Arroyo exacts revenge on media tormentors

It was Asia’s Iron Lady who roasted the press on gridiron night.

President Arroyo exacted sweet revenge on her media tormentors and drew first blood by hitting, albeit in a light-hearted manner, the alleged abuses and corruption of journalists in the Philippines at the annual Gridiron Night of the National Press Club (NPC) held Tuesday at the Manila Hotel.

Speaking before the presentation of the skit dubbed "The Iron Lady," sub-titled "Gloria, Gloria Plantsadora," the President’s verbal attacks on the Philippine media turned out to be more acerbic and hard-hitting than the lampoon itself. The skit had been cleared with certain Malacañang officials and came out very tame and boring. Many in the audience had already shuffled out of the hall when the two-hour show ended.

With only Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable Jr. in tow, Mrs. Arroyo cited the non-attendance of her Cabinet members and noted the number of empty tables at the huge Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel as proof of "how boring" the yearly lampoons of the NPC are.

"My Cabinet members are getting wiser to the ways of the world," she noted with satisfaction. "Look, tonight, there’s not a single Cabinet member here in this hall. See how wise they are! They know they have better things to do with their time."

Even the President’s controversial husband, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo skipped this year’s NPC Gridiron, apparently informed beforehand that he would be spoofed in the skit.

Journalist Alma Anonas played the role of President Arroyo while professional actor Prospero Luna played the First Gentleman who was portrayed as being deeply involved in presidential decisions. The President’s late father, President Diosdado Macapagal, was played by Pilipino Star editor-in-chief Al Pedroche.

But since she broke Gridiron tradition by speaking before the start of the show instead of at the end in a repartee to the lampoon, Mrs. Arroyo got to hurl her missiles first at the media. – Marichu Villanueva