IS THAT WHO I THINK IT IS? Amelia Zialcita Romuadez, Miss Leyte 1927, bears a striking resemblance to her first cousin, Imelda Romualdez (Marcos) in her official Manila Carnival picture.In 1927, the province of
Leyte fielded a homegrown beauty to the
Miss Philippines tilt. She was
Amelia Romualdez, who bore a striking resemblance to a first cousin—
Imelda Romualdez—who would go on to become the
First Lady of the land as the wife of
Pres. Ferdinand Marcos. Imelda's father,
Vicente Orestes, is the younger brother of
Miguel Lopez Romualdez, Amelia's father, who was married to
Brigida Zialcita of Manila.
Amelia's father had been a former
Assemblyman of Leyte and a
Mayor of Manila during
World War II. The
Lopezes were of Spanish descent; Amelia's paternal grandmother,
Trinidad Lopez was a daughter of a Spanish friar,
Fray Diego de Lopez of
Granada, Spain who was assigned in
Leyte. The
Lopezes are credited with founding the town of
Tolosa and enjoyed a reputation as a rich, influential and accomplished family.
Amelia's siblings included
Daniel (Speaker of the House of Representatives 1957-62),
Estela,
Miguel Jr., Alberto (father of former Health Secretary,
Alberto G. Romualdez),
Froilan and
Eduardo (Central Bank Governor).
Though a popular candidate, she did not place in the finals, with the crown going to
Tayabasin Luisa Marasigan, who represented Manila and who also reigned as
Sultana ng Pasig. In later years, Amelia married
Col. Maximiano Janairo and settled in
Maryland, U.S.A.
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