What’s The Story Behind Liza Araneta-Marcos’ Playful ‘Belat’?
The First Lady’s playful gesture later went viral on social media, eliciting mixed reactions from netizens.
As Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was sworn in as the Philippines 17th president, his wife, Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos briefly stole the spotlight as she playfully stuck her tongue out shortly after he was inaugurated.
In the livestream of state-run Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) on Thursday, June 30, it can be seen that shortly after Marcos took his oath of office outside the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila, Liza started to become overwhelmed with emotion. Their sons Sandro, Simon and Vincent then took turns congratulating their father.
While Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo — who administered Marcos’ oath of office — signed papers making the new President’s inauguration official, Marcos and his wife were spotted holding hands, with the President later taking out a handkerchief to dab Liza’s tears away.
Though it cannot be heard what they were talking about, footage showed the first couple being playfully candid despite the emotional day for their family. It was moments later when Liza gazed toward the crowd and playfully stuck her tongue out.
Liza’s candid moment was said to have been her reaction after the audience swooned, cheered and teased her and her husband for being sweet to each other.
The First Lady’s playful gesture later went viral on social media, eliciting mixed reactions based on the footage posted on The Philippine STAR’s Facebook page.
“She’s just feeling giddy and overwhelmed,” one netizen said on Facebook.
“In all [presidential families], sila ang [pinaka-makwela] (they are the most candid). I love their humor,” another netizen commented. Another social media user said that Liza’s gesture was a moment of humility.
However, others thought that the moment was unbecoming for a first lady.
“Liza Araneta-Marcos should learn to conduct herself properly as First Lady, especially in public and important government event,” director Manny Castañeda said in his Facebook account on Friday, July 1.
“A crash course from Imelda Marcos is advised,” Castañeda added, referring to Liza’s mother-in-law who herself became first lady during the term of her husband, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Who is Liza Araneta-Marcos?
Before becoming the country’s newest first lady, Liza, 62, first forged her career as a lawyer. She is a founding partner of her own law firm Marcos, Ochoa, Serapio, & Tan (MOST), now known as M & Associates.
Based on the M & Associates’ website, Liza obtained her Juris Doctor degree at the Ateneo de Manila University in 1985. She then taught criminal law in several universities throughout her career, such as in Mariano Marcos State University in Ilocos Norte, St. Louis University in Baguio City and Far Eastern University College of Law, among others.
The website also indicated that Liza is a member of the New York Bar Association. However, several reports cited that this claim is false. A search inquiry on the New York State Unified Court System also bore no results of the first lady’s name on the website.
Like her husband, Liza is a member of one of the country’s most prominent political families — the Araneta clan. She is a cousin of former senator and 2016 presidential candidate Mar Roxas, a known figure of the Liberal Party.
Liza and her husband met in New York in 1989, while Marcos and his family were in exile following his father’s ouster because of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. They married in Italy four years later.
In an interview with Boy Abunda back in March, Liza said that unlike her husband, she prefers to stay out of the limelight. She also shared how her husband got inspired to run for the presidency after watching the Marvel superhero movie “Ant-Man.”
