Arroyo to go scuba-diving in Tubattaha

After a long time, President Arroyo is finally finding use for her scuba-diving gear which she has kept in her closet.

On April 27, Mrs. Arroyo is flying to Palawan and one of her activities is a dive in the waters of the world-famous Tubattaha Reef.

"I’ve been there many times before. That’s why I learned how to dive. I’m always into diving," she told reporters.

Her last dive, she recalled, was at Club Noah Isabelle, also in Palawan.

Mrs. Arroyo said she has invited her diving instructor to join her at Tubattaha. STAR photographer Revoli Cortez, who used to take underwater pictures of former President Fidel Ramos, will also join them, she said.

"May underwater camera si Revoli and he had diving lessons, together with my security (personnel)," she said.

From Tubattaha, Mrs. Arroyo will visit Calauit to "promote tourism" for the wildlife sanctuary where African animals donated to the Marcoses have found a home.

If her tight schedule permits, she said she may spend overnight at the Dos Palmas resort. "If they want my presence, I might sleep there overnight because of the long trip," she said.

The resort closed down last year after the Abu Sayyaf raided it and took several guests hostage. It reopened early last month.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Arroyo said the next regional Cabinet meeting will be held in Malolos, Bulacan on April 23. The two previous regional meetings were held in Bataan and Batangas.