In a new radio documentary for the BBC revisits ‘The Beatles snubs Imelda’ story and finds there’s more love there than people would have us believe
There’s still much to be said about the 1966 visit of The Beatles in Manila. In a new radio documentary from the BBC called “When the Beatles didn’t meet Imelda,” the documentary presents new voices, never-before-heard recollections, and a few illuminating archival interview clips that give a clearer answer as to why the Fab Four’s only visit to the Philippines has come to be known as the worst experience they had on tour.
A brief backgrounder about what happened: in July 1966, the Beatles, at the height of their popularity, arrived in Manila to perform two shows at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. But even before they could step onstage to sing to a total 80,000 fans—believed to be the biggest crowd they’ve ever assembled in a single day—they’ve already committed a blunder: they did not show up for a lunch invitation at the Malacañang Palace extended by First Lady Imelda Marcos.
After disappointing Madame and her 300 guests, including the Manila Symphony Orchestra, their security was pulled out and the boys and their entourage received some major bullying care of uniformed thugs at the airport the next day—a rough sendoff George Harrison will recall in a now viral interview that quotes him as saying President Marcos tried to kill The Beatles.
“To some extent we’re trying to tell the Filipino point of view of what happened, We’re just trying to build a more nuanced picture of the event, of history [because] there’s this simplistic narrative that has emerged over the years.”
The documentary gathered a cross-section of personalities that include four Filipino fans who were at the concert and fortunate enough to meet the Beatles during the group’s brief stay at the Manila Hotel; Peter Brown, the one surviving member of the Beatles management from the period, and who was in Manila when it all happened; Raquel Romualdez, who was among those who dressed up and waited from lunch until 4 o clock for the Beatles in Malacañang; veteran journalist Larry Henares who talks about Imelda brother Kokoy Romualdez’s involvement in the airport incident; and the very private Josine Elizalde, then newly crowned Miss Manila, who talks about hosting the Mopheads aboard the MV Marima yacht.
Josine’s recollections are among the more interesting parts of the documentary. The reporter interviewed her at the very yacht that was supposed to serve as alternative sleeping quarters for the band in ‘66—a hotel being a place that could ultimately invite obsessed fans and myriad crashers.
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