Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

ADMITTEDLY, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s visit to the White House last July 30 was highly-anticipated and drew its share of attention. Unfortunately, it was short-lived. Two days after the chief executives met, Former President Cory Aquino succumbed to colon cancer. For 5 days, from the time of her death to Pres. Aquino’s journey to her fi nal resting place, the beloved leader’s death quickly stole media attention and the limelight away from President Arroyo.

Yet, after farewells have been bidden, the mourning crowds have dispersed, and Tita Cory was fi nally laid to rest, President Arroyo retrieves her thunder once more – this time, because of the controversial expensive dinners that she and her entourage reportedly rewarded themselves with, during their US trip. The infamous Page Six of the New York Post sparked what it called "a political fi restorm" in the Philippines by reporting the $20,000 dinner that Pres. Arroyo and her party lavishly feasted on in New York’s fourstar restaurant, Le Cirque.

The news report was enough to send Filipinos back home abuzz with disgust and disdain over this callous spending, especially since half of the country’s population are living in an impoverished state. The government claims that the dinner was shouldered by Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez for the Arroyos’ wedding anniversary. Yet, despite this assurance, Romualdez has kept mum about the dinner deal. It would be good to note that congressmen in the Philippine government do not earn high salaries. Rep. Romualdez should have a believable reason for doing such a magnanimous act. Otherwise, his pork barrel is next in line for a thorough investigation.

And while the $20,000 Le Cirque dinner is still fanning flames of contempt among Filipinos, yet another infuriating report from The Washington Post surfaced. Apparently, three days before their extravagant dinner in New York, Pres. Arroyo and her cohorts "of about 65 people (including security and food tasters) had dinner at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse on 15th Street in Washington after she met with President Obama. The group took over one of the restaurants private rooms and dined on lobster, steak and fi ne wines; at the conclusion of the meal, an unidentifi ed woman opened a handbag stuffed with cash, counted out bills and paid the $15,000 tab – which included a generous tip," according to the report. And of course, another Congressman, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, claims to have paid for the steakhouse dinner. At least he was quick to speak up and defend the president.

At the average dollar exchange rate of $47.50, the total amount of the dinners ($35,000) is around P1.7 million. In a country where a family of fi ve needs at least *P6,195 a month to eat three square meals a day, P1.7M for two dinners for a party of 65 persons is still excessive. To hear that our country’s leaders are feasting on lobsters and steaks while the rest of the impoverished population is scrimping on what little they have, nibbling on galunggong and suffering from malnutrition, leaves much room for contemplation. (AJPress)

*According to the 2007 reports by the Philippine National Statistical Coordination Board’s Offi cial Poverty Statistics