Face-to-face with Ate Glo

Korina Sanchez and I were extended an invitation to tape an episode with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on location, inside Malacañang, specifically at the Premier Guest House. Our staff brainstormed and came up with the treatment for the episode. It would be an extended K to K, the portion that normally opens Morning Girls.

Allow me to share with you some of the sidelights from our taping.

President Gloria arrived in jeans and a crisp, white, long- sleeved polo. She had folded the sleeves two-thirds of the way to give her get-up a more relaxed feel. Korina and I both complimented her on looking so fresh. The President told us that instead of having lunch, she had taken a power nap.

Her advisers impressed us because they must have taken the time to have our show monitored because the President’s get-up closely resembled the jeans, blouse or colorful shirt, and high- heeled sandals that Korina and I have favored for the morning slot. I couldn’t resist asking what her shoe size is, and she graciously answered that she is a size 5. I tend to notice everything, and I asked her if she knew what shade of nail polish she had on. It was a very becoming peachy-coral-pink. She giggled at this query and said that it was her manicurista, who normally chose what shade to apply.

We also took note of the fact that the President used a Chanel pressed powder for touch-ups. The re-touching was done by Gener, who also did my mom’s make-up during her Palace days.

We learned that when Joanne Zapanta, her stylist clears away some of her already seldom used suits, they are sold and the proceeds are donated to the DSWD. This is actually the more practical approach since presidential suits are difficult to donate to charitable institutions, since those being helped by them would have very little use for them.

The President likes to retire to her bedroom by 10 p.m. and she channel-surfs until she’s ready to call it a night before midnight. Everyday she is awakened at 7 a.m., unless there is an out of town trip that would require her to awaken an hour and a half earlier. I asked if she woke up via the alarm clock, and she told me that she preferred to be roused by a member of her household staff.

The President had very strong words of support for Korina, if and when she would decide to make a go for a Senate seat. The President said that Korina has an impressive grasp of the issues confronting our country, she is youthful and energetic, she is articulate, with strong principles, and she has charisma. I asked her if she would offer Korina a slot on the Administration slate, and with no hesitation she said "Yes." We just have to wait and see if the political bug bites Korina.

Korina asked the President if she would re-consider her decision and not step down in 2004, but make a bid at being elected. When she told us that her mind was set and that she was so much more at peace now, we were struck by her conviction and sincerity. We sincerely believed that there is no hidden agenda lurking within President GMA.

I asked the President who among our local actors she would classify as being very good looking. I said that Korina had already admitted to being partial to Jericho Rosales. She agreed, but failed to elaborate when I asked her to make a choice between Jericho and Piolo Pascual, my personal favorite.

After our interview, we were brought to a table at the far end of the Guest House. It was nicely set, and there were fruit crepes and sparkling grape juice waiting for us. Korina and I were also given nicely-wrapped souvenir presents. The green and blue box, complete with the seal of the President housed a wooden alarm clock, which also had the Presidential seal on its face. I checked the back, and it was proudly labeled "Made in the Philippines."