LUBAO, Pampanga, Philippines – More time for facial spa treatments and a deeper feel of the love of her “cabalens.”
Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said she is more relaxed now and has more time for herself than during her nine years as president.
Despite her still hectic schedule as representative of the second congressional district in the province, Arroyo said she could now find time for facial spas to look and feel good.
Arroyo made the remark following a Mass for her 64th birthday yesterday led by San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto and 20 other priests at the San Agustin church here.
The former president thanked her constituents, saying she felt their love more deeply after being elected as their representative in Congress last year.
Arroyo attended the Mass with her husband Mike and their sons Mikey and Dato, and their families. Former members of Arroyo’s Cabinet also attended, including former executive secretary Eduardo Ermita and former public works secretary Zambales Gov. Leandro Mendoza.
Her spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn said Arroyo began her birthday with a Mass at the St. Agustin Church followed by brunch at the second floor of the church.
Bautista-Horn said Arroyo also spearheaded a daylong medical and dental mission in her district.
“She’s very happy and very relaxed,” Bautista-Horn said.
“She was surrounded by friends, family and former Cabinet officials and most of all, her constituents.”
Aniceto, for his part, lauded Arroyo for her “great stamina” and for the numerous projects she had implemented in the province.
Arroyo expressed confidence that the economic reforms she had instituted during her term as president have put the Philippines on the road to economic progress.
A militant group, however, wanted Arroyo charged for the anomalies committed during her administration.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-National Capital Region (Bayan-NCR) and Imprison Arroyo Movement (IAM) yesterday urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to act on the graft charges filed by Bayan Muna party-list organization against Arroyo over the botched $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal with Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE Corp.
The groups trooped to the DOJ main office in Manila, greeting Arroyo on her birthday with a big mask showing a caricature of her face.
The groups called on Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to take the initiative to investigate the complaint against Arroyo.
“We the Filipino people have waited long enough for the Aquino government to fulfill his promise that it will take legal actions against Arroyo. If P-Noy (President Aquino) can turn his back on the offenses of Arroyo then we will never be forgetful and will always be keen on the progress of the cases filed against GMA (Arroyo),” said Paulo Quiza, Bayan NCR spokesman.
“We challenge P-Noy and the DOJ to grant our birthday wish for GMA and start all possible means to put Arroyo and her cohorts behind bars. Now is the best time for P-Noy to make a significant move to let Mrs. Arroyo pay the price for her anti-people policies during her nine years stay in the seat of power,” he added. – With Edu Punay, Paolo Romero, Michael Punongbayan