‘This coming trip is a waste of time and money.’
What will it take to cure
Gloria Arroyo’s travel itch? Typhoon Frank did not stop her from leaving for the
United States. The flare-up of hostilities in Mindanao prompted her to announce
the cancellation of her trip on Sunday. But with the fighting back to a simmer,
it’s again a go for her appearance at the United Nations and who knows what
other engagements during her week-long sojourn in the United States.
The Palace said she will be accompanied by 71 people, mostly
administrative staff and security people. The figure, however, does not include
hangers on from the Senate and the House. After the uproar over the large number
of junketing lawmakers in her entourage during her previous US visit, the excess
baggage would likely be lighter this time although we are not betting on it ("hiya"
is a pretty rare commodity in Congress).
Addressing the UN General Assembly no longer has the cachet
that it used to have. A newly installed head of government might find it
obligatory to introduce himself in the world scene through a UN appearance. But
Gloria? For chrissake, she’s been in Malacañang for more than seven years.
The Palace said the trip is important because of her
scheduled meetings with the secretaries general of the United Nations and the
Organization of Islamic Conference. Who is the Palace kidding? Such meetings are
pro forma Nothing of substance is on the agenda. Hello, pleased to meet you…
thank you and goodbye. And then it’s on to the next engagement.
The Palace again seeks to impress us hicks from the sticks is
with businessmen and investors. We doubt senior executives of AIG, probably the
biggest US investor in the Philippines via Philamlife, can find time for coffee
with her, busy as they are trying to salvage their worldwide business. AIG’s
Maurice Greenberg, who was (is?) a member of Gloria’s international board of
advisers, might find time for Gloria. But this legendary financial buccaneer was
put out to pasture by his board a year ago.
This coming trip is a waste of time and money. We hardly care about the time,
it’s Gloria’s to waste and fritter away even if we are paying good money for her
employ. It’s the money we care about. It is ours even if Gloria acts as if the
treasury is her own petty cash box into which she can dip to bankroll each and
every frivolity.
