GMA to speak at special MOPC, Tuesday Club forum

President Arroyo will speak on her China trip, and other current topics tomorrow morning at a special breakfast forum hosted by the Manila Overseas Press Club and jointly by the "Tuesday Club," it was announced by STAR publisher Max V. Soliven — who chairs both clubs — and MOPC president Tony Lopez, publisher/editor of BizNews Asia.

The forum will be held at 7:45 a.m. in the Ristorante La Dolce Fontana on Annapolis st., Greenhills, where the MOPC regularly meets weekly, but this time on Tuesday.

The Chief Executive is expected to discuss the $1-billion package obtained in Beijing, as well as electricity, oil pricing, ASEAN and Asia Pacific issues, her 10-point legacy program to alleviate poverty, jumpstart the economy, and the initiatives the Palace is undertaking to head off the unsettling "budget deficit."

The affair is being coordinated by MOPC Special Events chairman Babe Romualdez, STARGATE Publishing Corp. president and CEO, and co-moderator Syke Garcia of The Manila Times.

Tuesday Club vice-chairman Tony Katigbak has informed members that tomorrow’s forum will be in lieu of the Club meeting usually held in the EDSA Plaza Shangri-La.

Aside from MOPC board and the journalists, editors and associate members belonging to the country’s oldest press club (founded in 1944, during the war), other publishers and senior editors, members of the parallel Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), and members of the diplomatic community, are invited and encouraged to attend this rare event.

Since seating is limited, it will be on a first-come, first-pay, first-served basis. Breakfast is no more than P140 per person. (For details, those interested may contact Dena of the MOPC Secretariat, at 523-1289, faxtel 523-1254, cell 0919-898-5892, or MOPC president Lopez (0917-831-8831).