Her grandmother’s granddaughter

"Do you want to be president one day?" I ask presidential granddaughter Mikaela Gloria "Mika" Montenegro Arroyo as the makeup artist puts a clip on the little girl’s hair for a shoot with this paper’s Allure section.

"Yes!" she answers without batting an eyelash. No if’s and but’s about it. Mika doesn’t even think twice about her answer.

According to her mother Angela, Mika, who turns four this November, walks and talks like her grandmother, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. "She walks with her hands clasped behind her back, just like her Mamam (which is how Mika calls GMA)."

She borrows lipstick from her mother and in front of Peter Urbi, the makeup artist, applies some color on her lips. She has probably watched her grandmother being made up by the latter’s own makeup artist, Gener Miranda, several times. Observers say Mika has inherited GMA’s lips, among other things. Angela agrees, saying Mika looks like a Macapagal, while the baby, Marie Angelique ("Monique"), looks like a Montenegro. Mika also shows some of her Mamam’s taray and persistence.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" stylist Bianca Salonga asks her.

"No, because my dad (Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo) does not like," she answers just as confidently. Then, looking at Bianca, returns the question. "You, do you have a boyfriend?" When Bianca shakes her head, she presses, "So why don’t you have a boyfriend? Why?" A stunned Bianca was about to answer her, until she thought, "Teka, teka, you’re the one we’re supposed to be interviewing!"

Mika speaks in straight sentences, with perfect pronunciation. No baby lisps or stutters. She speaks English, Tagalog and some Spanish, as that is the language in which her "Papa" Mike Arroyo and Mamam Gloria addresses her. The eldest grandchild (aside from Monique, the Arroyos have another granddaughter, Evie, by son Dato and his wife Kakai), she is said to be the apple of her Papa’s eyes – he reportedly carries two photos of her in his cell phone. Angela says moving out of Malacañang to their newly-built house in La Vista, Quezon City is out of the question at the moment because the grandparents expect Mika to sleep in their room at Malacañang some days of the week.

At 3 1/2, Mika has already been accepted to prep school at the Assumption Convent, alma mater of her mother, aunts and Mamam. She just had a fitting for her first school uniform, in fact.

"The nuns were so excited. I think they’re grooming her already," shares Angela.

To be president? Well, the bright little girl has seen what it’s like to be president, and believe me, she will remember.

Lovers in Paradise

The bride walked gingerly down the stone-covered aisle, immaculate in her halter-top, backless wedding gown. Butterflies swept past her veil, and the guests all stood smiling as she entered the open-air chapel surrounded by trees. It was the last time she would be known as Maureen Pangilinan, for on that day, March 10, 2006, she became Mrs. Jaycee Dacuycuy.

Jaycee and Maureen tied the knot in the beautiful island of Boracay. The couple exchanged wedding vows at the chapel of Pearl of the Pacific Resort, a secluded spot that was perfectly cut off from the bustling activity of the beachfront. Fr. Boyd Sulpico, OP officiated at the wedding that began just as the sun was about to set. Parents Pete and Tess Pangilinan and Pete Dacuycuy were present on that most important day of their children’s lives. It was indeed a special day as it also happened to be the birthday of the groom’s father.

Rose petals were strewn all across the chapel floor, and bouquets of white roses lined the aisle. Bridesmaids looked every bit the summer nymph in their colorful gowns, and little hula-girls ran through the tree-lined path after the "I do’s." Guests came in their own version of tropical formal, which mostly consisted of summer dresses and linen apparel paired with flip-flops. The groom wore a short-sleeved barong lined with coral-colored beads to match the tropical motif.

After Jaycee kissed his bride, everyone headed to the resort’s beachfront, where the reception was splendidly laid out. Torchlights added to the romance of the evening, and guests kicked back and dug their feet into Boracay’s cool sand. Cocktails were soon followed by a dinner buffet of island favorites such as grilled lamb and beef skewers. A band started up, and everyone wined and dined under the night sky while ballads carried along the sea breeze.

As tradition would have it, friends and family toasted to the newlyweds with wishes and pieces of nostalgia. The entourage, who included Danica Sotto, Sunshine Dizon, Iza Calzado, Fritzie Romualdo, Shayenne Billedo, Vito Syquia, Patrick Raz, Mark Labit, Mark Pineda and Bryan Tongol, expressed their love for the couple, and they unanimously agreed Maureen and Jaycee were lucky to have each other. They also mentioned Alfonso, Jaycee and Maureen’s eight-month-old son, who they said was a "gift" to their love. Speeches gave way to the bouquet toss, which was carried out with a twist, and the garter retrieval. Everyone lighted sparklers to commemorate the couple’s union, toasting to a special day when two people in a deep, loving relationship finally got to call each other husband and wife.

Photos were taken by Walter Villa while video coverage was by Manny Goloyugo. Arlene Villa did the makeup. Guests were flown in by Asian Spirit and SeAir.

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