A Gift for Her Dying Ferdinand : Imelda Marcos Releases Album of Love Songs

Imelda Marcos has released her first record album--a collection of her ailing husband’s favorite love songs--and her producer says a music video will follow.

The exiled Philippine former first lady sang for votes for 20 years in her homeland, but now she is hoping to reach another audience with her first stab at commercial success.

“This is all so new to me, but it’s nice to be recognized for something positive, something beautiful, like music,” she said Sunday before a reception heralding the release of “Imelda Papin Featuring Songs with Mrs. Imelda Romualdez Marcos.”

Imelda Marcos, 59, said she agreed to join Papin, a Philippine pop star who has 25 gold or platinum albums in her homeland, after recording some songs as a gift to her husband, Ferdinand, on their 35th wedding anniversary May 1.

When the 71-year-old Marcos first heard the music, “his eyes slowly opened and he gave me a smile and he even blew me a kiss. It was everything to me,” she said.

Marcos remained in critical condition today at St. Francis Medical Center, but his wife said her singing perked him up, so she was unconcerned about criticism that she should not be making records while he lies dying.

“Now, I believe, music heals, beauty heals, love heals,” she said. “I know he will survive, he will prevail because he has love and he is loved.”