Article on Enrique Iglesias' Mom's Filipino Roots
Brzz578
By CHE-CHE PANGILINAN
THREE years back, in an issue of the People Weekly Magazine, the "50 most
Beautiful People in the World for 1998" were featured.
Three individuals of Filipino descent were included: Maila Jones, a model whose
mom is half-Hawaiian and half-Filipino; Paolo Montalban, a well-known stage
actor; and pop star Enrique Iglesias, son of singer Julio Iglesias to ex-wife,
Filipina Madrid socialite Isabel Preysler.
In Spain, Enrique's mom is always tagged with the title La Filipina. With
illustrious people in Spain like Annette Benning, Carmen Martinez, and Princess
Carolina of Monaco, Hola.com readers have chosen Isabel Preysler as one of the
most elegant woman in Spain.
One more interesting fact I found out about her is that she's originally from
Concepcion, Tarlac. I have come across this information while surfing the net
for famous Tarlaqueños.
ISABEL'S ROOTS
Isabel Preysler's life is inimitable and her popularity goes along with the
confusion of choosing her flag. She feels like Spanish, although at heart, she
knows that her roots lay in the grounds of the Philippines.
She was born in Manila on February 18, 1951 where she also spent her childhood
and teenage years.
Though she has an ancestry from peninsular blood four generations ago, her
lineage are still part native-Filipino. Her maternal great grandmothers bore
prominent names in Pampanga, Salgado and Rodriguez.
Although it was not clearly distinguished where and how they have come to
reside in Concepcion -- which also happens to be the hometown of martyred
former Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. -- the Tarlac Homepage in the Internet
stated she's from that town.
I believe they may possibly have had resided there since it's a neighboring
town of Pampanga.
Anyway, her great grandmoms married peninsular gentlemen by the surnames
Arrastria from Pampanga and Reinares. Her maternal great grandfather, Jose
Arrastria, and brothers Esteban and Enrique are of Filipina mother.
Paternally, she is Manileña, where Carmen Perez de Tagle, her paternal
grandmother was born. So her parents have a great deal of Filipino blood.
Carlos Preysler, her dad, worked as a manager of the Philippine Airlines back
then, and her mom Betty Arrastria, was a real estate agent.
Isabel was crowned Manila's Miss Maxifalda in 1969. No wonder Enrique has an
exotic Filipino look.
Julio Iglesias and Isabel
In 1969, Isabel was sent to Spain and settled in Madrid with her uncle, Miguel
Blond Perez.
When she began to attend different celebrations from high Madridenian Society,
one of which was organized by a friend Tomas Terry, she met Julio Iglesias, who
was a soccer player then. They eventually fell in love and got married in 1971.
Julio got himself injured and not being able to play soccer again, he sank into
the world of music. It did not take long before he got famous. His concert
tours, absence at home, and supposed infidelity pushed Isabel to give him an
ultimatum only they know.
Julio then came back to his nest and wrote songs for his only love, Isabel.
But Julio's international stardom induced him to infidelity once more, and they
separated definitively in 1978. Isabel assured him, "Someday, I will have as
many covers as yours," as he was leaving for Miami.
Her remark came true, for she is now one of the most photographed women.
Isabel's ex-husband got involved with several women, but he disclosed that
within his heart, the image that lives for a long time in it is La Filipina
Isabela.
He even said she is "the most handsome woman on earth and the best mother of
the world."
This is always mentioned in revealing especially the lives of their
now-celebrity children, Chabeli, Julio Jr., and Kike (Enrique).
ISABEL IN SPAIN
After being separated from her marriage with Julio Iglesias, Isabel had a
romantic relationship with the Marquis de Grignon, Carlos Falco, thus putting
her name on newspapers and magazines.
The Marquis of Grignon and La Filipina Isabel Preysler got married and had a
child (Tamara).
The press and the indiscreet people in Spain kept questioning their marriage
because of the contravention of aristocracy. So they did not last long and
broke up.
Her life from being separated from the famous singer and her breakup with the
Marquis of Grignon led Isabel into being a sensation. She was even called "The
Filipina who seduced," making her name in time sparkle.
Her husband now, her third actually, is Spanish Finance Minister, Miguel Boyer,
father of her youngest child, Ana.
Isabel is now hailed as a world-famous Madrid journalist. She is one of the
unquestionable queens of the heart. She is known to have elegance, and is one
of the rich women whose fame has made many envious and has brought her many
admirers.
Being a perennial winner in Hola magazine's best-dressed list, she was also
ranked by Arena Magazine as Europe's 18th richest woman, whose mansion has 26
bathrooms and comfort rooms.
Knowing Filipinos to be so fanatical to having many bathrooms and toilets, some
media people reacted to this information. Alisa Valdez-Rodriguez wrote in the
Los Angeles Times that Isabel is a Spanish socialite, not Filipino.
Many media people have been however arguing about her being part-native
Filipino, but she herself said, "I feel equal bound to the Philippines that to
Spain," during a presentation of the 19th Romaria, which at the same time was
also the Centennial celebration of the independence of the Philippines then.
Prince Charles invited her constantly as guest of honor and even co-host in
several celebrations, sometimes with Sophia Lauren.
Isabel has been involved in beauty, fashion, and decoration for years. She has
set up her official Website IsabelPreysler.com.
She was chosen by several companies as image sponsor for their products, such
as the Suarez jewelry lines, Ferrero Rocher, footwear Manolo Blahnik, and her
own company, Porcelanosa.
Chris
So if 9 out of 32 of Enrique's great-great-great grandparents are Filipino,
then he's 28.125% Pinoy. More than a quarter. hmm..
--CHris
http://members.aol.com/vanish8080/rplanguages.html
http://home.san.rr.com/bikol
DirtySickPig
Pig's Ass
Brzz578 wrote:
>
> Pop Star Enrique Iglesias' mom a townmate of Ninoy Aquino
>
> By CHE-CHE PANGILINAN
Gratefully snipped.