https://joyposadaswrites.blogspot.com/2018/08/crazy-rich-asians-rated-pg-13-for.html
Many rich Pinoys, like Aquino, bring personal assistants wherever they go, much to the chagrin of the more independent Western counterpart.
Of course, eight assistants for a minor role seem staggering but Aquino played her Hollywood part to the hilt, complete with designer gown and jewelry.
The world took notice of her attention-grabbing canary yellow gown that was reminiscent of her mother Cory Aquino’s political color.
In the Philippines, wealth is sometimes synonymous with politics.
The most well-known of course is Imelda Marcos who once said that it’s good that people saw shoes in her closet and not skeletons.
"She was later quoted as saying: "They went into my closets looking for skeletons, but thank God, all they found were shoes, beautiful shoes."
There are news reports circulating that her son Bongbong Marcos is aiming for the presidency. At least for now, people seem to have forgotten the past because the populace has not made much noise about it.
"My career is politics, and, of course, you aspire to as high a stature within your chosen field as you can achieve — and that would be president in my case," he said.
http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/21/18/bongbong-marcos-eyes-philippine-presidency
Kevin Kwan cited Heart Evangelista as one of the crazy rich Asians.
http://entertainment.inquirer.net/288796/heart-evangelista-named-one-real-crazy-rich-asians
Evangelista is an actress and artist who married Senator Chiz Escudero. Interested readers can find her wealth on display usually in her Instagram account. She is known to patronize Hermès and other high-end brands. She is also a very talented artist who gets commissioned to paint on Birkin bags.
https://www.wheninmanila.com/look-heart-evangelista-paints-on-old-dress-for-senate-event/
Her wedding video can be viewed on YouTube. It was an extravagant affair held in the exclusive island Balesin and even had firecrackers to celebrate the occasion (as shown in the video).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae7xQHS0h4Y
During a TV interview with Solita Monsod, she asked the couple how they could afford such an expensive wedding when Escudero claimed to be one of the lowest paid politicians and is a government official.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r95zCKj4Z3E
The Escudero couple explained that Heart’s TV station sponsored most of the expense and that they spent only around P2 million (roughly USD40,000) that Monsod estimated to be around 1/3 of total cost. They also clarified that one way they saved money was to use fake flowers.
Fake flowers??? An insanely rich Pinoy will probably buy the freshest imported flowers available!
If that’s the case, perhaps Heart is not a crazy rich Asian after all, as noted by Kevin Kwan.
There is something about the scandalous that certain insanely rich Pinoys delight in. Perhaps it applies to other rich people whatever the nationality.
In the Philippines, however, there is also constant documentation of excess through never ending selfie promotion. Of course, this behavior does not apply to everyone, only the truly outrageous.
A distinction also needs to be made on those who want to appear rich versus those who are truly wealthy.
One lady loves to show her pictures attending endless parties while her maid slaves it out washing clothes by hand because a washing machine is not available in the household. It’s a form of hard labor in this modern century when a good machine can be bought for P10,000 (around USD200) or even less. Attending a single dinner party at a five-star hotel can cost just as much.
There is a wide disparity of wealth among Pinoys that is hard to ignore. Domestic helpers don’t always get the once a week day off that they deserve, thus making them practically slaves to their employers.
A few insanely rich Pinoys bring along their maids to hotels or restaurants, only to make the maids appear like decorations while the bosses chow down their meal. These maids watch their employers eat without being offered a single morsel of food.
In a Christian country like the Philippines, there is also what is known as the religious rich.
Among wealthy churches, one may also find art auctions and classical concerts combined with religiousity. Maybe there is room for appreciation as long as it is not the priest or pastor who is enriching his pocket.
When it comes to marriage, the rich Fiipino wedding is a stuff of fairy tales, as many families spare no expense. The bride’s designer of choice usually creates gowns for the women in the whole entourage and the event is a spectacle that can rival foreign counterparts.
During the wedding of Irene Marcos (daughter of Imelda), I remember seeing her ride the Filipino version of a horse-drawn carriage. The whole televised affair was likened to the wedding of England’s Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
There are many more stories but little space. Perhaps this topic deserves another novel.
Compared to the Singaporeans, however, the Filipino culture has its own distinctive notes. Thus, if I were to write a Filipino version of “Crazy Rich Asians,” the whole narrative would definitely come out differently.
