blue Ladies”. One of the highlights of the parade was the Lapu-Lapu “diorama” which featured a g-string clad Lapu-Lapu marching together with his fellow combatants. It drew the loudest cheers, mainly because the person who played Lapu-Lapu was no less than the “it” guy of that year, Mr. Body Beautiful, Vic Vargas. Of course, decades later,Mr. Vargas outed himself just before he passed away.. I guess he would have preferred the title which Vivian Velez held. (Another highlight of the parade was a fly-by made by a squadron of then modern Philippine F-5 jet fighters known as “The Blue Diamonds” headed by one Colonel Arturo Sotelo. It is the same Col. Sotelo who,12 years later, during the second day of the EDSA revolution, would lead a fleet of Huey helicopters to Camp Crame and defect to the Ramos side. Sotelo then ordered two of his Hueys to Malacanang to strafe the palace grounds… Should’ve done it during the parade and saved us from having to deal with all that martial law baggage. )Source: http://indiosbravos.blog.com/2011/05/10/recyclablog-8-1974-master-showmaam-walang-matutulog/
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