IN WAITING
Most of the guests, mostly legislators were already seated inside the Rizal Hall, waiting for the start of the signing ceremonies of the Civil Aviation Authority Act.
Cabinet officials were chit chatting with each other and the media in the reception area, they were there because it’s a Tuesday, a cabinet meeting day, and the meeting was scheduled after the signing ceremonies.
The President Arroyo was still inside one of the rooms in the palace when Vice president Noli de Castro arrived.
His arrival served as a signal for reporters to train their eyes on the “man of the hour”. Yes, we’ve seen the TV news reports the night before and we all know that his presence today’s gonna add spice to the usual signing coverage.
First off, he didn’t look uncomfortable being there at all, despite the things that came out of the news about him and the things he supposedly said these past few days. I was talking to a fellow reporter and we noticed a certain, (pardon the word, can’t think of anything else at the moment) “glow”. He seemed well rested and “peppy” despite the fact that he had a late night last night because of a speaking engagement (as seen on TV).
Kabayan then went inside the Rizal Hall.
Only to go back to the reception area because he was told he needed to escort the president when she enters the hall. Which is, well, not unusual but okay, special (?) because we know (and based on past media coverage) that the president doesn’t mind making an entrance alone. Well, as they say, these are not ordinary days.
It wasn’t 10am yet, so the president wasn’t technically late for her entrance. But since Kabayan came in early, he had to wait for PGMA. He chit chatted with fellow officials but after some small talk, he went over to the reception table where the Malacanang guest book’s nestled. He sat on the area’s chair while waiting for Mrs. Arroyo.
So we can actually say, that this morning, the man who is considered by some quarters as the “president in waiting”, literally waited for President Arroyo.
And when the chief executive came out of the room and saw her vice president, they exchanged pleasantries like there were no issues between them (especially about the possibility that Kabayan may replace her if the political crisis worsens).
The two of them, together with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, even displayed a mini version of the now staple (and much criticized on the blogosphere) UNITY WALK, before joining their guests inside the Rizal hall.
They were civil to each other during the signing of the Civil Aviation Authority Act… sharing a laugh or two.
But they were evidently quite cozy during the merienda break, with De Castro breaking the ice by quoting the president’s oft repeated line during times of political crisis. They were talking to a congresswoman from Bulacan about a housing issue, when De Castro used the phrase “rule of law and due process”… sabay tapik kay PGMA like asking her for permission to use the line. PGMA laughed. (natawa din ako… earlier kasi, during her speech, she read a variation of this phrase din kasi. Sabi nga nila, hindi naman cut and paste speech, reiteration lang. hehehe)
Scenes like these only make some quarters reiterate their demand for the vice president to make a stand… if he will remain supportive of the president or not.
A fellow reporter following Kabayan asked him about the latest call made by the Hyatt 10, “Aysus!” was his initial reaction and he paired that remark with a smile, but he also didn’t hide his irritation (evidently not on the reporters but on the former cab secs) while he continued walking. When he stopped, he faced the cameras and with somewhat angry hand gestures, he declared: “Nobody! Nobody, can dictate kung ano ang sasabihin ko!”
Minutes later, some of the TV teams who were not able to catch the above mentioned ambush interview tried to get the VP again. So he repeated the “nobody can dictate me” phrase. Thing is, some other TV team failed to get it on cam, so they chased him in another part of the hall. The in demand VP obliged and repeated the phrase again. A lot of us listened to him in all three ambush interviews and we noticed, “parang pare pareho ang intensity ang pagiging emphatic ni Kabayan sa pagbitaw ng quotable quote na iyun ah?”
Interestingly, the president that some quarters want to replace with Kabayan reiterated her desire to stay in power until 2010, earlier in the event.
And this comes at a time when the calls for her to resign become louder and at a time when former cabinet officials laid out their new demands for Mrs. Arroyo.
PGMA: “Tunay naman dapat mangibabaw ang batas at bayan kaysa sa pulitika. Pagtupad sa batas ang panata ng bawat pinunong halal at opisyal na hinirang. Ito ang ating gagawin kahit hindi muna maunawaan ng marami lalo na kahit bigyan pa ng masamang kulay ng mga namumulitika.
That’s why we uphold the principle of due process in investigating and adjudicating criminal allegations against any citizen, whatever the political cost. No one’s rights must be sacrificed just to spare government leaders from the ire of protesters and the fire of politicians.
Susunod ako sa saligang batas at sa sarili kong nais na bumaba sa pwesto sa pagwakas ng termino sa 2010. Pero hanggang sa araw na yon, magsisikap tayo sa pagsulong sa mga reporma upang maiwan natin nang matipuno ang bansa sa susunod na pinuno.
In the Philippines, there is and there shall continue to be due process, rule of law, and utmost respect for the constitution. This is my pledge as president and commander-in-chief. Thank you.”
BIG NEWS March 4, 2008
(wasn’t able to record the SENTRO report, but some of the scenes and soundbytes mentioned in this entry are contained in the live discussion of Big News)Shadow Builder trailer
