A few days ago, I received an audio call from Zeny Marcelo-Poe, the common-law-wife of the late Conrad Poe, Fernando Poe, Jr.’s half-brother.
According to Zeny, she got a message from beauty queen-actress Azenith Briones of San Pablo City who invited her to the birthday bash of actress and politician Angelica Jones last January 20.
Azenith, said Marcelo-Poe informed her that the party would be held in the same venue as when Angelica’s mom Beth Jones celebrated her natal day before 2021 ended.
“Do’n pa rin daw sa bahay no’ng engineer na kaibigan nina Angelica (It would still be the house of the engineer-friend of Angelica and Beth),” Zeny echoed the instruction of Briones.
It must be recalled that Marcelo-Poe attended the birthday party of Beth but it was still the season the surge of the Omicron variant of the new coronavirus was still low. Zeny tagged along her cousin to drive her to the Joneses that time.
“Pero Boy, iba ngayon ang sitwasyon. Mataas ang cases ng COVID-19 sa NCR at sa Laguna at sa Batangas at sa Quezon, di ba (But Boy, the situation now is different. The cases of COVID-19 in NCR, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon),” said Marcelo-Poe, a former make-up artist of stars, show producer, talent scout and coordinator and an actress from time-to-time.
“Ayaw ko namang biguin sina Angelica. Pero wala akong magagawa. May sakit pa ako ngayon. May konti pa akong ubo at sipon. Kasi, no’ng New Year, galing kami ng anak kong si Anne Bantigue sa Tagaytay. Namasyal lang kami dahil New Year. Nang bumaba kami sa Santa Rosa, sa bahay, nagkalagnat ako, sipon at ubo (I didn’t want to frustrate Angelica and her company. But what could I do? I am sick until now. I still have little cough and colds. It was because in New Year, My daughter and I went up to Tagaytay for a walk because it was New Year. When we went home to Santa Rosa, I was feeling feverish and I eventually had fever, colds and cough),” Conrad’s partner recalled.
Zeny denied, though, she has been infected by the pathogen and its Omicron variant.
“Malakas nga akong kumain at may (I eat a lot and I have a) sense of smell ako,” she qualified.
“Pasensiyahan na. Pero may gatherings at exposure. Sana naman ay huwag magalit si Angelica. Isa pa, wala akong sasakyan (I’m sorry but there would be gatherings. I hope Angelica doesn’t get angry with me. One more thing, I don’t have my own ride),” Zeny cleared up.