An evening with Isabel Preysler & Mario Vargas Llosa
I first met Isabel Arrastia Preysler when she arrived in Madrid in 1969 just as I was finishing school and ready to go back to Manila upon the request of my parents. We lived in the same Avenida del Generalisimo apartment building where she stayed with her aunt, Tessie A. Brias, while we occupied Teresing Tuason’s flat with my sister Reggie Aguinaldo and good friend Martita Tuason. Isabel was not only beautiful, she already stood out with her charm, poise and grace, making us proud that she was known as “La Filipina.”
From 1991 to 2007, Isabel has been voted the most elegant and best-dressed woman in Spain (and probably the whole of Europe), retaining her girlish figure with thrice-weekly workouts to keep trim and fit at 65 years old.
During the intimate dinner hosted by good friend Lin Ilusorio Bildner, she was with her beau, Mario Vargas Llosa, in a perfectly cut whitish-beige pantsuit and simple gold jewelry. He wore a barong Tagalog and we found out that Lin had had it made in less than 48 hours yet it fit him to a T. The couple had just arrived from the University of Sto. Tomas, where the Nobel laureate received an honorary degree.
Upon entering Discovery Primea’s Flame outlet, Isabel greeted our small group individually. When she met my husband, RJ Jacinto, she mentioned that one of her boyfriends during her younger days in Manila was his brother, Pocholo. It was not difficult to see how Isabel would and could still turn heads.
Chilled glasses of champagne, assorted salmon, smoked duck and lamb canapés were ready for the guests while Senator Dick Gordon made it in the nick of time, explaining that he was delayed due to the ongoing Senate hearing that has riveted the nation. As dinner progressed, we were given a refreshing seafood salad, followed by one of the most delicious soups that contained a whole slice of seared foie gras in a chawan mushi dashi reduction. The lobster fried rice had a fresh grilled lobster centered on a sausage fried rice topped with a runny fried egg ingeniously plated with a “takeout” carton. And just as we were going to say, “Enough!” there was a braised US short rib for the meat lovers among us. For the undecided sweet tooth lovers, a dessert trio platter arrived containing a creamy flourless chocolate cake, mini apple tart and an apricot cherry mostrada.
We were informed that the menu was personally prepared by no less than Primea’s general manager, David Pardo de Ayala, who made sure that not only our palates would be satisfied but visually every dish was a delight to behold.
Since we were curious about the workload of Mario, he explained that he is busy seven days a week, getting up early in the morning with his creative juices already flowing. Not a day passes by that he isn’t writing for a forthcoming book or article. Working the old-fashioned way in longhand, he communicates his thoughts on white paper with a blue-black ink pen just as he did as a young boy and continues to do so in his 80th year. Only after the manuscript is ready to be edited will it be transferred to a computer for the final work. The original handwritten drafts are kept in Princeton University because it is the safest place to preserve his works for posterity.
When asked by our National Artist for Literature Frankie Sionil Jose how Mario started writing, his reply was that at 14 years old and in military school, the young student would write love letters for his schoolmates and even pornographic material, accepting payment in cash or cigarettes. He smilingly admitted that he knew his ribald stories were working because the boys’ libidos would go into high gear.
Able to speak five languages, Mario keeps three residences (in Paris, Lima and Madrid) surrounded by the books that he loves. In fact, if he likes a particular book, he will make sure that he has the same one in all three homes as he enjoys re-reading them.
The couple first met in the mid-’80s when Isabel interviewed Mario in Missouri, USA, on assignment. Since both were married to other spouses, a fast friendship ensued between the two couples (she was recently widowed from Miguel Boyer, while Mario is recently divorced from his wife, Patricia Llosa). They only got together a few months after Isabel’s widowhood. “It is a blessing to have fallen in love again,” she enthused. “It’s been a wonderful surprise and I am thankful for it.”
Isabel spends nine months in Spain and three months abroad, but currently accompanies Mario as he travels internationally to receive awards and honorary degrees from various institutions. In the Philippines, both the University of Sto. Tomas and La Salle University honored him. Their next destination is Switzerland, where he will be receiving another award.
In her palatial Madrid household, Isabel’s staff includes a couple each from Paraguay and the Philippines who get along well since they are alike in temperament — often smiling, friendly and very helpful.
Former Philippine ambassadors to Spain Isabel Wilson and Lani Bernardo admired how Isabel would always make it a point to attend embassy functions and even make sure that Hola magazine would cover the event so that they would have the needed publicity. When reminded about her generosity, she replied, “ I am proud to be a Filipina and will always try to give of my time since my roots are in the Philippines.”
Conchitina Sevilla Bernardo was all praises for Isabel because everywhere she went, people would request to be photographed with her. Always accommodating and with a ready smile, Isabel would even ask if the picture had come out to the satisfaction of the requester. If not, Isabel would graciously be the first to say, “Let’s do it again.”
As the evening ended, Lin Bildner toasted the couple, “Felicitations to Dr. Mario and welcome back to dear Isabel. Although Mario has been conferred with so many honors worldwide, we hope he will regard this doctorado honoris causa as special because it is from the Filipinos. You have many homes in different parts of the world, but we hope you will consider Manila as your second home.”
Mario then replied, “Thank you for your wonderful hospitality and generosity. You have been extremely kind, generous and most energetic. We will remain friends for the rest of our lives.”
* * *
For your comments and ideas, please email: jacinto.fa@gmail.com or follow me at www.facebook.com/frannie.a.jacinto.
