Lenten retreat in Bagiuo for GMA, family

President Arroyo and members of the First Family have planned a quiet observance of Lent in their traditional family retreat in Baguio City.

Mrs. Arroyo, who is seeking a full six-year term of office in the May 10 elections, joins the Filipino nation in the solemn observance of Holy Week.

In her Lenten message in Filipino, the President sought to underscore the suffering and death of Jesus Christ and His ultimate sacrifice to save humanity from its sins.

"We also need to carry our own cross," she said. "We need also to sacrifice and help our own fellowmen. Each one of us need to offer our assistance for the welfare of our nation," her message said.

Mrs. Arroyo said in the three years of her presidency, she has offered herself to fight "for the sake of ordinary Filipinos."

"I have no other desire but to finish what I have started and end the scourge of poverty," she said.

"Like the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, each one of us must offer our own sacrifices. Let us help one another to achieve peace and prosperity for our nation. Let us unite for the greater welfare of all. And like His Resurrection, our struggles would bring us to our bright future," the President said.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the President will take a welcome respite from the political campaign during the Holy Week break after touring the country since the campaign period began on Feb. 10.

Bunye said the other presidential candidates have no choice but to comply with the no-political campaign rule by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

"That (campaigning during the Holy Week) is being prohibited by our laws, really we must observe these days for reflection by the Filipino nation," Bunye said.

"For the rest of the Holy Week, as far as we know, she (Mrs. Arroyo) has (a) schedule on Easter Sunday in Baguio City," he said.

Press Secretary Milton Alingod added Mrs. Arroyo has a tentative schedule on Saturday to fly to Bondoc province on a personal trip and return on the same day to the Mansion House in Baguio City.

The President and her husband, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, will spend Easter Sunday in Manila with their children and two granddaughters, Mikaela Gloria and newborn Eva Victoria.

The President earlier promised to announce on Easter Sunday the full details of the "Education for All" scholarship program which she would offer under her administration’s platform on education reforms if given a fresh mandate in the coming May elections.

Under the program, one child per family of at least seven million indigent families enrolled under the Philippine Health Insurance program would also be given a scholarship.

In her speech during the celebration of Araw ng Kagitingan yesterday, the President took the opportunity to campaign for her candidacy on the eve of the no-campaign period.

Speaking in Filipino, Mrs. Arroyo told war veterans and Bataan folk of her advantage over other rivals in the presidential race in terms of experience and capability.

The celebration of the 62nd anniversary of the Fall of Bataan was advanced to April 7 since April 9 also coincides with the observance of Good Friday, highlighting the Lenten break.