Imelda Marcos wore a pink Filipiniana gown with matching jewelry.

She was able to pull off her look even though some of her pieces are not conventionally worn with Filipiniana attire—silvery slippers, purse, bracelet, and watch.

Time stopped inside Glorietta 5 when former First Lady Imelda Marcos walked in at 6:45 p.m., accompanied by two police escorts.

The Ilocos Norte congresswoman was welcomed by Freeway part-owner Kathy Roxas Chua-Qua and Peching Zulueta-Gomez, a niece of Ramon Valera.

Imelda Marcos beamed when the niece of Ramon Valera, Peching Zulueta-Gomez, praised her choice of outfit.

"You're so beautiful. I'm so glad you came in a terno," said Zulueta-Gomez.

Like old friends, Tessa Prieto-Valdez and Imelda Marcos share a hearty laugh.

Aureo Alonzo agreed, saying Ramon Valera had the best patrons. Imelda Marcos, he said, was among Valera's top three customers.

Tente Wilwayco and Nick Legazpi Jr. said Ramon Valera never looked for patrons. "In fact, he had to turn some away," they said.

Valera's clients should have "the flair and the X Factor," they added.

When it was her turn to be interviewed, Imelda Marcos praised her favorite designer generously.

"He was not only a great artist, but he was also a great scholar," she said.  

She recalled the favorite gown designed by Ramon Valera.

"I remember, when I went on a State visit ... one of the State visits to Thailand. And, you know, their designs are very intricate, and also their jewelry and everything.

"So what did Ramon do? What Ramon Valera did, he placed the tambourine beautifully around my beautiful alaskine, you know, this Thai silk. And the Thai silk is something they knew, because it was made there. And then placed the tambourine there, too. Oh, it was one of my favorite gowns."

Rep. Marcos talked about her agenda in Congress.

"You know, before, my ambition when I was First Lady was to make a lungsod pantao," she said. "A city for man. Then I was minister of human settlement, I initiated the habitat for humanity for the United Nations. But now my dream, now that I am congresswoman in Ilocos Norte, I want every barangay, a human settlement in paradise."

After Imelda received her bouquet of flowers, she praised the organizers of the tribute event for Ramon Valera.

"Beauty is God made real. And really tells what you have done putting this design of Valera, and, you know very well that mass follows class, never class follows mass. Congratulations for knowing this.  

Tim Yap dropped by towards the end of the event to meet Imleda Marcos in person.

"I'm also wearing Ramon Valera-inspired clothes," Tim told Imelda.