Before President Marcos was President Quirino.

 

 Left: President Elpidio Quirino. Right: Imelda’s teenaged photo while in Leyte. Sources: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. and Carmen Navarro Pedrosa.

Long before Ferdinand Marcos met Imelda, President Elpidio Quirino was already head over heels for the young “Rose of Tacloban.”
At 18, Imelda was at the height of her youthful beauty. She easily stood out in the crowd, and it didn’t take long before people in Leyte would invite her in various fundraising events, town fiesta, and civic parades among others.
Relying on her beautiful voice and stunning beauty, Imelda would make Leyteños proud whenever she was invited to welcome politicians visiting Tacloban–one of which was President Elpidio Quirino.
When he came to Tacloban in 1949, President Quirino was honored with a banquet and a special program held at the Divine World University.  The young Imelda Romualdez sung several songs for the high-profile guest, and President Quirino was immediately captivated.
According to the book “The Untold Story of Imelda Marcos,” the late President was so charmed by Imelda that he told then Finance Secretary Pio Pedrosa that he seriously considered courting the young girl (he was already a widower at that time).
However, President Quirino believed such action might just ruin “the prestige of the office of the Presidency,” and so his plans never materialized.