The lifestyle of Rep. Nikki Teodoro
First of a series of lifestyle features on presidential candidates' wives/partners
MANILA, Philippines - Among the current crop of possible First Ladies, Tarlac 1st District Rep. Monica Louise "Nikki" Prieto-Teodoro is undoubtedly one of the most stylish and well-groomed.
A blogger once called her the Philippine version of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the glamorous wife of French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
Though they may be at par in terms of good looks and fashion sense, Prieto-Teodoro's husband, presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro Jr., says there's more to his wife than that.
"You know, I mean, with the looks, probably. With the sense of style or whatnot, that's valid. But with the background? Probably not," the former Defense Secretary told abs-cbnNEWS.com in an interview last year.
Prieto-Teodoro, who comes from the wealthy Roces and Prieto clans, graduated with a degree in International Marketing from Webster University in Switzerland. She became a commercial model for Pantene and Bank of the Philippine Islands.
She married Teodoro in 1992. They have an 11-year-old son, Jaime Gilberto Teodoro.
During her husband's stint as Congressman, Prieto-Teodoro served as the Vice-Chairperson of the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc., a charitable body.
In 2007, Prieto-Teodoro replaced her husband as Tarlac 1st District representative. Well known as a children's welfare advocate, she helped build the Amor Complex, a children's shelter in Tarlac, and the Golden Rooster Foundation that raises funds for underprivileged children.
Here are Prieto-Teodoro's answers to some questions posed by abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak:
FASHION
What's your fashion sense? What makes your style unique?
I am a jeans, shirt and boots person. I love wearing my 15-year-old boots. I believe that clothes don't make a person, it's the person who puts a difference in the clothes that he or she wears.
Who is your stylist or fashion consultant?
Rajo Laurel, Paul Cabral, Joe Salazar, Pitoy Moreno and Jean Goulbourn.
If a customs official were to open your hand bag right now, what would he or she find?
My phone, planner, calling cards, compact, lip gloss, breath mints and rosary.
Suppose your husband wins as president, which designer would you most likely approach for your Inauguration dress? Who is your favorite designer?
I have no idea yet, all of them are special to me.
WELLNESS
What is your secret to staying well-groomed and beautiful?
I just wash my face using Cetaphil and then I use toner and moisturizer. Doing a 30-minute walk around the village also helps a lot. I eat more often but in small proportions. In applying make-up, less is more.
What are your favorite hobbies or sports?
Horseback riding, scuba diving and biking.
How do you relax after a stressful or hectic day?
Bike with my son and play with my dogs.
During campaign sorties, what things can't you do without?
Hat and water.
What is your pet peeve?
Hypocrites.
LIFESTYLE
What are your tips for working moms who want to keep a well-balanced lifestyle?
Know your priorities. In my case, I put my family first. They are my source of strength and joy. Also, find a cause that you can be passionate about like children's welfare. At the end of the day, you should love what you are doing.
When you want something done, how do you get your way?
I set my mind on it. I have a mental checklist and a time table on what needs to be done. I ask the help of other people and explain to them why it is important for them to pitch in to the vision.
Do you consider yourself a good cook? What's your favorite dish?
My husband Gilbert is much better than I am in cooking. But I can make a good lemon chicken and spaghetti with bolognese.
Describe your parenting style. Do you have tips for other parents?
I am a hands-on Mom. Tips? When you talk to you kids, do it in such a way that they will understand. We should go down to their level and not the other way around. No matter how busy you are, spend a lot of quality time with them. Take them to a movie or play their favorite sports.
What books have you read lately?
"The Road of Lost Innocence" by Somaly Mam; "Girl with Pearl Earring" by Tracy Chevalier; "Eat, Pray and Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert; and "The Great Pretenders" by Jan Bondeson.
Describe your typical workday. Has your husband's campaign for the presidency changed your lifestyle?
My typical workday is long but fulfilling. With Gibo's campaign for presidency, my schedule is not my schedule anymore.
To what extent, would you say, do you influence your husband's decisions?
Gibo is his own man. My tender, loving care works sometimes.
-Report by Kristine Servando, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak.
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Nikki Teodoro- Covering Spouses of Presidential Candidates
I never understood why we are so impressed by physical appearance to the point of ignoring the realities beneath.
Congresswoman Nikki Teodoro, 45, was highly criticized last year for her public outbursts to the press giving us a glimpse of her real character: arrogant, vain and with an obvious superiority complex.
She is known to be nasty and vindictive towards people who work for and under for her.
Then there is the issue of her mother MARY BETH who in April 2002 shot and killed -in the back seat of her BMW- Mrs. Belma Andrada-Abella, a nurse, under the payroll of JOE de LEON, Marybeth's estranged second husband. Abella had befriended Mr de Leon's longtime and pregnant mistress and MBDL felt betrayed by her unwillingness to share details of their whereabouts. She was the mother of a 4 year old boy at the time of her death.
After the shooting, MBDL was then flown out of the country by the Teodoro's while the lawyers paid for everyones silence. A settlement rumored to be over USD 1.5M. These days, she spends her time ridding on the wave of her son in law's campaign, throwing lavish parties, being photographed in society magazines... Has society forgotten how an innocent life was taken? She obviously has.
The bills Congreswoman Teororo has passed '"for the sake and future of our children" are the perfect diversion to her mother's crime. Putting Mrs de leon behind bars as deserved, would have been the proper way of "protecting the children of the Philippines" and the general public.
So how can we ignore this event, where justice was not been served but covered, by a couple running for office. Do we want another administration where the first family can blatantly get away with corruption, scandal and murder? Have eight years of this not been enough?
Our country needs a clean start,our people deserve a system of justice for all, with a sense of morality and real change.
Gibo might be prepared for politics but, how can have a first lady who's mother brutally murdered one of our own?
Her pretty face is not enough to hide that reality.
covering spouses of other presidential candidates
To ceejay2420:
Newsbreak/ ABS-CBN's series on First Ladies will include features on all the spouses or partners of presidential candidates.
Stay tuned for our in-depth election series on the candidates and their significant others, senatorial candidates and other interesting developments this 2010.
Thank you for your comments!
Sincerely,
Kristine Servando
Lifestyle Editor
abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak
Why the anymosity 3
I agree with you on this Maricon, I wonder how some people can give very offensive comments life Psylom or Psychom. His statements is way below the belt and I wonder what kind of school he/she went to if he /she had one.Did he attend the basic GMRC subject in the elementary or Good Manners and Right Conduct. I pity for your soul Psylom.
Boi, this is a public forum,
Boi, this is a public forum, which is exactly why I aired my opinion here. I apologize if I sounded patronizing--that was hardly my intention. I just wanted to get my message across, and I got a little too emotional. I guess I was surprised by the level of animosity towards Rep. Prieto. My comments were in response to the other comments, and were not meant to be a "sermon."
I am biased, just as everyone is here. But just because I am biased towards a candidate who is apparently different from yours shouldn't deny me the right to say what I have to say, in the manner that I want to say it, for as long as it is not offensive.
Why the animosity 2
I don't know her but i based my sentiments on what i saw the way she reacted in several situations that made her upset. That is why in the survey who the Filipino wants to be next First Lady, she got negative ratings. Can you blame me and most of the Filipino people? She is ambtiouus like Imelda too. Who dream to be the Nations first lady.
Nikki mata pobre
naku kaya pala andres de saya si giba - matapang si mam
Maganda ang taste ni Gibo.
I have to hand this to Gibo, he's got good taste. Matalino na, napakaganda pa ng piniling asawa. Bihira sa mga politiko ngayon ang may magandang asawa. To those comparing Nikki with Imelda, please naman, they are two different people. If ever Nikki becomes our first lady, she will bring back grace to Malacanang (isn't that the job of first ladies?).
Nikki Teodoro is a fine choice for a first lady. Ang mahirap eh kung si Noynoy pa-kalbo ang manalong presidente. Sino ang magiging first lady ni kalbo o papapel na first lady? Si Kris Aquino ba na kinaiinisan ng maraming tao? Pero if Noynoy would have his way, eh baka ang gusto niya ay si Chiz Escudero. May hidden desire itong si kalbo kay Chiz.
Really?
Quit your whining Maricon. This is a public forum. Everybody has the right to an opinion here. Your condescending attitude is a turn-off. Your opinion is just that, your opinion. You do not have the monopoly on knowledge or righteousness. You are obviously biased yourself so please spare us the sermon. Your patronizing tone is not welcome.
Why the animosity?
I am simply baffled by the unfair comments and prejudices against Rep. Prieto made by some people here.
What warranted this Imelda connection? Imelda Marcos and Nikki Prieto are both beautiful and fashionable, but I doubt if Nikki will ever be like Imelda. Aside from being deeply involved in promoting children's welfare, Rep. Prieto authored the Anti-Child Pornography Law which makes Filipino children safer from pedophiles and child pornographers. Does that make her a future tyrannical, power-hungry presidential spouse?
I'm hoping that people would not judge her and her husband, because of their stature in life. They were born into wealth, yes, but should that be taken against them? Does one have to be poor to want to serve the poor? Does one have to miss a meal to sympathize with those who do? For that matter, is a life of poverty and hardship a requirement for good leadership? If so, then were all our past leaderships from the time of Emilio Aguinaldo undeserving? Let me paraphrase the celebrated writer F. Sionil Jose, who wrote in his Philstar column that a doctor need not have been a leper to know how to treat leprosy.
I cannot see how Gilbert Teodoro can be emulating the Arroyo family in terms of building a political dynasty when his wife has quit politics to support her husband's campaign, he has a 10-year-old son, and he has no other siblings. If he wins the presidency, he would be the only Teodoro in elective office.
Please be fair and not propr up your candidates at the expense of others who are obviously undeserving of it. I think it's quite unfair to accuse these people of things they have not done and have not shown any tendency of doing in all their years of public service.
Just like Imelda
Democrazy2010. You fear Kris more than Imelda after what the latter did to our country? You must be Imee Marcos in hiding!