Arroyo eager to meet Megawati

President Arroyo is looking forward to a meeting with fellow second-generation leader, President Megawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia, to rekindle a friendship shared by their fathers.

Like Mrs. Arroyo, Megawati was vice president who ascended to the presidency following the ouster of an impeached leader.

Megawati took over last July 23 from Abdurrahman Wahid while Mrs. Arroyo replaced Joseph Estrada on Jan. 20.

The new Indonesian leader is scheduled to visit the Philippines later this month.

Mrs. Arroyo said she and President Megawati are the daughters of two leaders who were "very, very close."

"The closeness was developed when they co-founded with Malaysia’s Tunku Ogu Abdurrahman the Malaysia-Philippines-Indonesia (MAPHILINDO) grouping during their term," she said.

MAPHILINDO later evolved into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Mrs. Arroyo said she is eagerly awaiting Megawati’s visit to Manila – the Indonesian president’s first official trip abroad – so they can "re-enact the friendship that our fathers had."

"This will also be very good for the mutual development of the two countries," she said. – Marichu Villanueva