Does Malacañang keep any secrets?

 In the Philippines, Malacañang is the ultimate symbol of power; the pinnacle of a politician’s career; the cathedral where Juan de la Cruz raises his prayers to  for justice as well as lower gas prices; for a political appointment as well as for a new bridge.

It is sacred ground, both a Mecca and an Elysium; both Camelot and Mt. Olympus, depending on your life’s most fervent aspirations. It is a war room where life and death decisions and strategies affecting 90 million Filipinos are made; it is where “heads roll” and mythical knives are buried on backs. A presidential daughter, Imee Marcos, once likened it to a snake pit. A press secretary, the late Teddy Benigno, however, likened then President Cory Aquino’s Malacañang office to a serene cathedral, where people streaming in are tempted to genuflect. To critics, Malacañang is a circus.

Undoubtedly, it is a beautiful place  a colonial palace amid gardens where centuries-old trees keep secrets of eras past and present. It is a repository of national treasures  murals, pieces of sculpture, rare books and furniture.

According to the Malacañang website, a fire in the early ‘80s destroyed a substantial number of important art and historical pieces. After the EDSA revolution of 1986, when an angry mob stormed the Palace, some offices in the compound were gutted of their furniture and equipment.

But the custodian who held the key to most of the private rooms in the Palace held on to them till after the mob had retreated. One of those designated by then President Cory Aquino to take care of the Palace right after EDSA revealed to me that one day, a female employee simply walked up to her with a bunch of keys to all Malacañang’s secret chambers, thus leaving their treasures intact. Cory commissioned SGV to conduct an audit of all Malacañang’s material possessions and list them down. I was then a writer for the Press Office and all our pieces of furniture had a number on them.

(I remember someone in the Press Office bringing out a grand chandelier  he told everyone it belonged to his mother and he just had it cleaned at the Palace. He didn’t stay long at the Press Office.)

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Since very few people are allowed to take photographs of Malacañang  guests’ cameras are not allowed and cellphone cameras are blocked  National Geographic Channel’s documentary Inside Malacañang, which takes you on an exclusive guided tour inside the official residence and office of the Philippines’ Chief Executive, is a real scoop. Narrated by veteran actor Joonee Gamboa, it is as informative as it is entertaining, accurate and non-partisan.

“Very well done!” President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III told head writer Marnie Manicad after the documentary was aired at Malacañang’s Rizal Hall last Feb. 28  as the INC rally was underway at the Luneta.

This exclusive feature, which took one and a half years to produce, delves into the chambers of the Palace that are off limits to the public and to the media.

It has mesmerizing shots of Malacañang, which even made the President remark that the documentary further enhanced the beauty of the 19th-century Palace, which is fully bullet-proof and air-conditioned.

A riverside home belonging to the Rocha family in the 19th century, Malacañang was a weekend home for the Spanish governors-general until an earthquake that destroyed their official residence in Intramuros forced them to take up residence and hold office at Malacañang. According to the Malacañang website, the Americans moved in in the early 20th century, and Manuel Quezon was the first Philippine President to hold office there, in 1935.

It was extensively remodeled by the Marcoses in 1978-79. I think this was when ornate chandeliers crafted by Laguna woodcarvers were installed in the Ceremonial Hall, which overlooks the Pasig River.

President Aquino was relaxed and in high spirits that afternoon, even as he revealed he is temporarily holding office in “Marcos’ bedroom!”

P-Noy, like his late mother, holds office at the building across the main Palace called the “Premiere Guesthouse” (Cory liked its symbolism for it reminded her and her staff that they were mere guests transiting through Malacañang and not permanent residents). But the President was told by Public Works Secretary Babes Singson that the building was unsafe, in fact its columns were in danger of being pulverized and its foundation was anything but solid.

So off he was to the main Palace, even if he really didn’t particularly like its vibes. (The main Palace has a lot of dark wood and very few windows, which are of course shut due to security reasons).

“Kaya minsan, medyo masungit ako,” he quipped. But his demeanor that afternoon belied his words, for he was mingling with all the guests at the premiere and talking lengthily with most of them  young bloggers, staffers from women’s magazines, visual artists. The President looked truly inspired and when I mentioned this to his chief campaign media strategist and cousin Maria Montelibano, she smiled: “It’s because all economic indicators are up!”

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Inside Malacañang also examines and breaks long-held myths and beliefs about the President’s entourage.

The documentary features the group commander of the Presidential Security Group Col. Ramon Mateo Dizon, the presidential photographer Jay Morales (formerly of The Manila Standard), the food taster/tester Jaime “Caster” Castro (who was also President Cory’s food taster/tester) and his close in aide Lito Africano.

It was Dizon who gave permission for the documentary, for ultimately, opening up the Palace to media in such an extensive way is a security issue. I was told by the President’s aides that the footage of the rooms, halls and chambers featured doesn’t give a hint of where these places actually are inside the Palace.

“Malacañang is not only a physical symbol of power and freedom but a unifying force as a nation,” says Marnie.

The documentary, proudly made by an accomplished Filipino production team, shows that the transparency of the Aquino presidency  no hidden agenda, and yes, no hidden chambers.

Malacañang’s only secrets are in the chambers of the President’s heart  and we give, and leave him, that.

 (Inside Malacañang will premiere on March 18 at 9 p.m. on the National Geographic Channel.)

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