GMA looks back… ‘I didn’t enjoy my childhood’

Her childhood was regimented and far from carefree, President Arroyo revealed yesterday.

This, she said, was due to her being raised by a strict disciplinarian, former First Lady Evangelina Macaraeg Macapagal.

The President was grilled yesterday by children in Galas, Quezon City, where her weekly radio-TV program was held. She reminisced about her childhood as she fielded questions coming from out of the mouth of virtual babes, led by her co-anchor, child prodigy Shyra Luna.

Candidly answering the children’s queries, Mrs. Arroyo told them she was not allowed by her parents to go caroling during the holidays, a custom for most children at this time of year.

"Hindi ako namamasko (I didn’t go caroling)," she said when one curious tot asked her if she ever did so.

"My mother was very, very strict. She was not into these types of things. My life when I was still a child was really disciplined. I almost didn’t know how to enjoy (life as a child)," she recalled.

"Perhaps that was one way God was preparing me for the presidency... because now that I am President, I am very disciplined," she pointed out.

She reminisced that her most memorable Christmas gift was a "walking doll" taller than she was that was given by her godparents, Doña Consuelo Perez, wife of former Speaker Eugenio Perez, and former UN General Assembly president Carlos Romulo.

Because her mother was strict to them during their growing up years, her elder sister gave her a study schedule to follow.

As a young student, she told them, she usually did her homework while watching television at the same time.

"But I still got good grades. But I am not a child prodigy like Shyra," she quipped.

In fact, she said, she graduated valedictorian from Assumption Convent High School.

"So you should all study well because that’s your duty as children, to study," Mrs. Arroyo told her young audience.

She noted that her favorite subject was geography, especially Philippine geography. Her fondness for the subject carried on to her stint at the Board of Investments, where she had a map placed in the conference room so that whenever she got bored, she just looked at the map planning her next trips.

She said she is doing the same thing now that she is President, because there’s a map in her room where she puts dots on places she has visited.

She said it was a blessing that her children are now all grown-up because otherwise, she would have no time for them because of the demands of her job.

Mrs. Arroyo admitted that she was a disciplinarian too when it came to rearing Mikey, Luli and Dato, her three kids with husband Jose Miguel.

She said she was so busy that she had to assign her socials secretary to just buy her gifts for the family.

At the end of the program, the President herself played Santa Claus by putting on an apron and ladling out steaming arroz caldo in styrofoam bowls to her young guests. She also gave them gifts in brightly colored shopping bags.

The First Family’s Christmas dinner, though, will have the traditional Chinese ham with rice mixed in carabao’s milk and sugar, Mr. Arroyo’s favorite.

…and looks ahead : No more ‘taray’ girl

In the year 2002, President Arroyo could be facing her toughest challenge.

The President said yesterday her New Year’s resolution is to be less "mataray" — a trait she has exhibited all her life.

In a special Christmas edition of her radio/TV program "May Gloria Ang Bukas Mo" aired live from the Christ the King seminary in Quezon City, Mrs. Arroyo said she needs to tone down her fiery temper and learn to be more patient when dealing with people.

She revealed her New Year’s re-solution to child prodigy Shyra Luna, who threw questions at the Chief Executive in the special program attended by a group of urban poor children.

"Sana maging mas pasensyosa ako kasi maraming nagsasabi mataray daw ako (I hope I become more tolerant because people keep telling me I am so mataray)," the President said.

Mrs. Arroyo said she hopes to change her attitude both as a president and as a mother while lamenting she didn’t inherit the even temperament of her late father, President Diosdado Macapagal.

Later, in an interview with ANC’s Strictly Politics, the President admitted that controlling her temper has been her New Year’s resolution in the last several years.

"I do have my tempers. That is why every year I have the same resolution. I see it as something to improve upon," she said.

She said her "nasty side" is no deep dark secret.

"My temper is my weakness, but beyond that there’s nothing evil in me," Mrs. Arroyo said.

The President admitted she has a "gas-burner" temper which could be quickly turned on and off.

In her first eleven months in office, Mrs. Arroyo has displayed that fiery temper in the presence of her Cabinet officials and Palace aides. She has also flared up each time members of the media queried her on controversial issues and accusations made by her detractors.

While vowing she would try to be more understanding, the President renewed an appeal to foes and critics to observe a moratorium on politicking and political bickering to help the country sustain economic gains and continued survival amid a global crisis.

"What I wish for this New Year is for our country to get back on track toward progress," she said. "I wish we can have peace, not only in the Abu Sayyaf area, but also in politics."- Marichu Villanueva