INTO FEAST FOR POOR
[PHOTO - GMA's 65TH
BIRTHDAY : Constituents of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pray over
during birthday celebration at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon
city. Mrs. Arroyo also shared pancit, lechon and sacks of rice to fire victims
on Agham road. (Contributed
Photo)]
MANILA,
APRIL 24, 2012
(INQUIRER) By Julie M. Aurelio - What
began as a post-birthday potluck for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on
Saturday became an extended party with poor families who lost their homes in a
fire on Agham Road in Quezon City on Friday.
Arroyo's well-wishers who visited her at Veterans Memorial Medical Center
(VMMC) shared the food they brought for the celebration with the fire victims.
Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo said the former President instructed her
spokesperson, Elena Bautista-Horn, to ask her Pampanga allies to give some of
the food for her birthday celebration to the fire victims.
"She heard about the [Agham] residents' plight and told us late Friday night
to share [with them] what we [would] bring," Pelayo said in a phone interview.
Arroyo, now holding her Pampanga district's seat in the House of
Representatives, was allowed to hold a party at VMMC, where she is detained on
electoral sabotage charges, to celebrate her 65th birthday on April 5. But the
date fell on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week.
The Pasay City court hearing the case limited the number of guests to 500 and
ordered the party to be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. only.
Delayed party
But the celebration was also delayed because Arroyo caught shingles and
needed to get well first.
According to Pelayo, Saturday's gathering was held to give Pampanga's local
leaders a chance to greet the congresswoman.
"There were no VIPs, no Cabinet secretaries, no talk of politics. It was just
some 500 local officials, including barangay leaders," he said.
Pelayo noted that Saturday was also the 15th death anniversary of Arroyo's
father, President Diosdado Macapagal.
He said the guests offered to bring food for the celebration.
The feast consisted of native Pampanga food, including buro, grilled fish,
adobo, salted egg, rice cakes and corn, which came neatly wrapped in banana
leaves. There were five roast pigs (lechon).
Pampanga food
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said in a separate interview that the former
President also prepared native Pampanga food, including menudo and caldereta.
"It was a very simple celebration," Topacio said.
Pelayo said Horn called him Friday night with a message from Arroyo to share
some of the food with the fire victims.
"We coordinated with the social workers from the city government for the
orderly distribution of the food," Pelayo said.
Arroyo's aides carried the food to the fire victims' shelter in Barangay
Pagasa. The food included lechon, balut, corn and rice cakes. Pampanga mayors
donated rice for the fire victims.
A Mass was held at the VMMC covered court, near the presidential suite, at 10
a.m. Arroyo's birthday celebration followed.
Pelayo said the guests included members of the Macapagal and Arroyo clans.
'Very happy'
"She was very happy," Pelayo said, noting it was the first time that Arroyo
could be with many people from Pampanga since her arrest.
Arroyo gamely blew the candles on her blue-themed birthday cake, Pelayo said.
There was no talk of politics between Arroyo and her Pampanga allies, he
said.
"She asked after Pampanga, [the] preparations for disaster mitigation, the
latest news in the outside world," he said.
Pelayo said Arroyo asked her guests to pray for the country to be spared from
calamities, especially during the rainy season.
Topacio had the same observations. He said Arroyo appeared to be very glad to
be among her fellow Kapampangans.
"I couldn't understand a word of what they were saying in Kapampangan except
for potang bengi (tonight)," he said.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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